We have a GM problem

[Hattrick Kane]

Has yet to make a significant move to improve the Blackhawks. So far, all he has done is trade players for picks and those deals look like an L so far. He settles for Teravainen and Bertuzzi at free agency. He doesn't take any chances and you can't get good without taking chances

Who was available in free agency that would make this significant difference?

You want a Bowman like trade where he trades for another Jones and f***s the team for years to come?

 

[Dead Meat]

Has yet to make a significant move to improve the Blackhawks. So far, all he has done is trade players for picks and those deals look like an L so far.

Jason Dickinson trade
Signing Vlasic long term
(too early to tell) signs Brossoit

Not sure what L deals (trades for picks) you're talking about - he's still on the clock with all draft picks he's responsible for. Getting Hall and Perry have backfired and so far Bertuzzi and TT haven't impressed. Brodie is unacceptable...

I don't care about missing on Hall, Perry or anybody that's here temporarily - this team desperately needs high draft picks this season and next imo. So far so good in that aspect.

 

[Hawkaholic]

Who was available in free agency that would make this significant difference?

You want a Bowman like trade where he trades for another Jones and f***s the team for years to come?

Yeah, if anything he should have stayed away from Bertuzzi and TT, and just signed some depth players instead.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

Yeah, if anything he should have stayed away from Bertuzzi and TT, and just signed some depth players instead.

He'd be crucified for not signing those guys if he didn't. Zero win circumstances.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

Yeah, if anything he should have stayed away from Bertuzzi and TT, and just signed some depth players instead.

Those are fine. Cap goes up, not maximum years, we need depth.

We need a coach to get anything out of this team.

 

[Northernhawk]

Absolutely love Davidson’s drafts

1st round
Connor Bedard, f
Artyom Levshunov, d
Kevin Korchinski, d
Frank Nazar, f
Sacha Boisvert, f
Oliver Moore, f
Sam Rinzel, d
Marek Vanacker, f

2nd round
Adam Gajan, g
Paul Ludwinski, f
Roman Kantserov, f
Martin Misiak, f
Ryan Greene, f

3rd round
Gavin Hayes, f
Nick Lardis, f
John Mustard, f
AJ Spellacy, f
Samuel Savoie, f
Aidan Thompson, f
Jack Pridham, f
Jiri Felcman, f

4th round
Alex Pharand, f

5th round
Marcel Marcel, f
Joel Svensson, f

6th round
Ty Henry, d
Milton Oscarson, f
Dominic James, f
Nils Juntorp, f

7th round
Janne Peltonen, d
Riku Tohila, f

21 picks in the first three rounds over 3 drafts!!! 12 more then teams are given…21!!! That’s how you rebuild

Look at those 3rd rounders!!!

 

[ClydeLee]

Absolutely love Davidson’s drafts

1st round
Connor Bedard, f
Artyom Levshunov, d
Kevin Korchinski, d
Frank Nazar, f
Sacha Boisvert, f
Oliver Moore, f
Sam Rinzel, d
Marek Vanacker, f

2nd round
Adam Gajan, g
Paul Ludwinski, f
Roman Kantserov, f
Martin Misiak, f
Ryan Greene, f

3rd round
Gavin Hayes, f
Nick Lardis, f
John Mustard, f
AJ Spellacy, f
Samuel Savoie, f
Aidan Thompson, f
Jack Pridham, f
Jiri Felcman, f

4th round
Alex Pharand, f

5th round
Marcel Marcel, f
Joel Svensson, f

6th round
Ty Henry, d
Milton Oscarson, f
Dominic James, f
Nils Juntorp, f

7th round
Janne Peltonen, d
Riku Tohila, f

21 picks in the first three rounds over 3 drafts!!! 12 more then teams are given…21!!! That’s how you rebuild

Look at those 3rd rounders!!!

I thought these were you giving out grades at first lol

 

[thedarkstark]

I thought these were you giving out grades at first lol

It wasn't until I got to Gajan that I realized they weren't

 

[Kevin Musto]

I thought these were you giving out grades at first lol

looks pretty similar to how I grade drafts

 

[Giovi]

looks pretty similar to how I grade drafts

...or how we grade your draft grades.

 

[belfour30]

If KD doesn't fire Richardson for his gross incompetence and misuse of Bedard, he can go too.

