Strategically to me iisxa no brainer no brainer for the Hawks to grab one of thevtop 2 2 top centers (they will not be taking the Russian Demidov) ,Macklin Celebrini or Cayden Lindstromin that order if they get to draft at the #1orv#2 spots...
There is a chance Lindstrom last to #3 IF the team draftibg 2nd goes forca Dman...
If Hawks draft at #3 and Lindstrom not there THEY they will switch to grab a RD ,I think.
Whether they prefer Parekh,Levshunov or Yakemchuk ,I do not know..
If the scenario turns out that they did pick a RD at #3or #4(or#5 ) at worst then strategically they would go to a forward with the TB pick.
I doubt Greentree lasts to the TB pick ..my target i such a scenario would be Dean Letourneau ..the big explosive skating highly skilled prep school player (St.Andrews college)..
Sone criticism he does not use his size physically enough ..but other opinions feel he will get more physical as he fills his massive frame and grows into his large body ...I would gamble on his potential. A big center that skilked is a prospect worth tge gamble that he can reach hi
I do not think he lasts to where we pick i round 2...
Sone GM will gamble on that unique proposition he presents.
If he goes off the board before we pick then if Greentree also off the board maybe Andew Basha lasts to ouTB pick slot....but in tgat case we end up with a RD+a LW and we did notvget any of my top 3 center targets (Celbrini,Lindstrom and Letourneau)..
Maybe KD get another 2nd for tackibg a bad contract and then packages 2( of in this case our 4 2nd rounders ) of our 2nds to move back up into the 20s near out TB pick such that we grab Letourneau AND a winger ...but I do not knowvif KD will try doing that.
Now If we didtake Celebrini or Lindstrom with our own pick in roundx1 then the need for mother center lije Ketourneau is not as urgent ..otger needs shoukd bectargeted I this scenario..
Either azwibgervor a RD if a case can be made there is still a RD deserving of being taken probably in tgecearkyc20scor may if TB fKters in the late teens..
After his terrific performance at the CHL-NHL top prospects game where he was thex best dman in the game with2a and a +3and consistently impressive shift aftershift,he may bea riser now into the 20s from what was only a mid 2ndcto early 3rd rounder at the start of theseason...
So maybe KD uses the TB pick to grab him off the board then..
I think his game is rapidly progressing..
It will be interesting to see how far he moves up by Finak Rankibgs tine...Classic case of a gem playingvon s bad team and so stats not so great on +/- or production compared to too six dmen i this draft ...but he is a coveted Right shot hDnan and 6"4,194 and reputation as hard to play agaibst dman=physical...and improving offensive cobtribution..so maybe KD goes for this RD with our .TB pick?
Celebrini + Roberts
Or
Lindstrom +Roberts
Or
Parekh * +Letourneau
*IF KD prefers Yakemchuk,I would not complain
but adding a top RD talent if we miss out on Celebrini and Lindstrom makes strategic sense .
Butvif we get 1 of them with our own pick usobgvthexTB pick for an intriguing rising RD in Colton Roberts does make strategic sense.
Then in round 2 we have 3 picks. want 2 wingers + a D or a C...doubt we take a goalie...maybe with 1 of our 3rd rounders?
Some potential round 2 targets if still on the board:
Wingers:
MATVEI GRIDiN
NIKiTA ARTANANOV
MAREK VANACKER
SAM O'REILLY
MARKUS FERNSTROM
KEIRON WALTON
JACOB BATTAGLIA
LD:
ALFONS FREIJ
JESSE PULKKiNEN
C:
RAUL BOILARD
Our 3 2nd rounders are spread;
1 early =our own (#33 or #34)
1 ,middle =,L.A . draft slot (#47 currently)
1 late =VAN draft slot(#60-64 probable)5
Probably need to grab a dman early before these targets go off the board if there still in round 2 ...then best wingers renaining at middle pick and late pick except maybe if Boilard still on the borad with the VAN pick.
Possible that Walton and or Battaglia last to early 3rd where our own pick is #65 or#66...