Zach Jarom: Vegas Baby! Hawks vs Knights

Only two games left of watching guys like Johnson (both of them), Entwistle, Raddysh, Blackwell, Megna, Tinordi, Zaitsev, etc. all play above their ceiling.

I can see Slaggert beginning the year in Rockford as well. Nothing against the kid, but he'll have to earn his spot. There should be a lot of hungry kids in camp this summer as well.

Only two games left of watching guys like Johnson (both of them), Entwistle, Raddysh, Blackwell, Megna, Tinordi, Zaitsev, etc. all play above their ceiling.

I can see Slaggert beginning the year in Rockford as well. Nothing against the kid, but he'll have to earn his spot. There should be a lot of hungry kids in camp this summer as well.
- Chunk

What part of their games do you think Slaggert or Nazar need to be developed in Rockford? Both seem to be pretty good defensively. I have no problem if KD and LR think they need some seasoning but from what little I’ve seen them both appear ready. I sure don’t want to see some AHL or NHL journeyman taking up a spot if Slaggert, Nazar, Korchinski, Del Mastro or some other young talent if they’re ready. Enough of the tanking, it’s time to start moving forward.

Sorry I HAD to reblog this

As always I am hopeful Chicago can move up in the draft.....
- jhawk59



I doubt anyone is trading the first Celebrini pick, so forget about trying to get it.

To me, there is solace in #4 (or #3).

It certainly bothers me that New Jersey has a slight chance to win the first over-all, and would love to see the San Jose (pick they acquired from Pittsburgh) wins the lottery, moves them up into slot 4 so they have two in the top four.


What is very disconcerting to me is where the current consensus of Michael Hage has exploded.

Most of you remember me having him mock drafted to the Blackhawks with that early second rounder.

Then, as I continued to watch I placed him about 19-22 as the hawks 2nd First Rounder via Tampa, and explained here I didn't see it as a reach but what they "needed" to do to ensure that acquired him.

Now everyone in the prospect community has him as a top 17 selection, and that final Central Scouting had him in the top TEN of North American skaters.
And there is a good chance those slots before Tampa's Hagel return pick sees 10 euros going off the board.
Man, I thought I had him a hawk and all the bolts had to do is get beat in the first round.

Also I earlier saw said the signal of the cream and high tears of prospects ends when RD Adam Jiricek goes off the board; he had a knee injury around Christmas and there seems a good possibility that concerns about his offensive game pre-injury and know chance to play and better showings at that side of his game, he may be there as the hawks RD pick in the second.

Central Scouting Services stature as the know all be all has plummeted, and a simple look to the last decade of THEIR favorites and the way the draft prospects are taken have dramatically declined in similarity.

(Believe, there may be a few teams who still use it close to religiously, but that is because their staffs probably want supplemental view to solidify their weak one.)

So, much of the bluster from the hockey media, but teams are not letting them know their true intentions and the guys they like, and they are all still guessing.

Sorry I HAD to reblog this

As always I am hopeful Chicago can move up in the draft.....
- jhawk59



I doubt anyone is trading the first Celebrini pick, so forget about trying to get it.

To me, there is solace in #4 (or #3).

It certainly bothers me that New Jersey has a slight chance to win the first over-all, and would love to see the San Jose (pick they acquired from Pittsburgh) wins the lottery, moves them up into slot 4 so they have two in the top four.


What is very disconcerting to me is where the current consensus of Michael Hage has exploded.

Most of you remember me having him mock drafted to the Blackhawks with that early second rounder.

Then, as I continued to watch I placed him about 19-22 as the hawks 2nd First Rounder via Tampa, and explained here I didn't see it as a reach but what they "needed" to do to ensure that acquired him.

Now everyone in the prospect community has him as a top 17 selection, and that final Central Scouting had him in the top TEN of North American skaters.
And there is a good chance those slots before Tampa's Hagel return pick sees 10 euros going off the board.
Man, I thought I had him a hawk and all the bolts had to do is get beat in the first round.

Also I earlier saw said the signal of the cream and high tears of prospects ends when RD Adam Jiricek goes off the board; he had a knee injury around Christmas and there seems a good possibility that concerns about his offensive game pre-injury and know chance to play and better showings at that side of his game, he may be there as the hawks RD pick in the second.

Central Scouting Services stature as the know all be all has plummeted, and a simple look to the last decade of THEIR favorites and the way the draft prospects are taken have dramatically declined in similarity.

(Believe, there may be a few teams who still use it close to religiously, but that is because their staffs probably want supplemental view to solidify their weak one.)

