Mitches Get Riches: Bedard’s Wingman Quest. The NHL offseason thread

[falafel]

The NHL offseason has not started yet. This thread is an abomination and should be locked immediately until Lord Stanley's Cup is hefted above some Canadian man's head.

[falafel]

The plain fact is they are going to always, rightfully so, prioritize basketball for that arena. It can be better, but 17,000 unobstructed seats isn't happening.

I remember watching a game at T-Mobile arena (thanks Donuthole) and the experience was night/day. I was really disappointed and my excitement for Utah hockey was really diminished when it was announced they would play at the Delta Center long term.

T-Mobile is an excellent hockey arena and I should know - its the only one I've ever been to.

[MartyFunkhouser]

NHL draft lottery on Monday. I don't want the Blackhawks to win it, as it locks them out from winning it in 2026 and 2027. Top prospect is a defenseman, and Chicago is solid there. Staying at the second pick would be the ideal.

[MartyFunkhouser]

18% chance to win the lottery right now. Hoping they don't win it.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Utah wins the second draw. Blackhawks drop to 3rd. I'm okay with that result. I really would have liked to stay at 2 for a guarantee of Misa. Hopefully, Utah does screw up the pick again

[RC Vikings]

Utah wins the second draw. Blackhawks drop to 3rd. I'm okay with that result. I really would have liked to stay at 2 for a guarantee of Misa. Hopefully, Utah does screw up the pick again

Do you think Iginia was a bad pick? A big forward like Martone would work well in Utah and try to pick up another good defenceman in free agency would be nice.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Do you think Iginia was a bad pick? A big forward like Martone would work well in Utah and try to pick up another good defenceman in free agency would be nice.

Yes, I think Iginla was a bad pick. it was a reach and they should have been selecting one of the defenseman available. If they were insistent on going with a forward, they should have drafted Catton. Buium was the obvious pick and they passed on him for no good reason. They are going to regret it.

Last year was such a defenseman heavy draft and this year it is forward heavy. They needed to prioritize defense last year.

As for this year, I think Martone could be a really good pick and I think he will be there for Utah. I don't see the Blackhawks drafting Martone. He just doesn't fit the way that Davidson drafts. Davidson really prioritizes skating and that is Martone's weakness. I think the Blackhawks are going to draft either Frondell or Desnoyers.

I could see either Utah or the Blackhawks looking at Hagens, but I think both should pass on him because they already are undersized with Cooley and Bedard as the future top line centers. I don't think you want your other top 6 center to also be undersized.

Ultimately, I'm bummed that the Blackhawks are going to miss out on Misa, but I'm glad they didn't win the lottery. Seeing the jumps by Utah and the Isles, makes me want to have that as an option for next year. the Blackhawks better be in the back half of the lottery next year, not contending for the top pick again. The rebuild needs to move forward.

[Jeff Lebowski]

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[USUC]

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Thank goodness. I'm not sure how I feel about the logo - not sure I like the mountain motif incorporated into the mammoth, but I am so relieved we aren't getting the bandits or outlaws or whatever.

[BigPiney]

[falafel]

Thank goodness. I'm not sure how I feel about the logo - not sure I like the mountain motif incorporated into the mammoth, but I am so relieved we aren't getting the bandits or outlaws or whatever.

I liked the Oulaws. Or the Porter Rockwells.

But Mammoth is pretty cool. Not a big fan of the logo either, but that's not my problem.

[Donuthole]

I'm actually surprised how much love that logo is receiving. I'm sure they're going to be like "the top of its head is the mountains!" or "the tusk makes a U and where it crosses the trunk makes a T!" But that looks like bad clip art.

[MartyFunkhouser]

I'm actually surprised how much love that logo is receiving. I'm sure they're going to be like "the top of its head is the mountains!" or "the tusk makes a U and where it crosses the trunk makes a T!" But that looks like bad clip art.

I like it, even if it does look like bad clip art.

Now back to the important thing in the NHL right now, the draft.

I'm seeing a couple of things out there that Hagens could be a dark horse for the 1st pick for the Isles, because he is a local kid and Islanders fan. I don't think it will happen, but I would be thrilled if it did happen. If that happened it would be Hagens, Schaeffer, Misa. I'd be thrilled with that happening, but I don't think it will.

[MartyFunkhouser]

The Q-Stache is back in the league. Great hire by the Ducks.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/631...m-ducks-coach/

[MartyFunkhouser]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/634...onman-round-1/

Pronman with his first mock draft post lottery

Frondell to Chicago
Martone to Utah

I think you will see a lot of people putting Martone to Chicago. They will see him being a winger with size and will assume Chicago will go that way. I don't think it will happen though. Players with potential to play Center are typically going to go before a winger. Davidson has consistently prioritized high end skating ability in the draft. Martone's weakness is his skating. I think it really is Frondell or Desnoyers. Hagens is totally out of play for Chicago. He duplicates so much of what they already have. I think for the same reason Hagens is not an option for Utah as well.

I do think that Davidson is going to make a swing for the first pick to try to get Misa. The team has so much draft capital right now. He has moved up before. He almost moved up to get Demidov last year. The Isles could pick up some extra picks to build depth in the system and then draft a hometown guy with Hagens at 3rd. However, if they are really sold on Schaeffer as an elite blueline prospect, I don't know how you pass on that unless you have depth in the system.