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Hawks should take a gamble on Kaapo

Created by: ChiHawk
Team: 2024-25 Chicago Blackhawks
Initial Creation Date: Mar. 22, 2024
Published: Mar. 22, 2024
Salary Cap Mode: Basic
Description
Hawks end up, through the lottery, with the #4 pick. Celebrini and Levshunov are off the board. Lindstrom, Demidov or Eiserman are the order to take, but Hawks may decide to push to get Bedard a linemate sooner than later. Lindstrom is a C, and Demidov is locked up in the KHL for at least 2 more years so they may look at Eiserman to be ready in just one more year.

Eiserman - Bedard - KK could end up being a very good line for a long time to come; so if nothing else, this is just spitballing out of an interesting look. KK is pretty good defensively and bedard and eiserman will need a big defensive forward so he fills that role. Bedard is a playmaker and goal scorer but Eiserman is obviously a stud of a natural goal scorer giving Bedard an option and a double threat with both feeding each other goals. KK is there to support those two and worth the late 1st in next year's draft to take a chance on.

Eiserman, Nazar and Moore are another season away of turning pro, but just taking a look here at line combos for the 25/26 season; the season after next. Donato and Hall will be gone by then.

Rinzel, Hayes, Greene still in the AHL, but the idea is to see how the team starts taking shape in the 2025/2026 season. 2026/2027 will be exciting IMO.

2nd line of Moore, Nazar and AA will be a speed line...all extremely fast players. AA's puck handling leaves a lot to be desired but he's a short term plug.

Kurashev, Dickinson and Reichel could prove to be an interesting combo as a solid 3rd line IMO. Eventually, Green, Hayes or Dach steps up to replace Dickinson. For the record, I'm not that high on Dach as some fans are. IMO, he will end up a 3rd liner, maybe 4th or not make it.
Free Agent Signings
RESERVE LISTYEARSCAP HIT
3$950,000
RFAYEARSCAP HIT
4$4,000,000
3$1,750,000
2$1,000,000
2$1,000,000
3$2,500,000
CREATEDYEARSCAP HIT
Eiserman, Cole
3$925,000
Moore, Oliver
3$925,000
Trades
CHI
  1. Kakko, Kaapo [RFA Rights]
NYR
  1. 2025 1st round pick (TOR)
Buyouts
Retained Salary Transactions
DraftRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 7
2024
Logo of the CHI
Logo of the TBL
Logo of the CHI
Logo of the LAK
Logo of the VAN
Logo of the CHI
Logo of the OTT
Logo of the NSH
Logo of the CHI
2025
Logo of the CHI
Logo of the CHI
Logo of the DAL
Logo of the CHI
Logo of the CHI
Logo of the NYR
Logo of the CHI
Logo of the CHI
2026
Logo of the CHI
Logo of the CHI
Logo of the NYI
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the CHI
Logo of the CHI
Logo of the OTT
Logo of the CHI
Logo of the CHI
ROSTER SIZESALARY CAPCAP HITOVERAGES TooltipBONUSESCAP SPACE
26$87,500,000$65,707,500$0$6,422,500$21,792,500
Left WingCentreRight Wing
Eiserman, Cole
$925,000$925,000
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$950,000$950,000 (Performance Bonus$3,500,000$4M)
C
RFA - 2
$2,500,000$2,500,000
RW
RFA
Moore, Oliver
$925,000$925,000
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$950,000$950,000
RW, C
RFA - 2
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$4,250,000$4,250,000
LW, RW
UFA - 1
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$1,750,000$1,750,000
LW, C
RFA - 2
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$4,250,000$4,250,000
C, LW
UFA - 2
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$2,250,000$2,250,000
LW, C, RW
RFA - 1
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$912,500$912,500 (Performance Bonus$850,000$850K)
LW
RFA - 1
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$4,500,000$4,500,000
LW, C, RW
UFA - 2
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$1,000,000$1,000,000
C
RFA
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$825,000$825,000 (Performance Bonus$82,500$82K)
C
RFA - 2
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$1,000,000$1,000,000
RW
RFA
Left DefenseRight DefenseGoaltender
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$4,000,000$4,000,000
LD
UFA - 6
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$9,500,000$9,500,000
RD
NMC
UFA - 6
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$925,000$925,000 (Performance Bonus$425,000$425K)
G
RFA - 2
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$918,333$918,333 (Performance Bonus$1,000,000$1M)
LD
RFA - 2
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$4,400,000$4,400,000
RD
M-NTC
UFA - 2
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$4,250,000$4,250,000
G
UFA - 2
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$916,667$916,667 (Performance Bonus$425,000$425K)
LD
RFA - 1
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$825,000$825,000 (Performance Bonus$82,500$82K)
LD
RFA - 2
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$962,500$962,500
G
RFA - 1
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$855,833$855,833 (Performance Bonus$57,500$58K)
LD
RFA - 2
ScratchesInjured Reserve (IR)Long Term IR (LTIR)
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$6,000,000$6,000,000
LW
M-NTC, NMC
UFA - 1
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$2,000,000$2,000,000
LW, C, RW
UFA - 1