So, much of the bluster from the hockey media, but teams are not letting them know their true intentions and the guys they like, and they are all still guessing.
- wiz1901

How is it possible that some have Eiserman ranked as high as number 2 and others as low as number 16. What are some seeing that others aren’t?

I can’t remember a draft where the guys after the top pick were less known. Seems to be some wild variation. Excited to get a top player regardless.

I can’t remember a draft where the guys after the top pick were less known. Seems to be some wild variation. Excited to get a top player regardless.

What part of their games do you think Slaggert or Nazar need to be developed in Rockford? Both seem to be pretty good defensively. I have no problem if KD and LR think they need some seasoning but from what little I’ve seen them both appear ready. I sure don’t want to see some AHL or NHL journeyman taking up a spot if Slaggert, Nazar, Korchinski, Del Mastro or some other young talent if they’re ready. Enough of the tanking, it’s time to start moving forward.
- paulr

Slaggert has had a few plays where maybe he's a step slow but thats gonna be an adjustment no matter how much time he spends in Rockford.

I agree though he's in the right place and the right time a majority of the time, always seems to be around the goal, maybe not the highest ceiling but definitely a NHL player and even more so when you look at the rest of the roster. I think his off the puck play is better than Kurashev's and I think at this stage you keep him in the NHL. It's not like his ceiling is that much higher or there are specific things to his game he has to sort out or confidence or whatever.

I don't think Nazar plays in Rockford. He's not over matched and if he's creating plays consistently and playing decent defense then no need to have him in the AHL. He's probably the second best forward to Bedard at this point so if it's really a meritocracy then there's not a lot of point in sending him down.

What part of their games do you think Slaggert or Nazar need to be developed in Rockford? Both seem to be pretty good defensively. I have no problem if KD and LR think they need some seasoning but from what little I’ve seen them both appear ready. I sure don’t want to see some AHL or NHL journeyman taking up a spot if Slaggert, Nazar, Korchinski, Del Mastro or some other young talent if they’re ready. Enough of the tanking, it’s time to start moving forward.
- paulr

I'm not saying they do (and I didn't even mention Nazar). I'm simply saying that there will be a lot of competition for roster spots next year. Depending on who else is brought in and what holes need to be filled in the line up, it would not surprise me to see Slaggert in the AHL. Not really knocking him, but he's certainly going to have to earn his spot.

I can’t remember a draft where the guys after the top pick were less known. Seems to be some wild variation. Excited to get a top player regardless.
- ObeseOprah

Let's hope this isn't a repeat of 2012:

1. Yakupov
2. Murray
3. Galchenyuk
4. Reinhart
5. Rielly
6. Lindholm
7. Dumba
8. Pouilot
9. Trouba
10. Koekkoek

Trouba/Reilly are keepers and Forsberg (11), Wilson (16), TT(18) and Vasilevski (19) are winners, but wow that top 10 is pretty weak.

I'm not saying they do (and I didn't even mention Nazar). I'm simply saying that there will be a lot of competition for roster spots next year. Depending on who else is brought in and what holes need to be filled in the line up, it would not surprise me to see Slaggert in the AHL. Not really knocking him, but he's certainly going to have to earn his spot.
- Chunk

Even if KD signs 3 quality NHL players, there's still plenty of space on this roster for Nazar and Slaggert, the guy who has to worry about not having a roster spot is Reichel. Defense never slumps and Reichel is on the weak side of playing defense.

Slaggert has had a few plays where maybe he's a step slow but thats gonna be an adjustment no matter how much time he spends in Rockford.

I agree though he's in the right place and the right time a majority of the time, always seems to be around the goal, maybe not the highest ceiling but definitely a NHL player and even more so when you look at the rest of the roster. I think his off the puck play is better than Kurashev's and I think at this stage you keep him in the NHL. It's not like his ceiling is that much higher or there are specific things to his game he has to sort out or confidence or whatever.

I don't think Nazar plays in Rockford. He's not over matched and if he's creating plays consistently and playing decent defense then no need to have him in the AHL. He's probably the second best forward to Bedard at this point so if it's really a meritocracy then there's not a lot of point in sending him down.
- fattybeef

Might be a bit early to crown him our second best forward after 15 minutes of NHL playing time.

Chuck was making a good point that the guys need to earn their spots. It will be up to them to show they belong, not just after a few games here at the end of the year, but training camp next year and into next season.

This is where the coach and GM need to do their job and so far they haven't been afraid to send guy down, especially when they need work. I mean just looking back a year or so, folks were clamoring over how great Reichel was and like many young players, his road hasn't been a linear path.

