Hopefully next year, Connor Bedard will rank higher than (check notes) 108th in goals scored...

You and me were right about him.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Indeed but someone has to tell poor Shakes that he isn't even top 100 in goals scored this season

He is 19 yrs old. He is going to be just fine.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

He was also billed as the next McDavid. At 19 McDavid put up a 100 point season. Next!

The Oilers had been drafting #1 overall or close to it for years before they got McDavid. We don't have a Draisaitl (#3OA) or Nugent-Hopkins (#1OA).

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How many stars do you anticpate Bedard needing to be good?

Well, Kane had Toews, Hossa, Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson, and Sharp, plus the coaching of Joel Quenneville. That's four Hall of Famers, a probably, and two maybes.

EDIT: and Crawford. two probablys and two maybes.

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I'm not writing him off or anything but I'm not sure I see that level in him. I don't know how to explain what I think I seen but here goes. When he has the puck he can do amazing things but when he doesn't he seems to disappear and not in the same way Kane did. It always felt like Kane was waiting (which was a source of frustration for me) but was making a conscience decision and you still followed him. Bedard doesn't have that same feel, I'm not always aware he is out there. Now it could be because the team has been terrible so maybe he is frustrated or just doing what he can but I'm worried he could be a complacent. There are times when he does something and think that won't work in the NHL - Maybe he will adjust or it will improve with a better team. I don't think he's a good fit for center.

blackhawks were owed a good result/shit performance game. when bedard shoots, they score. when nazar skates, they score. will these guys learn and apply the lesson? when the opponent gets the puck in the blackhawk d-zone....i think some of the staff are coaching themselves out of hockey. the new coach will surely want his own staff and players who retired 2-3-4 years ago, are ready to coach defense/special teams/skills. absolutely as clueless as the players. chinese firedrill masterclass.

they finish the season with 9 more points than last year and +53 goal difference (47 more goals scored/6 less goals against) than last year. only 6 less goals given up this year and they had magna, zaitsev, a horrible korchinski and tinordi playing D last year. need more improvement from all, especially vlasic, who regressed until the last week of the season. knight has all the tools, seems very susceptible to high shots -all the ottawa goals were high, just like most of the goals against him.

going to be fun being the blackhawk GM this summer. will they allow crevier and kaiser to walk? soderblom? if they sign both RFA d-men, does brodie get bought out? which FWDs will GM kyle chase? will he try and get some RFA FWDs from clubs that are near the cap? donato?

really think it's time to put bedard on the wing...could happen. he plays almost no defense and he overdoes the play-making part. here's a player with an elite shot and he's forcing seam passes into areas with 3 sticks and 6 skates. shoot the puck.

also, great to have rick ball as the play-by-play man. real good. he seems sincere in his enthusiasm for the club and city. knows his hockey.

Bro, can you stop with the trolling? It really is pathetic.

pathetic has never stopped him.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Another thing to think about is if they get the first overall pick. I will assume they pick Schaefer. That will leave them with him, Levshunov, Rinzel top three. Do they move Korchinski? Would they move Vlasic for a top line forward?

Will be an interesting offseason for the Hawk for sure.

Let's live in Ralphie and shakes fantasy world where Bedard is a budding star in the NHL.

If they get the #1 pick, I am going to be pissed. I would rather have Misa, but I assume you take the BPA. Either way, both guys will need another year of seasoning before they make their debut.

keep trying trolls, maybe next year someone will respond to you and Bob in this thread.

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yet you responded to him. Don't do that again, you're better than that.

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I'm not gonna be pissed. Bird in hand... Schaeffer is free and clear #1 pick and will instantly be our #1 dman in an absolutely loaded blue line. Forward help will come, we still have lots of draft picks and will also be able to trade and sign people now that teams are seeing how are young guys look at the NHL level.

Now if you could guarantee us the combo of #2 this year and #1 next year I would be all over it.