 

[TLEH]

Well this is what I talked about when I said anybody could tear it down. For the first time in this rebuild pressure ramps up when your coach can’t get the most out of his players, and the future of your franchise is on pace for 14 goals.

We’ll see what happens.

 

[hockeydoug]

Why is KD still under 10% on "fire this dipshit into the sun"?

I think he'll learn and be fine eventually but I'm shocked that he's still as favored having proven that he can do nothing except say pretty words and burn Danny's money and sell things for picks.

If KD doesn't fire Richardson for his gross incompetence and misuse of Bedard, he can go too.

I'm willing to give him a pass on Bedard but I'm far more concerned about the last 17 months overall

 

[GIADF]

I'm guessing KD has until the end of next season and one more coaching hire before he is truly on the hot seat.

I'm not entirely onboard the fire KD wagon, but I'm certainly at a point where I'm nervous about the rebuild.

 

[hockeydoug]

I'm guessing KD has until the end of next season and one more coaching hire before he is truly on the hot seat.

I'm not entirely onboard the fire KD wagon, but I'm certainly at a point where I'm nervous about the rebuild.

I agree Danny-boy will give him 3 coaches.

I'm not against firing him at this point either, but he needs to have a few keys taken away. Hoping he gets more senior help in there.

 

[ello]

This guy had Oliver Moore in his top 10 in 2023. Moore is currently 8th in scoring on the high flying Minnesota Gophers tied with uh (checks notes)….. Ryan Chesley?

 

[GIADF]

This guy had Oliver Moore in his top 10 in 2023. Moore is currently 8th in scoring on the high flying Minnesota Gophers tied with uh (checks notes)….. Ryan Chesley?

Eh, I don’t think that’s that offensive of an error. Stolen from his elite prospects page….

Drafted 2020, 1 #12 by Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL US Prospect Draft
2023 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #8 by Elite Prospects
2023 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #9 by FCHockey
2023 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #16 by TSN/Craig Button
2023 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #11 by McKeen's Hockey
2023 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #13 by TSN/McKenzie
2023 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #8 by NHL Central Scouting

Sure it doesn’t look great now, but that doesn’t mean it was a bad pick at the time. Moore was considered a bargain at that slot if anything.

 

[x Tame Impala]

I don't get the KD angst aside from signing Brodie. Unless he can control what lineup Richardson trots out there I think most of KD's critiques are of the meatball variety.

He took the team apart and got a ton of draft picks. Those picks have to hit. He tried to put some NHL talent on the roster after last year having AHL guys throughout the lineup. He's doing a fine job

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

I don't get the KD angst aside from signing Brodie. Unless he can control what lineup Richardson trots out there I think most of KD's critiques are of the meatball variety.

He took the team apart and got a ton of draft picks. Those picks have to hit. He tried to put some NHL talent on the roster after last year having AHL guys throughout the lineup. He's doing a fine job

It's giving Brodie 7.5 over two years when he was washed last year.

 

[hockeydoug]

I don't get the KD angst aside from signing Brodie. Unless he can control what lineup Richardson trots out there I think most of KD's critiques are of the meatball variety.

He took the team apart and got a ton of draft picks. Those picks have to hit. He tried to put some NHL talent on the roster after last year having AHL guys throughout the lineup. He's doing a fine job

No gm drafted more picks in 2 years than Chicago his first drafts, there are a dozen reasons other gms have never exceeded that pick total. It's similar with the higher picks (depends on how one rates picks in the top 2 rounds, top 50, etc.)

That Hawks haven't been developing their own players for a long time, and the same scouts haven't been finding those hidden gems for a long time. Instead of putting weight on finding Hagel and landing Suter he gambled on the two weakest areas of the franchise, player development and Undrafted junior scouting. Not a great plan. Could have tore down slower and worked on getting just a few acquisitions right in each category instead of puking up money and talent for lotto tickets and overrated draft slots.

No very-high end prospect ever walked into a lineup without a single top 6 forward. Even the bad teams like Pit and Was pulled out all sorts of stops to support OV and Sid year 1.

I'm glad he adjusted this year, but I think we're seeing that the plan was kind of dumb. I do think he's learning but he's been cardboard level replacement at best.

