Blackhawks

#276      
Maybe it's just the curated algorithm of my various newsfeeds, but I'm glad there's at least some backlash to Chicago even getting to keep this pick following the sexual abuse cover-up, especially compared with Arizona losing their pick recently for far less.
 
#277      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
I'm glad there's at least some backlash to Chicago even getting to keep this pick following the sexual abuse cover-up
I'd be curious to hear you say more, not to derail the thread.

In general I have found it frustrating that the story has been put in a Sandusky frame when that's not really an appropriate comparison on a variety of levels and all of the relevant parts of that story happened before the sea change in the way such incidents are treated which resulted from the Sandusky case.

Regardless, the cuddly vibes of the 2010's Blackhawks are certainly long, long gone both locally and nationally. It will be interesting to see how the spotlight being back on the franchise will shake out. Even with Bedard I don't suspect this is going to be a very good team over the next couple years.
 
#278      
Maybe it's just the curated algorithm of my various newsfeeds, but I'm glad there's at least some backlash to Chicago even getting to keep this pick following the sexual abuse cover-up, especially compared with Arizona losing their pick recently for far less.
One was misconduct, the other was cheating for a competitive advantage. It's not exactly the same.
In no way is that a minimizing of the horrible nature of what occurred in 2010.
 
#279      
I’m a hard fair weather hawks fan. Someone please tell me the level of prospect Bedard is.

Some people are acting like the second coming of mcdavid.
He doesn’t have the speed or size of McDavid, but his hands, creativity, passing ability, shot and hockey IQ are absolutely elite. In modern terms, I’d think of him as similar to Jack Hughes in size and skill, but with a better shot. McDavid and Crosby were better at this age. The only other prospect of the past 10 years who might have been considered better is Matthews. Maybe.

BTW, my son is a former travel hockey player in this age group, and our family is friendly with several high end players (US and Canada under-18 national teams), including two whose kids have played with Bedard since the age of 8 (one of whom will be another first-round pick). So, I’ve been hearing raves about this kid for a decade.
 
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#280      
One was misconduct, the other was cheating for a competitive advantage. It's not exactly the same.
In no way is that a minimizing of the horrible nature of what occurred in 2010.
Of course it's not the same, but the only repercussions Chicago faced were financial, which were minimal at best. This naturally did not have any major impact on the franchise on the whole, which I imagine the purpose of a punishment for such a traumatic scandal should have.
 
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#281      
I'd be curious to hear you say more, not to derail the thread.

In general I have found it frustrating that the story has been put in a Sandusky frame when that's not really an appropriate comparison on a variety of levels and all of the relevant parts of that story happened before the sea change in the way such incidents are treated which resulted from the Sandusky case.

Regardless, the cuddly vibes of the 2010's Blackhawks are certainly long, long gone both locally and nationally. It will be interesting to see how the spotlight being back on the franchise will shake out. Even with Bedard I don't suspect this is going to be a very good team over the next couple years.
It's nuanced, of course, and many fans' memories of that 2010 team especially are now clouded in a negative light. For me on a personal level I have a hard time cheering for the team following that newsbreak, and since my move to Minneapolis have gradually shifted my hockey energy to the Wild.

In short, not much else to add, other than I'm still saddened by it all. Which, in full transparency of the lens I'm looking at this through, I work as a psychologist, often with survivors of assaults such as this, which go without significant accountability in the vast majority of cases.

Forrest Gump GIF by GrayDuckDent
 
#282      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
It's nuanced, of course, and many fans' memories of that 2010 team especially are now clouded in a negative light. For me on a personal level I have a hard time cheering for the team following that newsbreak, and since my move to Minneapolis have gradually shifted my hockey energy to the Wild.

In short, not much else to add, other than I'm still saddened by it all. Which, in full transparency of the lens I'm looking at this through, I work as a psychologist, often with survivors of assaults such as this, which go without significant accountability in the vast majority of cases.

Forrest Gump GIF by GrayDuckDent
Well there are two pieces to it, as I understand it.

1. The period of less than a month between senior leadership being made aware of the situation and their resolution of it by forcing the assailant to resign.

2. That the assailant was allowed to resign and move on elsewhere, where future assaults occurred.

I genuinely don't quite understand what it is that the "right" thing to do was as to #2, given the circumstances and given that this was 2010. Is it that they should have gone to the police? What the expectation of what the police would have done?