Even if KD signs 3 quality NHL players, there's still plenty of space on this roster for Nazar and Slaggert, the guy who has to worry about not having a roster spot is Reichel. Defense never slumps and Reichel is on the weak side of playing defense.
- BetweenTheDots

We have a long list of forwards on the weak side of playing defense. After Richardson, Anderson, Blackwell and Raddysh it starts to drop off pretty fast on the defensive side of the puck.

How is it possible that some have Eiserman ranked as high as number 2 and others as low as number 16. What are some seeing that others aren’t?
- paulr

Obviously a shorter jump but guys had Fantilli as consensus 2 and potentially a 1 pick and Carlson ended up jumping him.

Bill eluded to this a little bit without exactly saying it but the NHL as well as people who are doing these prospect evaluations are a strange mix of very disparate opinions. Some of them the game has probably passed by.

I think you see Eiserman drop because he's showing one thing. He shoots, and shoots and shoots.

When you have a player with a shot that good that is what you want. Part of the knock on Bedard was he's not really a playmaker. Talk about a miss there. But with the team he was on he had to score because who else in Regina was going to finish. His stat line was a bit more balanced on the WJC teams because he had people he could pass to.

Eiserman's scoring rate is stupidly impressive and it looks like he's a gym rat. To be pushing 200lbs as a 17 year old and scoring at a goal per game pace basically everywhere in his career should probably get a little more attention.

I think there are too many people trying to emphasize "complete" or "well rounded" players. Those are guys you take in the second half of the first or second round IMO. The players with special skills I think you take earlier.

Lindstrom is a kid that can make a GM look like a genius or get them fired. I think that is the case for the Russians as well. GM's getting obsessed with straight line speed and a physical tool set (see Jones, Seth) is also part of the equation and why you see all of the kids who are tall RHD's up in the top 5 in a lot of lists.

Thankfully this season is almost over.
At least the last few games have been worth watching with some of the young talent stepping in. Hopefully we get to see more promise to head into next season.
Go Hawks

Let's hope this isn't a repeat of 2012:

1. Yakupov
2. Murray
3. Galchenyuk
4. Reinhart
5. Rielly
6. Lindholm
7. Dumba
8. Pouilot
9. Trouba
10. Koekkoek

Trouba/Reilly are keepers and Forsberg (11), Wilson (16), TT(18) and Vasilevski (19) are winners, but wow that top 10 is pretty weak.
- Popsghostly

Top 10 did turn out to be pretty weak but that draft has produced a large number of players with 500+ games played so far.

Some years there just isn't any superstars, just a large number of guys who turn into very solid NHL pros.

I will be at the game tonight to cheer on the Hawks. First ever NHL game for me, flew for basically 2 days to get here and can't wait for the puck to drop!!!!

I will be at the game tonight to cheer on the Hawks. First ever NHL game for me, flew for basically 2 days to get here and can't wait for the puck to drop!!!!
- NZBlackHawk

Enjoy the game! Nothing beats the atmosphere of watching the NHL live.

Enjoy the game! Nothing beats the atmosphere of watching the NHL live.
- breadbag

I have been supporting the Hawks for over 30 years, so this is a bucket list event!!

I will be at the game tonight to cheer on the Hawks. First ever NHL game for me, flew for basically 2 days to get here and can't wait for the puck to drop!!!!
- NZBlackHawk

Awesome. Nothing better than the Hawks and the city of Las Vegas.

Be prepared for a steep descent down the stairs at TMobile if you have 300-level seats. I was inching down in fear with my beer. Be warned too that if you get one of those tall-boy beers at the Amazon-register-less stores, it'll cost you like 18.98.

I have been supporting the Hawks for over 30 years, so this is a bucket list event!!
- NZBlackKawk

Enjoy, nothing beats an NHL game live. Hopefully you have good seats, the speed is ridiculous if you are close to the ice. If you’re seating in the upper levels, that’s okay as well, you can see the plays develop much better from up there.

I have been supporting the Hawks for over 30 years, so this is a bucket list event!!
- NZBlackHawk

Last October I met a guy from New Zealand wearing a Jonathan Toews t-shirt at the Tower Bridge in London.

Detroit season officially over. They pushed it to overtime with 5 seconds left, but Washington just won.

Kinda bummed we don’t get to see a healthy kane in the playoffs. Washington is fooling only themselves trying to be competitive with this dinosaur team. They’ll get trounced by the Rangers or Hurricanes.

Kinda bummed we don’t get to see a healthy kane in the playoffs. Washington is fooling only themselves trying to be competitive with this dinosaur team. They’ll get trounced by the Rangers or Hurricanes.
- ObeseOprah

I was thinking the same thing. Crazy scene when Det tied it up.