2025 26 Roster…too Soon

[Giovi]

I’ve seen this guy a lot on my Twitter feed, but not sure whether his opinion is worth anything.

Here is puts Nazar on Will Smith’s level. Is he full of shit or no?

Nazar is not Smiths equal, imo, and isn't ever likely to be.

 

[TLEH]

I love Nazar but Will Smith is a tier above.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

Ya, I don’t understand why he’s saying they’re on the same level. Just wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing something.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

Well it’s a good thing the defense is crowded next year, because yikes is the free agency market bad for defensemen.

 

[ello]

Smith is closer to Bedard than Nazar, unfortunately imo. Guy has 90+ point upside, I see him carving out a Giroux-like career.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

Well it’s a good thing the defense is crowded next year, because yikes is the free agency market bad for defensemen.

Isn’t that typically the case? Which is the rationale for prioritizing building your defensive core through the draft?

 

[RememberTheRoar]

Smith is closer to Bedard than Nazar, unfortunately imo. Guy has 90+ point upside, I see him carving out a Giroux-like career.

where do you see Nazar? Maybe like a Saad or versteeg type of impact (not play style), fifth best forward on a Stanley Cup winner?

 

[Dr Salt]

Loving the idea of Bedard and Ehlers together icl

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Ehlers-Bedard-TT
Rackell-Nazar-Misa
Bertuzzi-Dickenson-Mikheyev
Dach-Foligno-Slaggert
Veleno

Vlasic-Levshunov
KK-Murphy
DEM-Rinzel
Kaiser

Knight
Soderblom

No thanks to overpaying for Ehlers and especially not Rakell who is about to turn 32

 

[RememberTheRoar]

No thanks to overpaying for Ehlers and especially not Rakell who is about to turn 32

Someone is getting overpaid, who would you prefer it to be?

 

[Hattrick Kane]

Loving the idea of Bedard and Ehlers together icl

That would be a disaster. Completely different play styles and neither play defense.

Someone is getting overpaid, who would you prefer it to be?

None of them. That was the point of the Weber trade. That if they can’t get Marner, they don’t have to pay any of these crappy players in free agency.

 

[clydesdale line]

Smith is closer to Bedard than Nazar, unfortunately imo. Guy has 90+ point upside, I see him carving out a Giroux-like career.

Bedard is a much better talent. If there's someone on that team that's close to Bedard, it's definitely Celebrini.

 

[ello]

Bedard is a much better talent. If there's someone on that team that's close to Bedard, it's definitely Celebrini.

Smith had a slow start to his NHL career but he's really found his footing in the second half of the season (3 points in his first 12 games vs 13 points in his last 12 games). I agree there's a gap in talent but I'm not so sure it's as vast as we thought when they were drafted and it doesn't hurt Smith that he's 6foot.

Im just not so sure there's going to be a big statistical difference between Bedard and Smith over say the next 5 years.

Celebrini is in the same tier as Bedard

 

[clydesdale line]

Smith had a slow start to his NHL career but he's really found his footing in the second half of the season (3 points in his first 12 games vs 13 points in his last 12 games). I agree there's a gap in talent but I'm not so sure it's as vast as we thought when they were drafted and it doesn't hurt Smith that he's 6foot.

Im just not so sure there's going to be a big statistical difference between Bedard and Smith over say the next 5 years.

Celebrini is in the same tier as Bedard

Bedard has put up much better numbers on a much worse team deployed of talent at forwards and doesn't have the benefit of not seeing an opponents top pair defensemen and seeing easier matchups like Smith does (Celebrini is the one who plays the top line). I dont see how this is even comparable.

 

[Mrfenn92]

That would be a disaster. Completely different play styles and neither play defense.


None of them. That was the point of the Weber trade. That if they can’t get Marner, they don’t have to pay any of these crappy players in free agency.

Wait till we acquire Carey price

 

[Mrfenn92]

I’ve seen this guy a lot on my Twitter feed, but not sure whether his opinion is worth anything.

Here is puts Nazar on Will Smith’s level. Is he full of shit or no?

Smith is better.

