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Aussie_Blackhawk

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Chicago Blackhawks
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Forum: Armchair-GMOct. 28, 2023 at 8:57 p.m.
Forum: Armchair-GMOct. 27, 2023 at 11:51 p.m.
Forum: Armchair-GMOct. 26, 2023 at 10:24 a.m.
Thread: What this team could look like
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Garak</b></div><div>I am definitely convinced top 6 is more important than RD. We have Jones for 7 more years, Murphy for 3 more, Rinzel is looking like he won't take as long as originally predicted, and Kelley is having a decent year. Some positions could always be addressed through free agency or trades, if/when it becomes necessary, and RD kind of fits the bill for that. Most of what have right now for forwards seem like 2nd liners tops. We need another BIG talent to play with Bedard on the top line, IMO. Someone who can think the game the way and speed he does. But, we'll see. I do certainly want to add RHD to our pool. But I don't think we need to use a top pick on an RHD right now. I'd strongly consider guys like Mews, Elick, Cristoforo, etc. with that TBL pick or in the early 2nd round, depending where the rankings end up and the picks land.

Side note: VAN has an absolute WEALTH of RHD out of the 2023 draft. Bruzcewicz, Willander, and A. Celebrini are ALL hitting for them. If we can figure out a way to steal one of them away, that would also help our RHD pool.</div></div>

<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>exo2769</b></div><div>So you don't think Moore/Nazar/Reichel can play a top 6 role? If we're on the same page that Rinzel can be a 2nd pair guy...and at least I do believe so far he can do that....and...that Seth Jones is getting older. We don't have a #1 RD in 4 years. Is 34 Seth Jones a #1 RD? I just see that as a bigger need. I'm not saying if you get the #1 OA that you force yourself to Levshunov. You draft best available, but I don't see Demidov as a better choice than Levshunov.</div></div>

The thing about top six wingers is they're always going to be available from somewhere. The Hawks obviously need a couple, but you can go find those guys. The Panthers went out and got Verhaghe, Reinhart, and Tkachuk in the span of two seasons. The Blues plucked Buchnevich out of thin air when they let Schwartz walk. The Devils payed for Palat and traded for Meier. Debrincat, Gaudreau, Fiala, these are all top end guys who moved not too long ago.

Also, if Bedard is everything he's supposed to be, you're probably looking at something of a Chris Kunitz/Michael Bunting effect, where you don't NEED (and probably won't be able to afford) world beating wingers next to him. You can just have, like, guys.

Nobody is trading top pairing-ish RHDs that don't have a flaw of some kind. The only big example I can think of to the contrary is Marino, and even he doesn't play on the top pair. Everyone else, they're trading for an old guy, they're trading for a guy who wants too much money, MAYBE they're signing them in free agency, sometimes. If the Hawks pick 3 and Levshunov is the best available, they should take Levshunov. Shore up that top D. There might be enough guys who will play NHL games, but none of those guys in the Hawks' system (or in Vancouver's, for that matter) are tracking to be much more than bottomish pair defensemen.

There's enough other ways to source the wingers, if your management is smart and proactive.
Forum: Armchair-GMOct. 26, 2023 at 8:43 a.m.
Thread: What this team could look like
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Garak</b></div><div>I am definitely convinced top 6 is more important than RD. We have Jones for 7 more years, Murphy for 3 more, Rinzel is looking like he won't take as long as originally predicted, and Kelley is having a decent year. Some positions could always be addressed through free agency or trades, if/when it becomes necessary, and RD kind of fits the bill for that. Most of what have right now for forwards seem like 2nd liners tops. We need another BIG talent to play with Bedard on the top line, IMO. Someone who can think the game the way and speed he does. But, we'll see. I do certainly want to add RHD to our pool. But I don't think we need to use a top pick on an RHD right now. I'd strongly consider guys like Mews, Elick, Cristoforo, etc. with that TBL pick or in the early 2nd round, depending where the rankings end up and the picks land.

Side note: VAN has an absolute WEALTH of RHD out of the 2023 draft. Bruzcewicz, Willander, and A. Celebrini are ALL hitting for them. If we can figure out a way to steal one of them away, that would also help our RHD pool.</div></div>

So you don't think Moore/Nazar/Reichel can play a top 6 role? If we're on the same page that Rinzel can be a 2nd pair guy...and at least I do believe so far he can do that....and...that Seth Jones is getting older. We don't have a #1 RD in 4 years. Is 34 Seth Jones a #1 RD? I just see that as a bigger need. I'm not saying if you get the #1 OA that you force yourself to Levshunov. You draft best available, but I don't see Demidov as a better choice than Levshunov.
Forum: Armchair-GMOct. 25, 2023 at 2:34 p.m.