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Mar. 23 at 11:11 a.m.
#51
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Quoting: NYR1983
Reread what I wrote.. he doesn’t value the 1st more than Kakko. Drury wouldn’t move him in a guentzl trade.. he also spoke to media saying he’s happy with the progress and is being very patient. Read between the lines bud. I’m not drury, I’m listening and seeing what he’s saying and doing. Body language is telling. He values him more than a 1st lol


You don't know that. What if the first is a top 10 pick, a top 15, a top 20? You're making a huge assumption that you simply don't know what or how he values a 1st.
Mar. 23 at 11:15 a.m.
#52
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Quoting: Fox_Czar_Cup
We'd get Way more than Newhook or Lundkvist, but picks wouldn't cut it anyway. Like Kreider Chytil Laf, we'll wait for him to collect more points, while being a big solid player.


Well Newhook is playing above a .5ppg rate this season whereas Kaapo is under .3ppg. I get that Kaapo is solid defensively, but aside from his lack of offensive production, his skating is questionable at the NHL level.
Mar. 23 at 3:33 p.m.
#53
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Quoting: ChiHawk
Well Newhook is playing above a .5ppg rate this season whereas Kaapo is under .3ppg. I get that Kaapo is solid defensively, but aside from his lack of offensive production, his skating is questionable at the NHL level.


So you never watch him play, just repeat tmz reports lol
Mar. 23 at 8:59 p.m.
#54
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Quoting: Fox_Czar_Cup
So you never watch him play, just repeat tmz reports lol


LMAO where did you see that in my replies laugh
Mar. 24 at 9:19 a.m.
#55
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Quoting: ChiHawk
You don't know that. What if the first is a top 10 pick, a top 15, a top 20? You're making a huge assumption that you simply don't know what or how he values a 1st.


That 1st round pick isn’t helping them out in the next few years. We do know this, he won’t move him unless it’s for roster improvement that’s not rental..
Mar. 24 at 12:25 p.m.
#56
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Quoting: NYR1983
That 1st round pick isn’t helping them out in the next few years. We do know this, he won’t move him unless it’s for roster improvement that’s not rental..


Again, you're looking at this in vacuum. If he got a top 10 pick, he would do it in a heartbeat because he knows he can get a excellent player by making a second trade with that top 10 pick. That said, Kaapo is nowhere worth that much obviously, but the point isn't the pick, it's acquiring a more valuable asset than Kaapo which he uses to upgrade the roster
Mar. 24 at 12:36 p.m.
#57
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Quoting: ChiHawk
Again, you're looking at this in vacuum. If he got a top 10 pick, he would do it in a heartbeat because he knows he can get a excellent player by making a second trade with that top 10 pick. That said, Kaapo is nowhere worth that much obviously, but the point isn't the pick, it's acquiring a more valuable asset than Kaapo which he uses to upgrade the roster


If you want to make the argument for him saying yes to a top 10 pick them make an acgm with that being the offer… again all this is your opinion which completely contradicts everything drury has said and done.. but if you want to play pretend that he would suddenly change then go right ahead.
Mar. 24 at 2:39 p.m.
#58
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Quoting: NYR1983
If you want to make the argument for him saying yes to a top 10 pick them make an acgm with that being the offer… again all this is your opinion which completely contradicts everything drury has said and done.. but if you want to play pretend that he would suddenly change then go right ahead.


If you don't think Drury would take a top 10 pick for Kaapo, which is YOUR opinion, then it's your right to have that opinion but isn't substantiated. Kaapo after 5 seasons is simply nowhere near being worth a top 10 pick...that's not opinion, that is simple fact based on the historical trade market. Drury also knows that top 10 pick is more valuable than Kaapo (fact), so if he was offered that in the offseason, he would use it as trade bait to land a better player as a top 10 pick 1000% would land a better player than Kaapo can in isolation.

