Team Trajectory

[Beukeboom Fan]

I can see the logic with d-men needing a longer runway before being ready to contribute at the NHL level. IMO - Hawks will end up with another top 5 pick next year, and probably not much better than that in 2025/26 with a bunch of the kids currently in the pipeline replacing the Hall, AA, Donato, Martinez, etc currently on the roster.

 

[BHawk21]

Is that a tongue in cheek response, or an attack response? Can’t quite place your tone. It’s offensive if it’s the latter.

 

[dj Mahoney]

If you look at the 2025 draft crop , none of the D look elite while many of the forwards do. I was on the Demidov train but when you consider this and the fact so many forwards in our system look like solid Nhler's picking Levshunov was probably the astute move . If there are any people missing Kirby Dach this guy seems like a better version , who should be available where we are going to pick .

Roger McQueen Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Statistics of Roger McQueen, a hockey player from Saskatoon, SASK born Oct 2 2006 who was active from 2021 to 2024.

www.hockeydb.com

 

[belfour30]

If you look at the 2025 draft crop , none of the D look elite while many of the forwards do. I was on the Demidov train but when you consider this and the fact so many forwards in our system look like solid Nhler's picking Levshunov was probably the astute move . If there are any people missing Kirby Dach this guy seems like a better version , who should be available where we are going to pick .

Roger McQueen Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Statistics of Roger McQueen, a hockey player from Saskatoon, SASK born Oct 2 2006 who was active from 2021 to 2024.

www.hockeydb.com

Unless they have a subpar season, I doubt the Hawks will be in position to pick McQueen or Martone. I'm expecting the Hawks to pick in the 4-7 range.
Things stay as they are, and those two are probably going top 3.

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

Unless they have a subpar season, I doubt the Hawks will be in position to pick McQueen or Martone. I'm expecting the Hawks to pick in the 4-7 range.
Things stay as they are, and those two are probably going top 3.

I'd agree with drafting in the 3-7 range. I do think that with the number of high end forward prospects that there are other options that are really close in potential, and the Hawks should be in position to add an elite forward prospect.

 

[belfour30]

I'd agree with drafting in the 3-7 range. I do think that with the number of high end forward prospects that there are other options that are really close in potential, and the Hawks should be in position to add an elite forward prospect.

I don't doubt that they're going to get a nice F next year, but a guy with primo skill+size is far from guaranteed.

If they can't get that, I hope it's someone who is a good bet to stick at C as Bedard is questionable there atm.

 

[CallMeShaft]

Big thing about Demidov vs Levshunov is whether you truly believe Lev will hit and become a #1D. I think he holds a good chance, but I don't feel confident enough to bet money on it; Hawks brass felt differently.

I take solace in the fact we're looking at a top 6 or so pick for next year. A lot of good forwards that can ride shotgun to Bedard, or be an outstanding 2C (one of those that could be a 1C elsewhere).

 

[clydesdale line]

Other than Hagens and Martone there's going to be alot of moving parts this year with prospects. Some guys who are projected top 10 now will slip as well as guys who aren't even a thought in the first round soar up the draft boards cuz of their season. Not a doubt in my mind though thay those two will stay in the top 3 in some form.

 

[HawksDub89]

I think Matt Schaefer goes top 5. Maybe higher.

He’s been very impressive.

 

[TLEH]

I think Matt Schaefer goes top 5. Maybe higher.

He’s been very impressive.

He had a good first Hlinka game, thats for sure. He'll be among the youngest players in the entire draft as well. Will depend on his offense this year for Erie.

He's been through a lot, his billet mom committed suicide and his mother died from breast cancer within a 3 month period.

 

[MHO]

I can think of 2 anaheim and SJ. Ott, Calgary, Utah, montreal, Columbus will probably be in the mix for 3-8 along with the hawks. I see the hawks in the 70's point wise which would put them around #5th.

I can agree with that mostly. I think Utah is going to be better than most people do and I'm pretty sure Washington will be bad. And of course Pittsburgh will bottom out right in time to get McKenna...

 

[hawksfan50]

With tge expected vast improvement in offense the Haws should get at least 73-77 points this season ...at most maybe 82 points......but this all depends on how much improvement also cones from cutting down opposition scoronging against the Hawks..

Last season...despite dreadful defense overall,there was positive improvement in the 2st D pairing...Vlasic managed to get Seth Jones down to ONLY -15 from the dreadful-39amd -39totals of the prior two seasons.. Vladic did game a bit as the seadoson wore down from his stellar defending of the fist 3/4of tgecsesdon but overall he was our best drma defending dman.

