Title should have question marks.

Toews is taking the year off he’ll be back though

Chicago needs a lot of things. They are still in full tank mode. Just enjoy the process.

Just to add, Hawks have lots of expiring UFAs contract. Lots of cap next season....,that might be time to start getting some quality long term good UFAs (and hopefully draft some too)

Next years UFA class is gonna be huge too. Though several are already off the board.

Capfriendly doesn’t allow it

They traded off most of the early 1sts from the last 5 years, either to acquire players or moving out stalled prospects (Dach). Chicago is still on the way down, Bedard will be off his ELC before they bottom out.

People keep comparing Bedard to Crosby and McDavid, but the reality is those teams had been bad for years before they got those 1OA selections, those guys were the final pieces and the team was ready to take a step forward with internal pieces in their rookie or +1 years. While Chicago was similarly bad, they don't have the pieces to show for it.

Buying next off-season would be a BAD idea if they want to build a dynasty.

2018 draft:
8OA Boqvist traded away
27OA Beaudin traded away
2019 draft:
3OA Dach traded away
2020 draft:
17 OA Reichel
2021 draft:
12 OA traded away
32 OA Nolan Allan
2022 draft:
6OA traded away
7OA acquired for DeBrincat
13 OA acquired for Dach
2023 draft:
Bedard
19 OA Oliver Moore

Other than Reichel there's no impact pieces until the 2022 draft. This is maybe year 2 of a 5 year rebuild. I wonder if winning the Beard ticket ends up being a curse as much as a blessing for Chicago because he got there too early in the rebuild.

I don't agree entirely with what you are saying.

You missed Korchinksi who is going to be a stud. He's the best prospect on the roster next to Bedard. You also missed Nazar who is a really good prospect.

You don't seem very familiar with all the strongest prospects in the Hawks system, they definitely have pieces.

Forwards likely to be NHL players:
Bedard (2023 1st round)
Moore (2023 1st round)
Reichel (2020 1st round)
Nazar (2022 1st round)
Greene (2022 2nd round)
C Dach (2021 2nd round)
Ludwinski (2022 2nd round)
Misiak (2023 2nd round)
Kantserov (2023 2nd round)

Defense likely to play in the NHL:
Korchinski (2022 1st round)
Del Mastro (2021 4th round)
Vlasic (2019 2nd round)
Phillips (2019 5th round)
Kaiser (2020 3rd round)
Rinzel (2022 1st round)
Allan (2021 1st round)

Goalies
Gajan (2023 2nd round)
Commesso (2020 2nd round)
Soderblom

This is definitely not a complete list, but these are the strongest prospects IMO as of now. The Hawks already have one of the strongest prospect systems in the NHL and are headed into the 2024 draft with (2) 1sts, (3) 2nds, and (2) 3rds, and they will likely pick up more with a trade or two at the TDL. This year will be another tank season with a top 5 pick as well.

Next season they won't be as bad as last season or this coming season, and the focus will be building chemistry and looking at available long term free agents; they have loads of cap space to play with. 2025/2026 they will be building the team to start competing and maybe able to sneak into the playoffs, again with loads of cap space to pick up a top free agent or two. 2026/2027 will be a strong playoff push. Yes, Bedard will be done with his ELC in 2026, but he gets 3 years of NHL hockey under his belt building chemistry with the young core that's being built.

The Hawks are in a very good position as of now. The new GM/Staff has done a amazing job so far with picks/selections and having patience.

I didn't miss them, they were the selections for the picks acquired from the DeBrincat and Dach trades, both were 2022 selections, which is why I said there weren't any difference makers until the 2022 draft. And the Hawks removed young impact (or supposed to be impact) top 6 pieces to get those two.

Late teens and beyond first round picks aren't typically top 6 or top 4 players at the NHL level. They usually reliably become middle to bottom 6 or bottom 4 D. Add to that Chicagos recent history of mishandling prospect development, you could very easily end up in a Rangers situation where you think you have a number of sure fire pieces and you try to round out the team in FA only to end up with an expensive core thats aging, the kids didn't develop, and now your stuck.

Chicago has 6 of the top 100 prospects in the NHL. 4 of them are top 25, but the last two are way down in the ~80 range. There's potential there, but it's going to be a long time before Chicago are serious contenders again.

Interesting conversation going in here! I like that list of prospects, but we do need to ensure we take our time with the rebuild and not rush it. I'm not sure I agree with the comment about bottoming out AFTER Bedard's done with his ELC. Getting the 1st overall seems like it's bottoming out...well see where the record falls this year. At the same time...if you dig into rebuilds, let's use the NJD. Jack Hughes...2019 #1OA. They dropped him into the NHL right away and last year was their 1st good year in a long time. Jack was out of his ELC, BUT last year also wasn't bottoming out. 1 year here 1 year there...whatever. I guess the point is keep building. Keep acquiring assets. Maybe try to move up in the draft to avoid OTT's disaster by losing Lassi, pissing off Pinto, and shoulda lost JBD.