I was already hammered for being a meatball the previous couple years so fire away.

 

[x Tame Impala]

It's giving Brodie 7.5 over two years when he was washed last year.

Yes, aside from that.

No gm drafted more picks in 2 years than Chicago his first drafts, there are a dozen reasons other gms have never exceeded that pick total. It's similar with the higher picks (depends on how one rates picks in the top 2 rounds, top 50, etc.)

That Hawks haven't been developing their own players for a long time, and the same scouts haven't been finding those hidden gems for a long time. Instead of putting weight on finding Hagel and landing Suter he gambled on the two weakest areas of the franchise, player development and Undrafted junior scouting. Not a great plan. Could have tore down slower and worked on getting just a few acquisitions right in each category instead of puking up money and talent for lotto tickets and overrated draft slots.

No very-high end prospect ever walked into a lineup without a single top 6 forward. Even the bad teams like Pit and Was pulled out all sorts of stops to support OV and Sid year 1.

I'm glad he adjusted this year, but I think we're seeing that the plan was kind of dumb. I do think he's learning but he's been cardboard level replacement at best.

I was already hammered for being a meatball the previous couple years so fire away.

We wouldn’t have been in a better position had KD not torn things down and started fresh. Maybe we got Bedard too early in our rebuild and now he doesn’t have support, that’s a fair critique, but he went out and signed two top 9 UFA’s in Bertuzzi and Teravainen to very good deals. What else do you want from him?

It’s simply too early for this level of critique. Give it a few years and if it looks like our picks aren’t panning out and our prospects aren’t developing then I’ll agree with you

 

[hockeydoug]

We wouldn’t have been in a better position had KD not torn things down and started fresh. Maybe we got Bedard too early in our rebuild and now he doesn’t have support, that’s a fair critique, but he went out and signed two top 9 UFA’s in Bertuzzi and Teravainen to very good deals. What else do you want from him?

It’s simply too early for this level of critique. Give it a few years and if it looks like our picks aren’t panning out and our prospects aren’t developing then I’ll agree with you

I was happy with last summer. Not just making sure there were 4 or 5 middle 6 forwards, but by scaling back on the picks and ignoring some of the lotto-ticket types he extended in the past. Spending on some damn continuity instead of twilight tour types and mercenaries, etc.

I went from "Fire him into the sun...yesterday" to "get ready to fire him into the sun". That's a huge jump in my management rating system.

I was done with Richardson right after he was hired, but it took about 6months for LR to give me brain damage and another year before KD should have a hot iron on his hind end for not making major structural changes with coaches. King was a special kind of bad too.

 

[GIADF]

I don't get the KD angst aside from signing Brodie. Unless he can control what lineup Richardson trots out there I think most of KD's critiques are of the meatball variety.

He took the team apart and got a ton of draft picks. Those picks have to hit. He tried to put some NHL talent on the roster after last year having AHL guys throughout the lineup. He's doing a fine job

I haven’t seen enough positive to say he’s done a fine job. Anyone can tank and trade for picks which we have yet to see really anything out of. Allan and Reichel were obviously Bowman picks so KD doesn’t really get any credit for anything good they’ve done.

Bertuzzi, TT, and Brodie signings look bad so far.

Maroon is probably his best signing and he’s a 4th liner playing like 10 minutes a game.

 

[x Tame Impala]

I haven’t seen enough positive to say he’s done a fine job. Anyone can tank and trade for picks which we have yet to see really anything out of. Allan and Reichel were obviously Bowman picks so KD doesn’t really get any credit for anything good they’ve done.

Bertuzzi, TT, and Brodie signings look bad so far.

Maroon is probably his best signing and he’s a 4th liner playing like 10 minutes a game.

His contracts have been pretty good so far aside from Brodie, he's aggressively gone out and acquired a ton of draft picks, and he acknowledged last year's roster was unacceptable going forward and we needed more NHL talent on this one. Those 3 things are plusses in my book.

 

[GIADF]

His contracts have been pretty good so far aside from Brodie, he's aggressively gone out and acquired a ton of draft picks, and he acknowledged last year's roster was unacceptable going forward and we needed more NHL talent on this one. Those 3 things are plusses in my book.

I wouldn’t call TT and Bertuzzi good additions, personally. Not yet at least.