Edited Sep. 19, 2019 at 5:05 p.m.
Quoting: HatterTParty
Exo, I think I might have brought it up in one of our conversations. A huge problem with the Hawks right now is too many vets getting the chances young players probably deserve. This is severely the case on defense, as I don't see any room for Boqvist on this team, and that's even before de Haan comes back. We have so much promise on offense and people like Saarela deserve a chance, but he probably won't get it because of too much room for vets. Add Byram and Joki to the defensive equation, its rough. But, take away maatta, trade gus, sit seabrook (which should happen anyway), and you may actually get the youngsters chances they deserve. I also believe in best player available as well, and I'd even stretch and say Turcotte would have been acceptable at #3 as well. I don't necessarily believe we needed a center so bad as to take Dach, but we definitely should have waited till next year and taken the sure thing #1 dman.
Also, I get the Miro Heiskanen comparison. He did get one more year to mature before reaching the NHL. But remember, Miro is Finnish, meaning his year before the NHL was in the Finnish Pro League, where he played against players in their 20s and 30s. Byram would only play players from 16-21. So, in all honesty, I do believe the only way for Byram to go this season with the Avs (or theoretically with the Hawks) is in the NHL. He cant get anything out of the WHL anymore, even defensively. He needs to try and (most likely) fail in the NHL. Players like him are truly rare.
Good thoughts! As for the 1st part. The Hawks can still do any/all of those moves. There's nothing stopping Stan and Co. from trading Gus or sitting Seabrook. Also, worst case Maatta gets bought out...ok not ideal, but that's only $700k and an admission (in my mind) that Stan messed up. I don't think..that he thinks...he made a bad trade.. None of these are likely...I agree. I guess my point though is that these options are available whether we trade Joki / draft Byram or not.
I never really considered waiting until next year for a center. It's brought a new frame of thinking. Drafting a #1C later in the 1st round. I guess my quick thoughts (could be wrong) would be how many #1 Dmen are in the 2nd half of the 1st or 2nd round? How many #1C are in the 2nd half of the 1st or 2nd round? It's an interesting because I'm a big fan of best OA, but maybe they're using drafting sabermetrics??? I don't know. Thanks for the thought. I'll ponder that.
As for Byram in the WHL. I can see that. To your point. Look at Joki. 48 points...back to Portland. Then 71 points (ironically) to the Hawks / Rockford. I actually have ZERO issue allowing prospects to develop in the AHL like Sandin or Brannstrom. The one caveat might be the contract year is lost in that 1st year. That's probably 1 reason GMs send players back to juniors. It's actually a HUGE factor in baseball that I think we're starting to see in hockey because it's difficult to say he'll be worse off going back to Vancouver. He'll likely still crush it at the very least. He needs some work defensively if we're being honest and GMs (I think) and trending toward allowing that development (even if it's minor) to be done during a "free" year.