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Oh wow, it’s gotta be a shock for you and your wife, Dots. Bet half the time you don’t know what to do with yourself. You guys are living the dream!! Well deserved………..
Maybe KD is waiting for a Kaprisov to be a FA and give him 20 mil per with term. We all talk about adding a Hossa and when that is the time right. McTavish checks a lotta the same boxes as Hossa but he’s 22 AND a centerman. ……. KD is so laser focused he may seem conservative but his first draft day says otherwise. We’ll see but there has to be a time for him to do something really big.
Shock to the system, hahaha
It’s a relief, don’t get me wrong i care for all of them but it’s about damn time i don’t have to care and provide for someone else
Killjoy.
???? guilty as charged
They have some nice younger pieces like Carlsson, McTavish, Gauthier, Sennecke, and McQueen (if he gets healthy).
That is one of the reasons Friedman gave to explain Verbeek’s hard negotiating stance.
Said if he just gives up and bends over for McTavish, all those other young guys are gonna be even tougher.I wouldn’t give up Rinzel or Lev for McTavish. He’s a nice to have, but both of these rhd are worth a lot more on the market.
My Minny friends are in full panic mode. If Kiprisov isn’t signed by season start, he’s not signing, regardless of what the wild talking heads say. Imagine if there were questions about Bedard signing and Danny pipes up that things are fine. I would crap myself.
It is time to let our imaginations run wild! Bedard-McTavish-Kaprisov on the first line. Get er done KFC!
It is time to let our imaginations run wild! Bedard-McTavish-Kaprisov on the first line. Get er done KFC!
Burakovsky/Bedard/Kaprisov – FIFO
Necas/Nazar/Moore – 2nd line?
Greg Boysen, hockey writer formerly of Chicago Hockey Now, has a new podcast out The Second Balcony. Here’s a link. It focuses on the up and coming young D and the early days of camp.
September 20, 2025 – Seattle 6, Tri-City 3 – notes
Matej Pekar Seattle Thunderbirds 8-Sep-07 5-10 165 LHRW (Undrafted 2025)
Pekar (pronounced like pay-kash) came over to Seattle last year and had 64-17-15-32; this year he has added a few pounds and in this game was aggressive in pushing the play and willing to go into the corners. He has excellent speed and stick handling, and is very agile in carrying the puck around defenders and into the attack zone. Had four assists on the night, a couple early due to a bad start for the Tri-City goalie. Was very energetic all game, and was instrumental in Seattle keeping up the pressure. Had a nice steal that turned into a shot, was very active in 4 on 4 play. Size will continue to be a concern as he moves to higher levels, but speed, agility, and skill could earn him a 2026 draft slot after being passed over last year. 3rd star of the game.Marek Sklenicka Seattle Thunderbirds 27-Aug-08 6-4 170 G (2026 Eligible)
Sklenicka is new to Seattle as he was selected in the international draft this summer. Earned the opening night start over more experienced goalies. Sklenicka is tall and remains upright until the puck comes down low. Somewhat rangy but is agile when going between up and down positions. He had a number of good saves (including a couple of breakaways), especially in the second period as Tri-City was pressing. First goal glove side over left shoulder. Another goal came on a low shot from Vanecek that leaked through; these are tough for a tall goalie. Third goal he was crashed into by an attacker but no penalty was called and goal was allowed. 2026 eligible but not currently ranked. He has a good base of size and skill to build on, and could merit draft consideration if he improves his focus and plays well. Was 15-2.18-0.928 in Czechia U20 last year.Cameron Kuzma Seattle Thunderbirds 17-Jul-08 6-3 198 LC (2026 Eligible)
Kuzma comes to Seattle from Regina where he had 46-4-14-18 last year. He is a sizable center and is very aggressive around the net and in the corners of the forecheck. Assisted with Pekar on the first two Seattle goals. Did not score the rest of the game but had constant pressure in the offensive zone all night. Aggressive on the power play. Won 11 of 17 faceoffs and was the game’s 2nd star.Gavin Garland Tri-City Americans 8-Feb-06 5-9 183 RW (Undrafted 2024, 2025)