The "Sandusky frame" as I said above depends on the idea of the big, bad sports organization not caring about the lives of anyone who gets in the way of its big, bad important people. Kyle Beach was a first round draft pick and top prospect and the assailant was a nobody video coordinator who was jettisoned without a thought. Beach was not a minor. This becoming public in 2010 would not have played the way it would today, not even close. I just find there to be no appreciation for the subtleties involved in a frustrating way.
 
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#283      
The Blackhawks also have a HUGE volume of high-end prospects and picks, in addition to Berard. They had five of the Top 60 picks in 2022 (three 1st rounders), will have another four of the top 50 this year (two first rounders), and Reichel (2020 draft) looks pretty promising.

Granted, having that many high picks is no guarantee of success (see: Edmonton, Arizona), but . . . there's hope. The sheer volume makes it likely that several will pan out positively. And this generation of Wirtzes seem willing to spend.
 
#285      
I know this a Blackhawks thread , but I wanted to just put in a word about this :
WHAT IN THE WORLD IS WRONG WITH THE MAPLE LEAFS FRANCHISE ???

I honestly feel bad for their fanbase . The team has been horsecrap for almost 55 years
I find it hilarious. Their fans are intolerable. I wish the same decades of ineptitude upon fans of scUM and ND.
 
#287      

Mr. Tibbs

southeast DuPage
I find it hilarious. Their fans are intolerable. I wish the same decades of ineptitude upon fans of scUM and ND.
im with you 100% re scUM & ND
and will raise you with a Bama & tO$U

but all I know about Toronto is I love that city , although I’ve only been there 3 times and all were in summer . I have no opinion on their hockey fanbase , but they must be pretty sad about that team , year after year .

Geez , how can you explain Florida beating Boston and soon to advance past the Leafs

yea I know ….. playoff hockey
 
#289      
I know this a Blackhawks thread , but I wanted to just put in a word about this :
WHAT IN THE WORLD IS WRONG WITH THE MAPLE LEAFS FRANCHISE ???

I honestly feel bad for their fanbase . The team has been horsecrap for almost 55 years

You think it's bad? I know people who live in Canada that are not Leafs fans and absolutely hate how much TSN covers the Leafs throughout the season.

No Canadian team winning since 1993 is even more unbelievable, IMO.

Especially when they recently had as high as a 25% chance in the shortened 2020-21 season to have a team reach the Stanley Cup Final due to the All-Canada division that season.
 
#291      

'NHL 23' simulates Connor Bedard's career, sees him winning three Stanley Cups​


EA Sports sees Bedard tearing it up once he makes it to the NHL. The company used "NHL 23" to simulate Bedard's career and saw him play 1,455 games, score 739 goals and dish out 1,145 assists. The video game has Bedard earning three Stanley Cup trophies throughout his career and taking home other prestigious accolades in the league.


Bedard simulated career on NHL 23
 
#292      

'NHL 23' simulates Connor Bedard's career, sees him winning three Stanley Cups​


EA Sports sees Bedard tearing it up once he makes it to the NHL. The company used "NHL 23" to simulate Bedard's career and saw him play 1,455 games, score 739 goals and dish out 1,145 assists. The video game has Bedard earning three Stanley Cup trophies throughout his career and taking home other prestigious accolades in the league.


Bedard simulated career on NHL 23
I'll gladly accept that
 
#297      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
It's only just begun, at least here in Chicago.
We've got every reason to be extraordinarily excited.

But I think there's a reasonable chance Bedard is more in the "big scoring one-way wing sniper" category and not the "five tool era-defining player" category.

I suppose then again because of the situation the natural comparison is going to be Kane and Toews (he's much more similar to Kane in style) and those are more reasonable targets than, like, Mario Lemieux.

I wonder how hard they're going to work to make him a center, that's kinda my biggest immediate question.
 
#298      

KBLEE

Montgomery, IL
But I think there's a reasonable chance Bedard is more in the "big scoring one-way wing sniper" category and not the "five tool era-defining player" category.

I suppose then again because of the situation the natural comparison is going to be Kane and Toews (he's much more similar to Kane in style) and those are more reasonable targets than, like, Mario Lemieux.

I wonder how hard they're going to work to make him a center, that's kinda my biggest immediate question.

Gretzky was only 6'0" and 185. So - same weight and 2" shorter. I'm not concerned.
 
#300      
In all seriousness, do you really want someone who can also be a tough guy? My point being that if he is checking and being checked, more likelihood of concussions. I guess I think of Eric Lindros.