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Rozy’s injury ended his earning career, and I love him for the sport.
On the old fan boards we were on, I never got too down on most of the skaters, but I remember that anti-Duncan Keith “Hawk fans” who said he was usually hopeless as a point guy, and loads about his weak shot, so I gotta just think positives towards the game it’s fans.
I don’t see more than Kyle over paying for a first round upgrade.
They already have Boisevert, Romanov on the way and strong farmhands in Lardis, A J Spellacy, Valclav Nestrasil, Mason West, Mark Vanaker, and the likes of Nathan Behn, John Mustard, and Jack Pridham.
Now is the time to target Russians, Euros, and college bound who we don’t see as ready, but full of upside.
A mean defender? Another future goalie Sure.
The next Cole Maker or at least Quinn Hughes?, absolutely even in the first.They could actually have a farm team that re-circulateswith talent as the parent team improves.
And payment for some high end pros to upgrade the the forward position? Yeah, I will be more than willing to improve there with better pros than they currently have.
This 2026 draft may lack a load of marquee names ready for prime time, but the class has an abundance of players who are on the upturn in their development.
There will be teams jockeying to get in the mid first and the second, even the third.
I have to woinder that if they go on a few winning streaks in the second half if there not at the top draft position will easily let them take a big centre like Caleb Malhortra or Oliver Suvanto?
Of course a lottery win make the choice Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg.
I am cluless to where the Hawks might have Viggo Bjork ranked, but as Gekncoe Steve said countless times you have to NOT pass on the most skilled players even if they are not large sized now.
This is a very different draft in that there is a limited top end, but an expansive pro tier that i can predict teams get successful high end pros, even into the fourth.
I have a strong list up of the top four rounds. I am working on the fifth round this week. Take a peak:
IF Charlie Coyle and Boone Jenner are available for picks, I say the Hawks should buy into eiither as both can add some crunch to the lines, and round out where they can upgrade subtractions.
This 2026 draft may lack a load of marquee names ready for prime time, but the class has an abundance of players who are on the upturn in their development.
There will be teams jockeying to get in the mid first and the second, even the third.
I thought the Blackhawks went into the Edmonton game with a good game plan, and were able to match up well against their top line variations of their top twosome, use their team speed to play well defensively. There were hopes of a Lardis coming out party ,while Ollie blabs mike-up, we saw some top relentless action from Slaggert,Kaiser, and more superb Knightly armor, but the mediocre part of this line-up is having a mid line-up that are all short a tool that aids the team’s attack. The slack at lighting the light does show there again weren’t enough finishers, to the point where Nickie Lardis is your main gun?
I doubt some surprise veteran sniper is on the market, or how interested anyone in-house is for that type of solution this season, but, after you watch a match where the team’s roster weaknesses are exposed, I think they may have to have start pre-selling the notion that they planned for later public releases, like
1) Connor Bedard’s addition to the Olympics, with the Wilson knee-ankle injury?2) Foligno will be officially added to the coaching staff.
3) Which of the players with ending contracts MAY be interested in a trade deal where they play for the Silver Cup?
4) That Arty is working up confidence about his shot.
5) Using Vlasic and Crevier and the Oiler’s #1 line will continue.
I thought the Blackhawks went into the game with a good game plan, and were able to match up well against their top line variations of their top twosome, use their team speed to play well defensively. There were hopes of a Lardis coming out party ,while Ollie blabs mike-up, we saw some top relentless action from Slaggert,Kaiser, and more superb Knightly armor, but the mediocre part of this line-up is having a mid line-up that are all short a tool that aids the team’s attack. The slack at lighting the light does show there again weren’t enough finishers, to the point where Nickie Lardis is your main gun?
I doubt some surprise veteran sniper is on the market, or how interested anyone in-house is for that type of solution this season, but, after you watch a match where the team’s roster weaknesses are exposed, I think they may have to have start pre-selling the notion that they planned for later public releases, like
1) Connor Bedard’s addition to the Olympics, with the Wilson knee-ankle injury?2) Foligno will be officially added to the coaching staff.
3) Which of the players with ending contracts MAY be interested in a trade deal where they play for the Silver Cup?
4) That Arty is working up confidence about his shot.
5) Using Vlasic and Crevier and the Oiler’s #1 line will continue.
Sure we might be able to draft Sweden’s Ivar Stenberg or Viggo Bjork,.but you have to wonder if Philly would trade Jack Berglund, or Washington Milton Gastrin…
It’s so refreshing to see more than one Blackhawk hopeful playing in the World Under-20s.
Anton Frondell for the second time is named the player of the game for the victors.
Believe me I am not about to say that the Swedish team isn’t just that…a well synced group with a strong backline and plenty of forwards who we will see playing in the bigs, but Frondell is a huge puck handler and presence who moves just so effortlessly, you have to feel good about his eventual pro debut. He arrives with the hardest and most powerful shot on the Blackhawk team.
Yeah, Latvian Alberts Smits is a kid any NHL team could groom as their big defender, despite the fact he plays the left side.
We can talk about the Blackhawks left defenseman depth, but I think he fills a differnet type need on the backline.
He is a tough, confindent in his abilities and snarl that he isn’t ever going to back down from playingb to his strengths.
A lot depends upon when Lil Frankie and Bedsy return to impact the draft standings negatively (with hawk wins, lol…), but I think they will looking at most big guys when they select…
Yeah, the first game today is Sweden.
I love getting the looks at big #16 Frondell.
He is responsible physical, and a load to deter, and decisiosn on whether he is a pivot or wing will iron out in the future, b/c he generates chances well.
Yeah, i have been watching Viggo Bjork for a couple seasons and he is impressive in the dot, or on the wing(s), and plays a solid 200 foot game.
I started him in my first round in my Mock, but as I started viewing more and of the bigger centres, forwards, defnseman and even the smaller offenseman, I backed him into the 2nd pick in the second round, 33 overall with the forfeited Ottawa pick around 14-16…I guess I have always looked at my mocks withe Blackhawks as the main focus, and I am not so sure they are coveting more small forwards, and may be looking for either nasty players at both positions and maybe one who has bith snarl and size.
I mean unless they pick top 5, I don’t see any reason they cannot prioritize size and fill in the line-up futures with bigger boys.
Sorry Steve, but son from Glencoe got Vaclav Nestrasil wrong yesterday as the pivot on his line. #17 Seek-KORE-a Sykora is, and #15, Vojtech Cihar is the LW.
Nestrasil lines yup as a right handed RIGHT WING at center ice, but shifts (like most flowing forwards do) and sets up reverse to Sweden’s Frondell, as a right-handed left side of the half board shooter.
He sure scored a nice one tonight, finding that open top corner over the goalies shoulder.
I was more interested when Gordie was saying he could transfer colleges, or turn pro with the Blackhawks…