Garland is small but plays bigger, has good speed and can get pucks to the net. Had 4 shots on the night. Has useful skills but will have to show scoring ability to get into higher leagues as he has been passed over in the last two drafts. Had 54-21-21-42 in Tri-City last year.Cruz Pavao Tri-City Americans 24-Aug-08 5-11 194 RW (2026 Eligible, Wiz #154)
Pavao is not tall but is thick and this does not slow him down; he has the speed and puck handling skills to trigger offensive rushes. Early in the game he beat the defenseman on a rush and drew a penalty. Later had a fast entry with impressive puck control. Had 2 assists in the game. Looks as if he will score some this year, and could move to the mid rounds in the 2026 draft. Had 63-10-15-25 in Tri-City last year.Jakub Vanecek Tri-City Americans 25-Feb-08 6-2 185 LD (2026 Eligible, Wiz #62)
Another big defenseman coming over this year from Czechia. Excellent agility and puck control for a big defender. Had a low hard shot for a goal and showed good movement in all zones. Early on had a bit of an awkward posession in the d-zone that ended in a Seattle goal. Improved on defense quickly as the game went on, and drew a penalty (but evened it out taking an embellishment call). Should improve quickly while adjusting to North America. Has all the traits to be an early pick in the 2026 draft. Was 31-0-4-4 in Czechia U20 last year, 7-1-3-4 in international play this year.Others
1st star of the game was Simon Lovsin of Seattle who had 2 goais and an assist. He was passed over in the 2025 draft after having 35 points in 64 games. Needs to score more and is off to a good start.C Brock England, a 2027 eligible, had 2 late goals for Seattle also.
LD Aiden Bouchard, also a 2027 eligible (not related to Evan Bouchard) was a high pick for Tri-City (WHL #3 overall) and played in the game but did not score.
Notes log at: https://hockeystew25.blogspot.com/
I really didn’t expect many folks that were for moving Artie or Rinzel for McTavish. That’s a big ask from a fan base… Rinzel especially is showing he just might be a real difference making, minute eating, big, mobile RS Dman who might be a legit #1 PP guy. And Artie shows flashes of elite traits. His rise as far as going from one level to the next in 3 straight yrs is meteoric. ….. And remember Rinzel was drafted in 2022 and Artie was drafted in 2024. Artie is young for his draft yr, Rinzel is 18 months older than him… IMO Artie is farther away from his ceiling than Rinzel is. Long long way to go but Rinzel looks like the goods. Both Dmen check loads of boxes.
Artie jumped from level to level every yr. Go go go. Highest level possible every time. In a hurry…….. Now, I watched Rinzel play at WTL on an Olympic sheet his draft yr. Probably 10-15 times, not just for him but IMO Waterloo has the best arena, atmosphere, game production and PBP in all of the lil ole USHL. Love that joint. Kid really was raw and could skate it up but man he gave up a lotta odd mans against taking chances at the attack blueline and his defensive in zone play was scary. Lost, didn’t move his feet, low work rate, didn’t us his size. My favorite thing about Rinzel, outa his whole career, was his decision to stay at WTL of the USHL the yr after he was drafted. He had a spot at U of MN waiting but he stayed in the USHL
That tells me so much about a jr player/kid. Most want to speed up the process and move up but Rinzel knew he needed much more work before college hockey and he stayed and got that work with an old cornerstone organIzation that that has developed for 30-40 yrs. Tells me a kid gets it whether he’s a 3rd overall or 4th rounder. Some kids really get, and are truly bought into, a process and one way to see that as a fan is when they themselves understand they’re not sound and ready for the next level… I think the perception is, and I agree, that NCAA kids bend that way more than jrs players.