The pair should get better +/- as the puck will be less in our zone this sessonon with the improved expected offense from the free agents we signed...
At minimumI expected Jones to actually pistca positive +/- ..0to +5is not that hard to think is realistic .We also shoukd get better goaltending from the Brossoit signing..

If all goes even better then maybe we see Jones and Vlasic get to +15 or better ?

They will not be +30s..our team offense is not going to be that level to produce that much difference.

The 3rd pairing of 2 vests...Martinez and Bridie need only be a neutral 0tp+5and we would call that a success.

The hardest expectation is with Kaiser and Murohy as 2nd pairing.

If Murphy is Barfy again like last season that will drag Kaiser doen with hom..If Murphy is -39bad again that will force LR to bench hom..I do not know how long the rope will extend ..
Halfxazsrsson?

If Murphy returns to "normal" Murohy we should expect a 0to+5 kind of hold the fort ok average acceptable range for the pairing.Much minutes.. hold tge fort ..but no real big difference..Sort of like tgex3rd pairing expectation range.

However ..with the better (hopefully) improved offense,maybe they too can get to +15 or better plus/minus..Maybe Murphy posts hos best sesson ever?

So really tge concern about how much the Hawks will improve at ES is all on Murphy and which version we get.

If we just get a rebound year to normal for hom that is barely acceptable but we will take it gladly...If however he plays his best ever level ,the that will push the Hawks higher than most expect ..not to playoff level but flirting aWith a .500 or just above it level.


Nobody expects this team to be a 95 point playoff level team..We at least expect low 70s points but maybe if Murphy plays well,it can be a pint a game level team ?

But if he just cannot play anymore at anacceptable level that will mitigate how high the inprovenent from the rest of the team will get to.

In this sense ...besides health of key players,the X factor in how much improvement Hawks can achieve IS Connor Murphy.

 

[MHO]

They will be looking so great if they can find the Malkin to Bedard's Crosby in the next draft.

 

[SimpleJack]

They will be looking so great if they can find the Malkin to Bedard's Crosby in the next draft.

Not gonna lie I’m kinda getting jealous of what SJ has done. Seems like they’ve surpassed the Hawks in terms of future outlook all in one summer. Like you said it’s that drop off from Bedard to the rest of our forward prospects that’s hurting us rn. We desperately need to find our “Will Smith”.

 

[SimpleJack]

Unless they have a subpar season, I doubt the Hawks will be in position to pick McQueen or Martone. I'm expecting the Hawks to pick in the 4-7 range.
Things stay as they are, and those two are probably going top 3.

I’m really hoping we aren’t going to be as good record wise as the improvement on paper initially leads one to believe. Hopefully we get lucky and the kids develop but also the team piles up the losses cuz man o man would it make a huge difference to land another top 3 pick instead of landing in the 4-7 range. Let the tank roll on.

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

I’m really hoping we aren’t going to be as good record wise as the improvement on paper initially leads one to believe. Hopefully we get lucky and the kids develop but also the team piles up the losses cuz man o man would it make a huge difference to land another top 3 pick instead of landing in the 4-7 range. Let the tank roll on.

Depends so much on health IMO. Hawks got essentially nothing from Hall or AA last year, and with adding TT and TB along with growth from Bedard the potential is there for a significant improvement. Goaltending wise who TF knows. Mrazek was great last year, and Soderbloom was a guaranteed loss. I think some regression for Mrazek will be more than offset by having a legit NHL goaltending in Brossoilt. Probably see a 15-20 point improvement.

Being in the bottom 3 teams really depends on how teams like ANA and CLM develop. I can build cases for them to take strides or implode. I don't think that UT, MON, or OTT will be that bad. I honestly don't see anyone else except ANA or CLM potentially in the CHI/SJ tier of bad next year.

 

[BHFAN92]

Not gonna lie I’m kinda getting jealous of what SJ has done. Seems like they’ve surpassed the Hawks in terms of future outlook all in one summer. Like you said it’s that drop off from Bedard to the rest of our forward prospects that’s hurting us rn. We desperately need to find our “Will Smith”.

Other than landing Bedard out of sheer luck I haven't really been overly impressed with KD. When it comes to FA he way overpays, he never takes a shot at kids on Waiver wire, and he misses all opportunities to acquire young ascending talent. I really don't think he is a good GM

 

[Hattrick Kane]

Not gonna lie I’m kinda getting jealous of what SJ has done. Seems like they’ve surpassed the Hawks in terms of future outlook all in one summer. Like you said it’s that drop off from Bedard to the rest of our forward prospects that’s hurting us rn. We desperately need to find our “Will Smith”.

