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Wadejos123

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May 5, 2017
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Chicago Blackhawks
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Forum: Armchair-GMWed. at 7:15 a.m.
Forum: Armchair-GMTue. at 2:14 p.m.
Forum: Armchair-GMTue. at 11:38 a.m.
Forum: Armchair-GMMon. at 1:45 p.m.
Forum: Armchair-GMMon. at 10:26 a.m.
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Garak</b></div><div>I don't think it is anywhere near a foregone conclusion that CHI will be out of the bottom 5 by 2026, but it is certainly possible. Just think about it, 25-26 will be most of our prospects first or second years in pro, most of which will still probably be in the AHL, and Kyle Davidson has said he isn't going after big ticket free agents this summer while also alluding that he has no intention of doing so at any point. Which leads me to believe he is going to get more Dickinson/Foligno/Domi/AA/TJohnson types, and cap dumps, to fill out the roster while prospects are developing. So, I'm not sure how you can expect with such certainty that "CHI will be out of the bottom 5 regardless." It is probably more likely that CHI is still a bottom feeder at that point than it is that CHI makes any sort of drastic jump in the standings. It doesn't matter how much money CHI needs to spend, KD seems committed to building from within and padding the cap with short term overpayments and cap dumps in order to get us to the other side of this rebuild. It is the entire point of his plan to get as many high picks as possible before they start trending back up the standings, and do this rebuild from within. So if I were betting one way or the other, I would absolutely put my money on CHI being in the bottom of the standings for 2 to 5 more years.</div></div>

At bare minimum hawks will have Bedard who will be a lock for 100+ points by this point in my opinion. You will also for sure have Nazar and whoever we take top 4 this year in the NHL by then. Then you will be forced to add 40M worth of players just to hit the cap floor. I get that this won't be made up of any big fish FA's, but it will be made up of a few overpaid vets tto help the kids as well as cap dumps. These guys will still no doubt be better than the likes of Raddysh, Entwistle, Tinrodi, etc and all the other guys on our team right now who arguably aern't playing at an NHL level. Then the last factor is any development you get from 2 more years in the NHL for Korchinksi, Reichel, and Vlasic. I won't even mention the possible additions of any other prospects who look like they are within 2 years of being NHL ready (Moore, EDM, Rinzel, etc) or any other draft pick. When I lay all this out I don't see any way this team isn't better 2 years from now. I am not saying we are pushing to make the playoffs, but the bar to get off the bottom 5 isn't high.
Forum: Armchair-GMSat. at 7:36 p.m.
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Garak</b></div><div>I wouldn't be so sure about that. You are probably right, but we could still very easily be at the bottom of the standings in the 25-26 season. Remember, some of these guys are gonna need AHL time once they graduate to pro, and most of them will need time at the NHL level to really click, which will likely be more than one or two seasons.</div></div>

<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Garak</b></div><div>Well, Lindstrom has been out since December. And since he left the lineup, Medicine Hat has not been nearly as good. So, he was absolutely driving the bus for that team before the injury. In my viewings his effort/motor/compete/IQ were top notch, he protects the puck super well, the puck is just glued to his stick, he can shoot very well, he can dangle, he can out muscle guys, great passer and playmaker, but also great as a net front presence, a real battler, his defensive play is fantastic, I think he is the real deal total package Selke caliber top 6 forward. Plus, in Tony Ferrari's interview with him, he just seemed like a really good and intelligent kid. I don't see any issues with his IQ or vision, either. He is the kind of guy who just makes things happen every game. I see a lot of Toews in him, some Byfield too.

McKenna is a great offensive player, but at this point in his development that is about all he has going for him. Considering he isn't eligible for the draft until 2026, I'd say he is going to be special, for sure. But, he isn't the "best player" right now, imho. He will be very soon, though.

Levshunov looks way better this last month or so. I think he is really blossoming in these more meaningful games toward the end of the season and the Big10 Championship games. I'm still not a fan of taking him in the top 4 because I think CHI has bigger needs, but I understand if they go that route.

Catton is on the smaller side, but he is a fantastic all around C, in my limited viewings. Real meat and potatoes structured high temp game in all zones. I haven't watched a ton of him, but enough to know that he is another "real deal" type. Top 6 C all day, imo. Motor, compete, IQ, he can score, he can create, he can pass, all the good stuff. And for a smaller dude, he is built tough. Not exactly a physical player, but he can take it and dish it out. I would definitely be in favor of taking him 4th OA or later.

Idk... Maybe I am dead wrong, but I think top 6 forwards are a bigger need for CHI. So, I have Celebrini, Lindstrom/Demidov, and Catton, above Levshunov in that order. There are also some high end LD's that look more than comfortable playing the right side, like Dickinson, Silayev, Buium, etc., I think Buium has a real shot at being the best dman out of this draft and has gone horribly overlooked in favor of some guys who, frankly, aren't as good. If I didn't have my blinders on for so long to LD's, I would've admitted it sooner. So, There are a lot of ways CHI can go, and they are gonna do whatever they are gonna do. Not much I can do about it.</div></div>

Honestly lottery is barley a factor in getting off the bototm 4. Just to get to the cap floor the hawks will have to spend somewhere near 40 million more than they currently have comitted and they also barley have any elc's expiring between now and then. That + Bedard development alone will be enough