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felt he he disappointed (giveaways/offense dried up/defensive mistakes) overall, this year...i believe the club will stick with vlasic and not trade him. i was always a korchinski fan, but, it's not really panning out for him. needs to add weight/muscle, pronto. rinzel dances the blue line better than him. if they take schaeffer, i believe other clubs will come sniffing around for korchinski and get him at an aldi discount supermarket price. just too many defensemen and not enough minutes per game for all. hopefully, the odds will be true and the blackhawks will find themselves drafting with schaeffer off the board. i have no problem with keeping vlasic and korchinski, i just hope they improve. on D, korchinski's ELC expires at the same time as nolan allen's and del mastro's. last year at this time, media were congratulating the blackhawks for vlasic's extension ($4.6 million x 6 years)...maybe i was impatient, expected much better play from him.

the draft is at the end of june. i believe RFAs can be offered contracts (offer sheets that could be matched) on july 1. if the hawks get the #1 and draft schaeffer in late june: they can quickly low ball kaiser and crevier and try to lose them after they reject low ball offers/accept offer sheets from other clubs/blackhawks decide not to match them and will get draft compensation. those RFAs could also spam up the works by going to salary arbitration and they'll be blackhawks for at least 1 more year. GM kyle has a mountain of scenarios to navigate.

here are the final 2025 draft lottery odds:

https://www.tankathon.com/nhl/pick_odds

the lottery will take place the first week of may.

The reason I said they could trade Vlasic if they get Schafer is because he's probably the one that will bring the most value back in a trade due to his contract and his previous success.

A week until the NFL draft and about 2.5 weeks for the NHL lottery.

heard the nonsensical statement out of vancouver in regards to tocchet and his contractual situation. you have to come to the conclusion that the canucks want him to leave. if tocchet rejects the 'new contract offer that is historically competitive with former canuck coaches & contracts', he'd be my #1 candidate. tocchet earned $2.75 million, rumors are the blackhawks willing to pay carle $5 million per.

That's a lot for a guy who's never coached in the NHL before. I think he's the guy I'd hire, especially if they are going young(er).

Levshunov with the game winner in OT against the Wolves. Rockford hosts the next two, and only have to win one to advance to play Milwaukee.

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An unjust law is no law at all--St. Augustine of Hippo

Cause tried and true
I see the light in you
Oh, can you dig in my soul?
Could you smell my whole...
life?--Gener and Deaner

yeah...the defense is stacked for the ahl playoffs: levshunov/allen/del mastro/korchinski and giant harding. all are LD, except for levshunov. the FWDs got a boost with thompson/dach/vanacker. doesn't look like ludwinski is panning out and hayes had a disappointing season. good luck to all of them.

I think they are playing Allan on the 3rd line though. You gotta figure that he is gonna get traded in the offseason for a forward.

per elliotte friedman: apparently, back to square one - as carle has reportedly withdrawn his interest in coaching/negotiating with the blackhawks. did he call friedman and tell him this?

whatever. we move on.

i see that the bleacher nation's #1 guy is tocchet. he was my #1 guy...don't think it would take much to get him out of vancouver. the canucks don't seem to want him there anymore and $3.5 million per year is cheaper than the hinted $5 million per for carle. the blackhawks are on the cusp and the canucks team talent/injuries is a definite downwards arrow going forward. he wouldn't be coaching the outstanding quinn hughes anymore but i'm sure he's aware of all the young talent that is quickly assembling in chicago.

Isn't Tocchet supposed to be heading to Philly?

The GM Boy Blunder strikes out. What a shocker. Will Anaheim pony up for Carle? Heard either Friedman or the Chiclets guys talking about how the Duck seem ready and that roster could look attractive to Carle (as opposed to some of the shit the Hawks have).

believe his deal that the canucks didn't pick up their option on, expires in june. yeah...sure...i can see that. i think a few visits to bosely and he'd get his 1980s/90s hair back to relive his philly memories.

don't believe the flyers and blackhawks want to get into a bidding war over him...it was reported the blackhawks had no issue paying no nhl experience carle $5 million per. blackhawks have some wiggle room if they choose to go to war with the flyers over tochhet, tocchet earning $2.75 million right now.

blackhawks could also wait and see if any 1st round disappointments fire their coach and have their ducks in order by june.