I guess future outlook doesn’t include defense, which San Jose is ridiculously behind on.

Other than landing Bedard out of sheer luck I haven't really been overly impressed with KD. When it comes to FA he way overpays, he never takes a shot at kids on Waiver wire, and he misses all opportunities to acquire young ascending talent. I really don't think he is a good GM

Which free agents has he overpaid? Which kids on the waiver wire did he not take a shot at? Which opportunities did he miss to acquire young ascending talent?

 

[belfour30]

I guess future outlook doesn’t include defense, which San Jose is ridiculously behind on.


Which free agents has he overpaid? Which kids on the waiver wire did he not take a shot at? Which opportunities did he miss to acquire young ascending talent?

I'm not a huge fan of his drafting and trading ability. I think he doesn't get enough when selling and overpays when buying.

One improvement of his is that he doesn't overpay long-term. Everyone knows what they were doing with Foligno/Perry/AA last year.

The Bertuzzi, TT and Vlasic contracts were great.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Other than landing Bedard out of sheer luck I haven't really been overly impressed with KD. When it comes to FA he way overpays, he never takes a shot at kids on Waiver wire, and he misses all opportunities to acquire young ascending talent. I really don't think he is a good GM

It wasn’t sheer luck. He dismantled the team and intentionally placed us in the position to have the best shot at the highest draft picks. Sheer luck would’ve been us finishing 8th or something and then winning the Bedard lotto.

The waiver wire, really? Oh man we sure are missing out on that epic talent pool.

We have no cap space issues and the single problematic contract on the team wasn’t signed by KD.

You’re being critical for the sake of being critical.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Being in the bottom 3 teams really depends on how teams like ANA and CLM develop. I can build cases for them to take strides or implode. I don't think that UT, MON, or OTT will be that bad. I honestly don't see anyone else except ANA or CLM potentially in the CHI/SJ tier of bad next year.

Agreed and I don’t see where the Hawks are going to be jumping up the standings. San Jose may not even be as terrible this season as they were the last. The Hawks are in a pool of 5-6 teams worst teams in the league where anything can happen so I’m assuming we’ll be somewhere in that range. With a little lotto luck we’re going to be just fine.

The players we signed are an improvement on our AHL level roster but Bertuzzi, Teravainen, and Maroon aren’t going to be 70+ point players. Alec Martinez and Broissoit aren’t going to prevent us from giving up 280 goals against next year either. All of these signing just gave us a NHL roster instead of the tweener squad we were icing. Which is great, honestly. Bedard gets to play on a real team, albeit still a bad one, and get more comfortable in the league.

 

[clydesdale line]

I'm not a huge fan of his drafting and trading ability. I think he doesn't get enough when selling and overpays when buying.

One improvement of his is that he doesn't overpay long-term. Everyone knows what they were doing with Foligno/Perry/AA last year.

The Bertuzzi, TT and Vlasic contracts were great.

I'm not sure how anyone can not be a fan of his trading ability (unless you mean his trading during the draft in which case you still don't know how any of those trade ups are gonna turn out). He got Mrazek AND a pick for free, he got Dickinson AND a pick for free, Foligno and Hall (we'll see how Hall does this year) for nothing (Foligno's leadership in that room is second to none for those kids in the future) I can go on and on.

 

[belfour30]

I'm not sure how anyone can not be a fan of his trading ability (unless you mean his trading during the draft in which case you still don't know how any of those trade ups are gonna turn out). He got Mrazek AND a pick for free, he got Dickinson AND a pick for free, Foligno and Hall (we'll see how Hall does this year) for nothing (Foligno's leadership in that room is second to none for those kids in the future) I can go on and on.

I don't think he got enough for DeBrincat and the trade up this past year was stupid.

Now DeBrincat hasn't been the same player since being traded but that's beside the point.

 

[clydesdale line]

I don't think he got enough for DeBrincat and the trade up this past year was stupid.

Now DeBrincat hasn't been the same player since being traded but that's beside the point.

I'm sure Ottawa would do that trade all over again 10 times out of 10. And the fact you listed one trade (and even that one is debatable) when I gave you several isn't helping your argument.

 

[belfour30]

I'm sure Ottawa would do that trade all over again 10 times out of 10. And the fact you listed one trade (and even that one is debatable) when I gave you several isn't helping your argument.

I thought the trade up was stupid this year and I'm not sure he's getting enough for cap dumps. They should have gotten a decent draft pick for taking Hall like the Habs did for taking Laine.

I don't think picking 50 vs 54 was the difference between getting Vanacker or not and Boisvert probably would have been available at 20. They gave away a pick for no reason.