I think the first pick determines the second pick for them. If they draft Celebrini or Lindstrom (I'm not sold on Demidov that high due to Russian risk) then pick two will likely be a RD. If they select Levshunov then look for them to take a forward like Iginla with T-Bay's pick. Not sure he drops that far but I think it'll be someone with skill and grit.

So what you are saying is you haven’t watched Vlasic play this year.

I could see him easily getting five or six years at $5m per.

Hawks select the best available forward from Celebrini/Lindstrom/Demidov in that order.

If it's 1st overall, it's a no brianer, Celebrini. If it is somewhere in the 2-5 range it will more than likely be one of Demidov, Lindstrom, Catton, or Levshunov. I can't see them getting distracted by Parekh's Makar comparisons, or Eiserman's scoring prowess, but either is possible, too. I could also see them going for the big bodied smooth skating Silayev, who plays both sides fairly comfortably, even though he is technically an LD which we have too many of as it is. We'll see, though.

I sure hope so, but i've heard rumblings that they might have eyes for Levshunov. Hopefully that is just due diligence, though.

I’m also hoping TB doesn’t make playoffs and ends up around 14-16 and Tij Iginla is available.

For sure. But also, with Davidson's history of "wanting to get the contract right", and if he wants a larger sample size, I could see him opting for the bridge deal. Honestly, even if Vlasic's offense comes along significantly over the next couple years, I can't see him getting much more than $5M or $6M on a long term deal anyway. So, a bridge could be the way to go. If they do 3 years that will offset things a little bit with Bedard and Korchinski's contracts too. If he sticks to building from within and doesn't go after any big ticket free agents or trades, we are gonn have tons of cap space anyway, which is what I think he is gonna do, even if it pisses the entire fanbase off to have to watch losing hockey for 3-5 more years.

Well u know I'm a big Leshevnov fan so that wouldn't bother me a bit. Maybe if they fall to 3rd overall and Celebrini and Lindstrom go 1-2. Demidov is a stud, but I have concerns about how soon he actually comes over. I just don't think it will be in 25/26. Do the Hawks risk spending #3 overall on a guy who might not play for them for 4 or 5 seasons?

I think Demidov will follow the Michkov scenario. Someone will be willing to wait it out. Does Lindstrom go that high? He’s big, agile with skill but top 5??

Bridge deal for sure. That idea of 2 years @ $2-3 m per is decent.

I think they need a top flight RD or stay at home RD. Any Shea Weber clones this year?

Demidov falling wouldn't shock me either.

Lindstrom is that impressive combo or size and skill the Hawks don't have at all in any of their top forward prospects. To me, he is exactly what they need.

This draft has one elite guy at the top - Celebrini. The next 6 or 7 guys are all pretty much the same. Not a lot of seperation between #2 and #7 or #8. Hawks need a forward more than a D, and if you aren't picking Demidov, Lindstrom is the easy pick to me for Chicago.

Hawks have decent F prospects in Nazar and Moore. Definitely need more than that but they have time. That TB pick should help them out pretty good. The Isles are right on their heels. I would be thrilled if TB missed the playoffs. I’d prefer to see NJ in there instead of the Isles but I will not complain.

Nothing wrong with grabbing a stud RD imo.

This a deeper draft for D than for forwards. I'm hoping Charlie Elick is there when the Hawks pick at the top of the 2nd round. If he's done, there will be other solid options. They could even go RD w/ the Tampa 1st. Don't think they will, but they could.

Hawks have Jones for 6 more years. Rinzell's development in the two years since he was drafted has been better than everyone expected. He looks like a legit NHL prospect. And Nolan Allen, former 1st round pick, has been playing mostly on the right side the past two years, and he could be in the NHL season after next. And Murphy still has 2 years left on his deal. Does another RD make sense? Sure. Using a top 5 pick to get one over another forward? Guess we just disagree on that.

If I’m picking in the top 5-10 then I’m definitely taking BPA regardless of organizational needs.

They won't do 2 years, though. That'd be too many potentially large contracts all at once.

I'm not worried about waiting. He is that good. But if he extends I doubt it's more than a year. Also, I too like Levshunov, but not that high. If our pick ended up in the 5 to 10 range and everyone else I like was gone, I would be cool with taking him. Honestly, I have no choice but to be ok with it. I've been trying to convince myself more lately that it's gonna be ok if they go that route, too, doing a lot more comps to other high end RD's in past drafts. Comparatively, his numbers and his development curve are both undeniably amazing, but the eye test doesn't tell the same story, imo. So, we'll just have to wait and see. I just hope that, if they do draft him, they can move Jones for something that isn't an insane loss. Also, I hope they don't pass on someone that will make me say "I told you so." haha. And I hope they can find some forwards with the TBL pick and future picks that fit the system and have chemistry with other Hawks.

Also, Buium and Yakemchuk are objectively better than Levshunov. The only thing Buium doesn't have that Levshunov and Yakemchuk do, is a right shot. And Buium is probably the best of the three. Dickinson is good, but very much overrated, and Parekh is a pipe dream that probably isn't gonna work out very well for whoever picks him. Silayev is awesome. The hype around Levshunov is overblown. And this is the last I'll say about it. But bookmark this and let's revisit in a few years.

Why is Silayev better?

Man you're trying to set up the ultimate "I told you so" brother. Me personally, I'll be fine with whoever they draft since their scouts are watching these guys like hawks (see what I did there lol) and know much better than I do which one of these guys would help the team the most.

I agree with you in part but I have sometimes been better able to pick players off the draft board than various GMs over the years. Bruins in 2015. Oilers that year as well. Zach Senyshyn- literally whoever the funk that is or was - instead of Barzal.

Silayev is huge, strong, is an awesome skater, and defends VERY well against men in a pro league. I didn't say better, though. I just like big defensemen that can actually defend and skate well. I wouldn't take him over Lindstrom, Demidov, or Catton.



I honestly hope it doesn't come to that. If they pick him, I want him to be good. Being a bust is not an option. And I'm not saying he will be a bust either, I think he will be fine. I just don't think he is the best player available, and I don't think he is a need for CHI, right now.

At this rate the Hawks pick no lower than 3rd overall. So one of those F’s will be there. I do not believe any major scouts have Cayden Lindstrom that high.

That is not guaranteed at all. Yes, that is where we currently are in the standings, but the standings are close enough for that not to be a sure thing. We could easily slip back to 3rd or even 4th in the standings, however unlikely that may be. Which means the lottery could push us back to 5th or 6th.

Most of the "major" scouts did have him that high or trending in that direction before he got hurt, and most of them are copy cats, anyway. I have watched a ton of most of these guys, less so when it comes to European leagues, though. If Lindstrom can continue playing the same way he did before injury when he comes back in a week or so, everyones final rankings will have him in the top 5. But, I wouldn't be so sure that "none of those forwards will be there".

There are a lot of teams lower in the standings that need D more than anything else. So if we slip back in the draft order, which is still entirely possible, the forwards could absolutely still be there. We just happen to be a team who doesn't need D as badly as most. We need top of the lineup forwards most of all. Aside from Bedard and maybe Reichel, we have two guys who could MAYBE play in the top 6, in Nazar and Moore. So, imo, that should be the priority. Plus, I don't believe for a second that Levshunov will be the BPA anywhere in the top 5.