LeBrun: Blue Jackets rejected to trade 2024 4OA for Chicago's 2025 1st round pick unprotected

[Quinning]

Back injuries are tricky. Vilardi ended up being pretty good after all his earlier back issues though.

For every Gabe Vilardi, there's twenty Cody Hodgsons (yes, I know he had another health condition).

Look no further than Brock Boeser for how a back injury can drastically force you to change your playing style. He went from an electric North/South sniper who could fly up the ice to a more cerebral East/West pseudo-power forward with an excellent shot.

 

[Hale The Villain]

The thing they should regret is passing on Demidov, not accepting the Blackhawks offer.

Had they taken the offer I suspect the Hawks would have done a lot more to improve their roster.

No guarantee they are in the position they are in had that taken place.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Chicago would have been way more aggressive in free agency had they not been concerned with tanking again.

Free agency isn’t fixing arguably the worst team in the league.

Or he does stay healthy and the team gets the player they envisioned to begin with

That’s possible, but chances of that compared to what they could get with Chicago’s unprotected 2025 first round pick are not good.

 

[Grinner]

The power of hindsight

 

[BB88]

Decided to revist this thread

Wonder if Jackets have regrets

Hawks are currently the worst team in NHL and show no signs of improving while Lindstrom has now undergone back surgery

That trade would change the mindset/timeline for Chicago

 

[VeteranPresence]

The power of hindsight

I don't think it was unexpected the Hawks would be a lottery team again. When combined with the Blue Jackets deciding to take a prospect with significant health concerns over either deferring the pick to what is universally considered a better draft or selecting literally anyone else, you have to wonder how on the ball their management group is. Seems like a lot of self-owns.

 

[Bond]

I don't think it was unexpected the Hawks would be a lottery team again. When combined with the Blue Jackets deciding to take a prospect with significant health concerns over either deferring the pick to what is universally considered a better draft or selecting literally anyone else, you have to wonder how on the ball their management group is. Seems like a lot of self-owns.

No, but it also wasn't inconceivable for them to be closer to a 10th overall pick than another 1st. If the deal was super tilted towards Columbus then Chicago wouldn't have made the offer.

 

[Grinner]

I don't think it was unexpected the Hawks would be a lottery team again. When combined with the Blue Jackets deciding to take a prospect with significant health concerns over either deferring the pick to what is universally considered a better draft or selecting literally anyone else, you have to wonder how on the ball their management group is. Seems like a lot of self-owns.

I think the BJ's made the move 31 other gms in their shoes would make.
Time will tell if they made the right pick at 4

 

[toddkaz]

No, but it also wasn't inconceivable for them to be closer to a 10th overall pick than another 1st. If the deal was super tilted towards Columbus then Chicago wouldn't have made the offer.

It was conceivable just by looking at their roster. Its devoid of talent.

 

[minibrodeur]

For every Gabe Vilardi, there's twenty Cody Hodgsons (yes, I know he had another health condition).

Look no further than Brock Boeser for how a back injury can drastically force you to change your playing style. He went from an electric North/South sniper who could fly up the ice to a more cerebral East/West pseudo-power forward with an excellent shot.

Jack Eichel enters the chat ( I guess neck would be considered different)

 

[stevo61]

For every Gabe Vilardi, there's twenty Cody Hodgsons (yes, I know he had another health condition).

Look no further than Brock Boeser for how a back injury can drastically force you to change your playing style. He went from an electric North/South sniper who could fly up the ice to a more cerebral East/West pseudo-power forward with an excellent shot.

Or look at Vasilevsky who had the same procedure

 

[Viqsi]

Bad attempt at hindsight analysis. Chicago's approach to the offseason would be different if such a trade had happened, and the 2025 draft so far isn't looking like it's worth it.

 

[SteelCityCannon]

I'm still not mad the Jackets passed on that. Ask again in 5 years.

 

[Frank Drebin]

If I could go back in time knowing what I know now I would still keep CBJ pick.

 

[Regal]

We can question Columbus’ pick, but I don’t think waiting a year to maybe get a top 3 pick this year and possibly get a 5-7 pick instead would have been worth it. Poster’s keep saying Chicago could have had a different offseason, but even without that, there was and still is no guarantee they’re going to be the worst team in the league. San Jose is terrible too and was worse last year. If Chicago finishes 2nd or 3rd worst, they could still end up with 4th or 5th pick.

 

[StreetHawk]

Reality of the NHL draft. Unlike NFL, those guys are at least 3 years post HS, not finishing their HS year when drafted. They are ready for the pros from day 1. NBA, 1 year removed from HS, so most don't do much as rookies or even sophomores. That's why so many top 10 picks are traded away. With the G league now, there is a place to send down the kids to play them.

MLB, closest to the NHL draft, from what I understand, the player has 1 year to sign with their team or they re-enter the draft. There is a slotting system for their contract, so barring them going higher the following draft, they typically play out their college season and sign to go into the minors of that club, thus the team gets control over the player's development and can monitor their health if there are any concerns.

NHL, teams don't get control over the player as they return to the CHL, NCAA, USHL, tier II or Europe. Sometimes for 3 years or longer. So, CBJ only has limited control. But, that is where Lindstrom and his agent have to make business decisions for themselves as he should prioritize his health over playing for his WHL team. If that means an extra 2-3 weeks before returning to play, so be it. But, he's only 18 right now and is not AHL eligible in 25/26.

 

[nerevarine]

The boats a boat, but the mystery box can be anything...it could even be a boat!

 

[Toene]

Healthy Lindstrom is likely better than anyone in the 2025 class, so it might only become a disaster if he’s unable to play at all

? Hagens is clearly a better prospect than Lindstrom.

 

[ViD]

? Hagens is clearly a better prospect than Lindstrom.

Nah, he’s not even #1 in the draft by some rankings and he’s 5’10

 

[AcerComputer]

? Hagens is clearly a better prospect than Lindstrom.

CHI is not eligible to win the 1st or 2nd OA pick (until 2028), due to the changes in the draft lottery. So how do you propose they get said player?

 

[Spring in Fialta]

Columbus would have been stupid to make that trade.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Nah, he’s not even #1 in the draft by some rankings and he’s 5’10

As of right now Hagens doesn't have a messed up back.

However...

Which publication doesn't have him number 1 ?

I'm hoping for the best for Lindstrom and hope he makes it and can ease life for his mom, but he isn't a better prospect than Hagens is today.

CHI is not eligible to win the 1st or 2nd OA pick (until 2028), due to the changes in the draft lottery. So how do you propose they get said player?

How so? They've only won 1 lottery ?

 

[ViD]

Which publication doesn't have him number 1 ?

The Athletic

 

[AcerComputer]

How so? They've only won 1 lottery ?

CHI won a lottery draw in 2023 (1OA) and 2024 (2OA). They cannot pick top 2 for the next 3 drafts.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

CHI won a lottery draw in 2023 (1OA) and 2024 (2OA). They cannot pick top 2 for the next 3 drafts.

2nd overall was where they finished, so that's not considered a win from my understanding

The Athletic

Collectively, or is it just some random idiot like Dom Alphabet.

The athletic isn't really good for much to be honest, but that's 1 out of a whack load right now.

If Martone was a centre he'd probably be number 1