You've got guys like Philipp Kurashev, 4 seasons in, a former 4th rounder, with 46 points in 63 games which is way better than Kaapo and it's unlikely he's worth a late 1st for comparison (which I have here in this GM) and not a chance the Hawks would trade him for Kaapo straight up for Kaapo even though Drury would love that move all day long. To suggest Drury wouldn't take a top 10 pick for Kaapo to use that as a very valuable asset to get a better player is simply bad asset management and I don't believe Drury is bad at managing assets. I do think fans get attached to players and are still holding onto the fact that Kaapo was a former 2nd overall 5 seasons ago. Notice how every one that's not a Rangers fan either says this trade is fair or Chicago shouldn't give up a late 1st for Kaapo...those are non-biased opinions and fans tend to overvalue their own players for the aforementioned reasons.

It was also widely reported that Drury was listening to offers on Kaapo, and I'm willing to bet not a single team offered him a top 10 pick or the equivalent value in a player; the market rates don't lend itself to anything better.

All opinions be it yours or mine boil down to we aren't Drury...so only he knows. However, as widely reported Kaapo is not untouchable and the market dictates what's he's worth at the end by using historical trade values and Kaapo simply isn't worth more than a late 1st currently and he's definitely not going to land a solid top 6 payer unless he's a rental. Drury isn't an idiot though.
Mar. 24 at 9:59 p.m.
#59
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Quoting: ChiHawk
If you don't think Drury would take a top 10 pick for Kaapo, which is YOUR opinion, then it's your right to have that opinion but isn't substantiated. Kaapo after 5 seasons is simply nowhere near being worth a top 10 pick...that's not opinion, that is simple fact based on the historical trade market. Drury also knows that top 10 pick is more valuable than Kaapo (fact), so if he was offered that in the offseason, he would use it as trade bait to land a better player as a top 10 pick 1000% would land a better player than Kaapo can in isolation.

You've got guys like Philipp Kurashev, 4 seasons in, a former 4th rounder, with 46 points in 63 games which is way better than Kaapo and it's unlikely he's worth a late 1st for comparison (which I have here in this GM) and not a chance the Hawks would trade him for Kaapo straight up for Kaapo even though Drury would love that move all day long. To suggest Drury wouldn't take a top 10 pick for Kaapo to use that as a very valuable asset to get a better player is simply bad asset management and I don't believe Drury is bad at managing assets. I do think fans get attached to players and are still holding onto the fact that Kaapo was a former 2nd overall 5 seasons ago. Notice how every one that's not a Rangers fan either says this trade is fair or Chicago shouldn't give up a late 1st for Kaapo...those are non-biased opinions and fans tend to overvalue their own players for the aforementioned reasons.

It was also widely reported that Drury was listening to offers on Kaapo, and I'm willing to bet not a single team offered him a top 10 pick or the equivalent value in a player; the market rates don't lend itself to anything better.

All opinions be it yours or mine boil down to we aren't Drury...so only he knows. However, as widely reported Kaapo is not untouchable and the market dictates what's he's worth at the end by using historical trade values and Kaapo simply isn't worth more than a late 1st currently and he's definitely not going to land a solid top 6 payer unless he's a rental. Drury isn't an idiot though.


First off.. maybe you’re not really understanding the full situation when it comes to “listening to offers”.. every GM listens to offers all the time. It’s doesn’t mean they are shopping someone. It means simply that they are listening to what someone has to say. They turned down Vatrano and Henrique with Kakko being the main piece. This is an example of how Drury values Kakko more than a 1st. He turned down guentzel with Kakko being the main piece. Another example of how drury values kakko more than a 1st. Now as you say, if Drury has an absolute obsession with the 10OA pick in the draft he may make that move. Chances are extremely, extremely low.. but there’s a sliver of a chance. While you gauge Kakko as an underachieving 2OA and refer to him as a bust yet willing to “overpay” for him…wow that sounds rather contradicting…. He has been trending better than many in the stat category. For an example, his stats after playing this much time/games he has a better points rate and goals rate than Nichushkin did and 3 years younger than Nichushkin at this point. That’s one example. Turcotte was drafted 3 spots after him and is struggling beyond belief while kakko has been a fantastic 2 way player as a kid. You value stats but more than goals and assists are part of evaluating a player, at least on a real GM level. But again, your hot take acgm is fun for you so keep pretending everything you say is accurate
 
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