 

[Malagahawks]

I've been fishing the RFA waters and came up with an interesting candidate who will probably be on the block:
J.J. Paterka- Sabres

They are in a chaotic state but probably better off than us. Paterka is an ascending RW who will end this year with 65-70 points (.85 PPG).

Trade 2025 Tor 1st & 2026 2nd for Paterka. The Rangers offered an FRP and a roster player at this year's TDL (Unknown who).
Sign Paterka to a 3/18M (6M AAV) bridge contract.

How about this future 2026 1st line?

RW - Paterka
C - Misa
LW - Bedard

That line has fantastic scoring ability with elite skating from Misa/Paterka, Elite Sniping potentially from Misa & Bedard, and solid 2 way defense from Paterka/Misa.

 

[BHFAN92]

where do you see Nazar? Maybe like a Saad or versteeg type of impact (not play style), fifth best forward on a Stanley Cup winner?

I can eventually see Nazar as like a 25 goal 25 assist perennially in 50-60 pt range

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

I've been fishing the RFA waters and came up with an interesting candidate who will probably be on the block:
J.J. Paterka- Sabres

They are in a chaotic state but probably better off than us. Paterka is an ascending RW who will end this year with 65-70 points (.85 PPG).

Trade 2025 Tor 1st & 2026 2nd for Paterka. The Rangers offered an FRP and a roster player at this year's TDL (Unknown who).
Sign Paterka to a 3/18M (6M AAV) bridge contract.

If Sabres move him they will get better offers than late 1st + 2nd

 

[kmwtrucks]

If Sabres move him they will get better offers than late 1st + 2nd

I dont think buff wants futures. how about TT and Riechel for Paterka

 

[u2wojo]

I dont think buff wants futures. how about TT and Riechel for Paterka

Teuvo could be a piece of intest to Buffalo as he is on a fair contract (only 8 team no trade list), extensive playoff experience, and pacing for over 60 points. If Peterka's RFA contract demands make Buffalo uncomfortable. I could see Teuvo for Peterka becoming a legit conversation with the Hawks needing to add a piece. I don't see Reichel being of any interest to Buffalo as they have lots of their own 20-24 forward queestion marks and have more forwards than lineup spots as is before considering a move adding 2 and subtracting only 1. I would love to see a conversation expand to something like Teuvo either the '25 Toronto 1st/Florida '26 1st and whatever 2nds you have to include to get Peterka and one of Kullich/Quinn/Rosen. Adding Peterka and a young center prospect like Kullich would reshape our young forward grouping.

 

[pvr]

Teuvo could be a piece of intest to Buffalo as he is on a fair contract (only 8 team no trade list), extensive playoff experience, and pacing for over 60 points. If Peterka's RFA contract demands make Buffalo uncomfortable. I could see Teuvo for Peterka becoming a legit conversation with the Hawks needing to add a piece. I don't see Reichel being of any interest to Buffalo as they have lots of their own 20-24 forward queestion marks and have more forwards than lineup spots as is before considering a move adding 2 and subtracting only 1. I would love to see a conversation expand to something like Teuvo either the '25 Toronto 1st/Florida '26 1st and whatever 2nds you have to include to get Peterka and one of Kullich/Quinn/Rosen. Adding Peterka and a young center prospect like Kullich would reshape our young forward grouping.

It wouldn’t give a good impression to other free agents coming to Chicago if TT gets traded, particularly since he willingly came into a terrible situation ostensibly to help the Hawks with a vet presence.

 

[u2wojo]

It wouldn’t give a good impression to other free agents coming to Chicago if TT gets traded, particularly since he willingly came into a terrible situation ostensibly to help the Hawks with a vet presence.

I guess I agree a little, but make no mistake that the reason Teuvo, Bertuzzi, and Brodie signed in Chicago last Summer was $$ and/or an extra year on the contract offer. None of those guys turned down the same money/years from Tampa, Vegas, Florida, etc because they love Chicago and want to lead a rebuild. No one cares that Vegas has jettison guys in a coldblooded heartbeat if they could improve their team as guys jump at the chance when they can go there.

 

[giza]

Fans better accept that a couple of players are coming to the Hawks and they are going to be over-paid....perhaps even vastly overpaid. So, given that inevitability, the question is who is going to help the team win more game and how long the contract is.