I think it’s weird the hyper reactions on the micro scale to picks and moves and people not getting their guy.
Someone told me last night in their opinion the Blackhawks draft a lot of guys that aren’t going to translate well in the NHL. Maybe he meant they have a style of “junior”(+NCAA) games. We know it’s a focus on speed/motor/tenacity, and some other qualities, but I’m still trying to think about what he meant by that — and if he’s right.
Criticize the capital being spent needlessly, that’s valid. But are these guys going to translate well to the “post-modern” NHL — since we’re at a point where skill training has been standardized for almost two decades now, and maybe good to excellent skating isn’t going to be a premium as it was because it’s a downright necessity, what other qualities does he have in his vision?
Guys like boisvert being what they are with a technical ability like skating or being proficient goal scorers, I think like what the bruins go for does show they are interested in blending a bit of sandpaper through the lineup.
We saw KD is aggressive in getting his guy with Debrincat for #7/Dach+ for #13 a couple years ago as well as this year attempting to secure Demidov. Love it, hate it — they have a vision
On the macro then it should be considered whether the archetype they are going toward is ideal, and maybe there’s a track history already in comparing success to past drafts while bowman was still around what are their success rates? Was Boqvist/Beaudin a KD/Doneghey selection? Or was Dach? Reichel?
On the other hand like doneghey says, it’s easy going also once you have your frame/core pieces to add size later on. But the NHL is a clock or a pendulum. It will go from skill to size or being offensive minded to defensively focused and right round or back and forth with teams copycatting what teams who actually evolve to win championships over and over again.
So I guess with all this said what is KD evolving toward? And are those principles going to win a championship? Create a dynasty?
If you don’t see it, then maybe the alarm/firing opinion is valid.