@puckempire The McKenna/Stenberg gap is bigger than people pretend. Zero chance McKenna doesn't go first. People sleeping on the D near the top of the draft. F getting the attention because it's harder for D to just jump in, but there are solid picks.
@RinksideGeneral Depends on the return as you have to give to get but tough to move a guy with top 4 upside after much of the growing pains of bringing in a young D already. Too early to deal unless you get a good return you really need. The thing is we need a top 4 LHD which he may become soon.
@CHGO_Blackhawks@jayzawaski I think they really wanted to get a deal done but not at the term he is looking for. It's too bad as he is a solid contributor given his role.
@Harian_Mossa I really think he suffered a setback losing his Dad. I can't stress that enough. Not easy for a teen under the pressure he is. I will say, of the young D, Korchinski is one of the better ones at defending with his stick down low and in the corners.
@Harian_Mossa Slaggert needs to definitely do something. He plays the way you want, but his impact is so limited. He will just be the 12-14th forward unless something changes. Commesso is fine, goalies need seasons in the AHL in most cases. Nazar is well positioned IMO. Not concerned.
@AdrianCrisostim@BenPopeCST I'll put it this way, he has more "non-powerplay" goals(38) than each of Bedard(35) and Bertuzzi(34) over the last two seasons. That while being deployed defensively and actually being the team's best PK forward. He is absolutely worth it around that ~5 million give or take.
@JFreshHockey All the comments that Demidov should have been a "no brainer" at #2. The guy dropped to #5. Multiple teams passed on him. Most reputable rankings had a toss up between the two at 2 and 3. Long term, Levshunov still might be the best fit for a rebuilding team that needs D.
@JFreshHockey The coaching staff threw a bit too much at him last year. Really liked his attitude on the ice, his drive, and compete level. The upside is still apparent, but while much of his draft class isn't yet in the NHL, he was thrown to the deep end a bit.
@MichaelTotosz Some great players in the NHL went #4. Yzerman, Francis, Kariya, Gartner, L Murphy, McDonald, Luongo, Backstrom, Makar, Marner, Pietrangelo, Raymond, B Tkachuk, L Hughes, the list goes on. The Hawks are likely getting a solid NHL player. We aren't in desperate win now mode.