The Blackhawks have a break even week and trade their captain. @mjernst.bsky.social and I discuss the week and remember Troy Murray in a new episode of The Emergency Goalies podcast. soundcloud.com/user-1822502...
Don't think the Hawks have many hopes pinned on you
Yikes.
Hey, sometimes a bad fit is just that. It isn't damning for a player's future outlook. Maybe the transfer to BU didn't go the way Boisvert hoped and at some point checked out mentally and began looking forward to pro hockey. It's disappointing but not end of the world
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I was never enthused about that pick. There were 3 clearly better prospects on the board in my eye.
But that's not to say that I didn't have some belief in Boisvert. As I said, he does have talent (big shot, good hands, frame to become a power forward). But questionable feet, and plays too perimeter
Injuries... blah, blah, blah. Boisvert's been bad. Stepped in as the 1C for the departing Ryan Greene on what was expected to be one of NCAA's best teams, and failed to deliver.
Limited energy. Limited production.
Boisvert has talent. But he has no identity as a player. He's played like Burakovsky.
They better be.
Ideally, Hawks are in position to draft a high end forward (preferably a C, but a W is fine) with their 1st and then draft a bunch of D with the rest of their selections to rebuild the pipeline.
But this is a D heavy class, without a high end C, so you have to be willing to go BPA.
Thanks. I am doing better.
I was sick most of February and didn't have energy to watch much prospect film.
Tentatively my top tier still McKenna, Stenberg, Smits, Reid in some order.
If Hawks fall outside of that my next tier is something like:
Malhotra, Carels, Verhoeff, Lawrence, Suvanto, Rudolph, Belchetz, Björck, Hemming.
Oliver Moore to miss "significant time" with a LBI.
Looked like a knee injury to me. I doubt we see him again the rest of the season.
Cade Horton vs Jacob DeGrom in a ST matchup today.
Sure would be cool if people were able to watch it.
It just takes time in most instances. These guys are mostly 19-21. Tough to add weight at that age when you are burning a ton of calories skating all the time.
He tends to have a couple of nice moments every game at both ends of the ice, but then also disappears for stretches. It's a good sign to see him put in effort to break up plays defensively. Energy is there. While he has grown bigger (and taller) since drafted, stills think he needs another 5-10 lbs
Nazar had a great first month. After that the pucks stopped going in, he was generating few opportunities, and then eventually suffered a broken jaw and missed a month. His game slowly rounded into shape after his return, and now over the last couple of weeks is finally looking himself again.
Bedard was amazing tonight. Could have had 3+ goals. Came away with 0. But did manage a pair of assists.
Burakovsky finally. Finally. Scores a goal. 20 games. Mostly on Bedard's wing. Finally scores a damn goal.
It's a thread speculating about what stars might become available, not absolutely will. Every year we see 1-2 big names moved in trade. It happens. It just happened to your team last year.
I think NYR/TOR both going to give it one more shot at retool this offseason, because their guys are still all locked up long term. But if both continue to struggle, as most expect, it will be the 27 draft they truly pull the trigger on full rebuild.
Fox might request a trade this offseason though.
Very few of these guys would be available at the draft this year. If any are, the Hawks should be in on them, but I could see the Hawks holding off on going all in with an offer.
The rest likely won't be truly available until next TDL or offseason. By then, Hawks likely more willing to pay up.
Yes, I do believe that will happen.
But until it does, the possibility it doesn't has to be considered.
I listed like 10-15 names in the thread. Most won't ever become available. But a couple likely will. We just can't say for certain which will be which right now.
Moving on to potential wingers...
Jordan Kyrou.
Jason Robertson, Brady Tkachuk, Drake Batherson have all been frequent rumor mill mentions if extensions fail to be worked out.
If TOR does make the plunge on a full tear down, then Matthew Knies.
Same goes for Alex Lafrenière, Will Cuylle with NYR.
Beyond those guys, maybe Bowen Byram or Owen Power become available in BUF as they attempt to shape their roster into a contender there over the next couple of seasons. They may choose to deal from their area of strength (young LHD) to address another area of need.
A step down from that trio would be Adam Fox and Josh Morrissey.
NYR and WPG might be headed for rebuilds in near future.
Fox could ask to be moved in the middle of his long term deal.
Morrissey, like Werenski, has 2 years left and if next season goes poorly WPG may make him (and Samberg) available.
Werenski also unlikely to become available at all next season.
But after that will be entering his final season under contract.
If CLB doesn't make progress as a contender next year, and Werenski indicates he will not extend, he could become available the following offseason or TDL.
Shifting focus from C to D, the ultimate prizes are Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar, Zach Werenski.
Hughes/Makar have 1 year left. Doubtful MIN/COL will consider trading either next TDL. But if one doesn't extend, an offseason trade prior to reaching UFA could happen, as happened with Marner this year.
There's the possibility that one or both of former 1st OVR Auston Matthews or Nico Hischier become available.
TOR likely holds onto Matthews until next TDL before deciding on doing a rebuild.
Hischier has 1 year left. If NJD struggles again, and Nico doesn't extend, could become the prize next TDL.
So, who might those talents be?
And, when could we expect the Hawks to look aggressively at adding?
Blues are at least listening on Robert Thomas, who isn't an ideal 1C, but would be a great 2C behind Bedard. Hawks/Mammoth are the two orgs best positioned to make an offer STL would consider.
🧵Blackhawks musing:
They've amassed a ton of prospects and draft capital.
Depth will be a future strength.
But...
Is there a 1B talent to pair with Bedard?
Is there a #1, or even a top pair D?
Time will tell. But over the next 1-2 years they can begin exploring trade options for proven talent.
Wouldn't the most ironic direction be ups?
There we go. Nazar with a nice deflection. Hawks tie it up 3-3 late in the 2nd.
