mock 2.0

Hawks have too many RHD prospects as is with Boqvist, Mitchell and Regula not to mention Muprhy and Seabs as vets. The only prospect the Hawks need on D is a #1 LHD and outside of Sanderson, not sure that is available in this draft. Likely the Hawks go with Mercer, Zary, Amirov, or Holloway. Schneider is a good for the Leafs.

Schneider is 4-5 years away. the hawks RD isn't that deep.

Boqvist and Mitchell are both very high end prospects. Regula is a good prospect that just came off of a big breakout year. That's one of the deepest right hand defensive 3 in the league.

putting all your eggs in one basket hoping all 3 pan out is a gamble. the hawks have need throughout the lineup. drafting best available player is the way to go for them. at 17 it might be Schneider.

Outside of the top 12 it is a total gamble from 12 through 20 which means best player available doesn't apply anymore; plenty of analysts are talking about it including the head scout for the Hawks. Hawks will draft on need as such and our top 2 prospects on the right are clearly NHL players and Regula may be or may not be but it is the deepest position the hawks have on prospects. Top 6 is the weakest, Hawks will draft accordingly.

history proves drafting for need is unproductive. look at the rangers draft history. michelle hasn't played any nhl games yet, can't say he's clearly anything yet. countless college players fail at the nhl and ahl every season. everything is the hawks need, their pick is unpredictable.

Like I said, the draft is way too close where the Hawks pick. So based on what you're saying, you're arguing Schneider would be the best pick available unequivocally which is just foolish. Which is why the Hawks will draft for their weakest position at 21 and under players which is the top 6. Mercer, Amirov, Zary, Holloway, Jarvis, Quinn and if Sanderson (highly doubtful) falls. Those are the targets and to argue Schneider is better then any of them is a fool's errand.

Furthermore, Hawks have a history of drafting for need; Adam Boqvist, Kirby Dach, Jokiharju, Beaudin, Mitchell. Hawks have loaded up on defensive prospects in the first two rounds in the last few years; Boqvist, Mitchell, Beaudin, Vlasic with only 1 forward in Dach and that hardly includes all their defensive prospects like Carlsson, Regula, Kalynuk, etc. They will target wingers as such in this draft not more bottom 4 defensive players as they have plenty of options as you can see.