Anyway, moving an Artie or Rinzel for a difference making top 6 centerman is the cost of doing business IMO. Been chirping about Kaiser since his 10 games in the USHL but him, a 1st rounder and a couple B level prospects ain’t gonna get a McTavish. It’s gonna take probable elite talent going the other way…… IMO everything is lined up for such a move. Loads of draft capital, elite talent ready for the Bigs, ability to trade from a surplus (defense) to add an asset wherever they’re short (elite forward prospects), a 21-22-23 yr old fits the timeline and the elephant in the room of getting Bedard elite talent to play with as he tries to develop some sense of a 200 ft NHL game and find a rythm.
If not now, when?
Rico,
I respect your hockey knowledge and your opinion, however I do not agree with moving a RD with top pair probability for a middle six center. Both Artie and Rinzel have that type of talent, and while I’d love for the Hawks to acquire McTavish, I’m not willing to pay that price. Bedard, Nazar, Frondell, Vlasic, and the two aforementioned Dmen are part of the future core, I’d have to be blown away to trade any of those six and I would add Knight to this list as well. Who’s to say Frondell won’t turn into a McTavish, he has the same type of skill set and is actually a better skater.The big thing is building from the back end. Looks like we have our goaltending, and our top 6 defensemen look like they could be a solid defense of the future. Trading a RHD for a #2 centerman now, a number 3 when Frondell comes over, doesn’t make a lot of sense. Trading a RHD like Arty or Rinzel should get us a bonified #1 centerman plus. Trading Jones with his bulky contract for a young #1 goalie and a 1st round pick shows what RHD are worth, even when trading from a point of serious weakness.
Trading a RHD like Arty or Rinzel should get us a bonified #1 centerman plus.
This doesn’t make sense. There’s just as many #1 RD in the league as there are #1 centers. Which is valued more depends on each team’s situation. Hawks have 8-9 NHL d-men but very few blue chip forwards let alone #1 centers. You trade from a position of excess strength to fill the voids of weakness.
Hawks are built through several drafts. Just like Theo did with the Cubs when he selected all dominant bats with his high picks for several years (Bryant, Schwarber, etc), Hawks shored up the blueline and went heavy with high floor speedy forwards. Theo filled the pitching void in free agency just as Kyle will next summer with the UFA forwards. Sharks did the opposite and will look to fill all their blueline deficiencies with free agency as well.Assman22
ParticipantThis doesn’t make sense. There’s just as many #1 RD in the league as there are #1 centers. Which is valued more depends on each team’s situation. Hawks have 8-9 NHL d-men but very few blue chip forwards let alone #1 centers. You trade from a position of excess strength to fill the voids of weakness.
Hawks are built through several drafts. Just like Theo did with the Cubs when he selected all dominant bats with his high picks for several years (Bryant, Schwarber, etc), Hawks shored up the blueline and went heavy with high floor speedy forwards. Theo filled the pitching void in free agency just as Kyle will next summer with the UFA forwards. Sharks did the opposite and will look to fill all their blueline deficiencies with free agency as well.
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There are more legitimate #1 centers in the league than legitimate #1 RD’s, so I’m going to respectfully disagree. Look at the Leafs, they have Matthews as a #1 center, who’s their #1 RD? Let me say this, they are both very important positions on a hockey team, however as much as I like McTavish, he’s not a #1 center. The Hawks are in an envious position to have possibly two legitimate #1 RD’s, I would run with them for the next ten years.Assman22
There are more legitimate #1 centers in the league than legitimate #1 RD’s, so I’m going to respectfully disagree. Look at the Leafs, they have Matthews as a #1 center, who’s their #1 RD? Let me say this, they are both very important positions on a hockey team, however as much as I like McTavish, he’s not a #1 center. The Hawks are in an envious position to have possibly two legitimate #1 RD’s, I would run with them for the next ten years.Riddle me this, Batman…would the Queafs trade Matthews for a #1 RD?
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