Yep Great list. Then add in multiple 1st's and 2nd's in 2024 and 2025 with at least one more top 5 pick coming in all likelihood. Hawks prospect pool is one of the best

You are correct that this is year 2 of the rebuild. All those moves prior to KD becoming GM were part of SB selling all to win. But....
- Boqvist and Beaudin are nothing to cry about losing
- Dach was rushed to NHL and only now is starting to see potential. Though his younger brother may still prove to be a better player.
- 2021 12OA & 2022 6OA- Yeah that sucks to lose, but that was used (rightly or wrongly) to acquire Jones who was supposed to be the #1 D. Didn't work out. But the team was trying to make playoffs then.
- Debrincat took a step back in Ottawa. Maybe he fulfills that potential in Detroit? Maybe we find out he needed a Kane by his side all along.

CHI does not need a 2C.

They also had 1OA in 2017 (Hischer) and 6OA in 2015.

I noticed, I'm the op and the first poster.

"Add to that Chicagos recent history of mishandling prospect development" you have to remember there is a totally new regime in Chicago, this is not the same leadership that mishandled prospects.

It's not going to be a "long time" before Chicago are serious contenders....well...depends on your definition of long. As outlined, the prospect pool is very strong in Chicago now, and will get much stronger at the 2024 draft. The hockey writers are only one "expert" opinion and hardly the bible. Every expert I've read agrees that Chicago has a top 5 prospect pool already in the NHL, some argue best and most top 3. Using one person's opinion is hardly factual.

Now couple that with tons of cap space to sign a couple free big name free agents to fill 2 gaps (likely a top 6 role and a top 3 defensive role) and you can see why in the 2026/2027 they will be serious playoff contenders. The tank will end after this season, next season will be a development chemistry season, 2025/2026 is when they get serious, 2026/2027 is when they start competing and the window opens up.

Thank you Garak, I didn't think so, but I thought maybe I had missed something.

Toews for #2 or #3 C, team could do way worse...

I might even disagree with you a little, the team may not need big name free agents, just a couple of specific ones.

With the rate the western teams are faltering Chicago may push earlier than expected, and that would be a shame. I for one would like them to remain in the bottom 3rd for a few more years, just to pack the prospects deep. Even if it means selling off some developed young players, just keep it rolling, picks to prospects to development to picks.

The big names will already be here... will just need to find the current day Hossa!

That's my thought as well, is find a Hossa and Sharp. Remember, Sharp was a pretty big signing and Hossa was the biggest acquisition of that year at the time. I suspect they will need to make at least one big splash signing/trade and another solid role player to be ready to compete.

This team will be a lottery pick for sure this year and next, beyond that I don't think they need to be.

For sure. If he can come back and be consistent and not get all worn out, any team would be lucky to have him. Were people saying CHI needs a 2C or something? I think I saw another post that was talking about CHI needing a 2C that also confused me. My understanding is they are gonna give Reichel all the time in the world to grow into the role. I'd bet they will give him until Nazar and/or Moore come up, unless he is absolutely drowning. At which point, if he hasn't become a bonafide 2C, they'll move him to wing and one of them will probably steal the job.

Yes I saw a couple saying Chicago needed a number 2 C and I was confused, but I agree, we have Moore (more) in the pipe. Giving Toews another crack would be brilliant though.

Could you imagine the fans at the game that debut night! Toews takes the face off with Bedard and Hall... only thing better would be Kane instead of Hall for one night.

Yeah. I wouldn't be pissed if they did it. I think the only way we see Toews or Kane back in CHI is if they are still playing at a high enough level and CHI is ready for a cup run, though. Which seems a little too far out for Toews, but if this surgery did the trick, I could still see Kane playing into his 40's.

The entire reason the prospect pool is rated that high is because of Bedard, subtract him and it's barely scratching top 10, maybe even outside that. Most importantly, unlike other teams in the top 5-10, they have had recent graduations from prospects to full timers on the Roster, all of the youth Chicago has is still early development prospects.

Try to build too soon and it will backfire.

Last year the prospect pool ranked ranked by experts from top 5 to top 10 in the league depending on the source. Bedard and Moore obviously boosted it to most opinions now are top 1 to 3. Yes, that are having recent graduates such as Vlasic, Reichel, Kaiser, Bedard, Korchinski who have all made the team this year. However, the best rankings usually use age, under 23 for example such as The Athletic who ranked Chicago's under 23 years old pool as number 1 in the league.

Too soon is relative. This year, next year is too soon I agree. After that is all dependent upon development of the young guys....2 more seasons is a long time away to assess if they will be ready to compete in 2025/2026. Regardless, 2026/2027 is a very safe bet. Tons of cap space, one of the best young pools in the NHL (if not the best), the 2024 draft and a plethora of 1st, 2nd and 3rd round picks to add to an already incredibly strong prospect pool and the Hawks are safe bet in 2 to 3 more years.

Fine, let's use the Athletics U23. In the top 168 U23 players, Chicago has 7.

1 tier 1
1 tier 6
2 tier 7
3 tier 8

You're going to need an additional 3, maybe more tier 2-4 U23 players before you can consider the rebuild complete. It's going to be a while.