100% agree with this approach. Even like all three UFA targets.

Targets may be different, maybe a guy or two gets traded (most likely Murphy or AA), but this is the approach KD will take

I definitely like the approach however, I have serious questions about being able to convince Marchessault to sign for one year with a rebuilding team. Given his age I think he would want to sign with a competitive team and there should be more than a few that would love to have him. I think a serious overpay would be required and I don’t think $6m is enough.

As I have mentioned in another post, bringing in a veteran centre is appealing however, if the Hawks end up drafting Celebrini there may not be room in which case another winger (Teravainen) may be the route to go.

I could definitely see some "Domi Athanasiou"-esque signings over the summer, at AAV's closer to these. I really don't like Monahan, but that is neither here nor there. Also, personally, I would put Catton over Levshunov on that ranking, and maybe other players too. But yeah, I'd bet KD goes a similar route to this for next season.

I love Catton’s game, I know a lot of people would be hesitant because he is another smallish forward but damn he is good and really drives the play.

Ya know what I say to people like that?... If Catton were one inch taller, no one would be saying a thing about his size. 5'11" isn't small. And yeah, the kid is a really good playmaker who is responsible in all zones. I probably wouldn't say he has star potential, but he has a pretty high floor.

Landing Celebrini or Demidov would be massive for us. There's a pretty big drop off after that. I like Lindstrom but honestly dropping below #2 would really stink. I'd strongly consder a trade back at 3 or 4 to still land a Catton or Helenius plus whatever else you get for moving back

I don't agree with the drop off part. I would be pretty happy with a pick anywhere in the top 5. I also don't agree that dropping below 2 would really stink. I'd almost rather not win the lottery this year. Maybe next year would be nice, and 2026 would be an amazing year to win the lottery. But if we win this year, that's it for 3 more years. I think I prefer Hagens over Celebrini and Demidov, and I definitely prefer McKenna and Bjorck in 2026 over anyone in this years or next years draft.

But yeah, I'd be cool with trading back if we land at 3rd or later, though. That is, if there is anyone who wants to trade up and depends on what they are willing to pay.

Hawks won’t be in position to win a lottery in 2026 and really shouldn’t be next year either. Not saying we’re a playoff team either but this should be the last year in the bottom 3. It’s called draft and develop for a reason. Need to do the develop part too. Would hate to see Nazar and Moore struggle as much as Reichel has because we only have like 5 NHl caliber forwards

It's not just about struggling, but also DEVELOPING. Most of these kids aren't going to bust right into the NHL, and the ones that do will need at least a year if not longer in order to become anything close to what they are going to be. CHI is going to be bad, like it or not. This rebuild is going to take time.

Nazar probably plays another year in college, Moore definitely goes back for his softmore year, if not longer, and both of them will likely need time in the AHL after that. KD isn't signing any big ticket free agents, either. No one else is on the way for at least a year or two, and all of these guys will need time at the NHL level to become what they are going to be. They aren't just gonna bust into the league as 60-100 point players. Same goes for the defensemen.

So, sure, CHI might be a little bit better, but not by much and we should still be very much in the running for the lottery in both 25 and 26. If you expect them to not be low in the standings the next couple years, I think you are setting yourself up for disappointment. KD has stressed over and over that this is happening organically through the draft and development, meaning we aren't going to be good until the prospects are good, and that is still years away.

2026 isn't as far away as it seems. And no, this rebuild is not a failure if we are still that low in the standings in 2026. Most teams spend MUCH longer at the bottom of the standings before they really break out of their rebuild/development stages, and a tear down rebuild could take even longer.

Nazar is almost 100% signing, whether that's for Chicago or Rockford remains to be seen. Hawks will be forced to add vets via trades or FA just to get to the cap floor. Even if it's overpaying on short term deals it will still force us into some sort of improvement. Then by 2026 you start expecting contributions from Nazar, Moore, Rinzel, Reichel, and whoever we draft top 3 this year. Yes, they won't be stars right away, and yes they won't all pan out most likely, but by 2026 your getting some sort of contribution from this group. Then finally factor in growth of Bedard. Year 3 Mcdavid put up 108 pts. Maybe Bedard comes along slower or never quite reaches Mcdavid level, but he's on a path to be much closer to mcdavid than he will be to other "normal" 1st overall picks. Factor all that in and the hawks are basiclly forced to improve off the bottom of the standings while still following KDs plan of no big trades/signings yet. Draft and develop

Almost 100% signing, according to whom? Nazar certainly hasn't said anything of the sort. Also, sure, Bedard could be amazing by then, but one person doesn't win games. McDavid had a lot more help available from day one than Bedard does, and anyone KD adds to get to the cap floor isn't really gonna move the needle as far is "improving the team". Most of them will probably be guys whose careers are winding down and are shells of their former selves that bring leadership, experience, and not much else, or are good supplementary players but aren't going to be difference makers. Most guys that are already in CHI's system will need a year or two at the NHL level to really make an impact, and most of the ones they are gonna draft will probably need a year or two beyond the draft to even get an ELC. Look at the teams right around us in the standings. They already have good players on their roster and still aren't in playoff position, then look at how long it took them just to get THIS far. Would I be surprised if we see improvements and get good glimpses of the future over the next couple seasons? Not in the least bit. Would I be happy if things came together that quickly? Definitely! But I certainly won't be going into the next two seasons expecting to be anything more than a bottom feeder team that is still developing and building.

Based on Nazar being way too good to back to NCAA again. It's kinda like Korchinski last year where you maybe prefer he goes back to juniors but he's just outgrown that. The positive with Nazar that we didn't have with KK is that he can go to Rockford.

I didn't buy that narrative with Korch and I don't buy it with Nazar, either. It's completely up to Frankie, but I wouldn't be surprised in the least bit if he wants two full NCAA seasons. He is certainly a very good young prospect, but I think he could potentially have a lot to gain by going back for another year. His decision might hinge on what the other guys decide to do, though. If some of Michigans other top players are gonna move on, he might want to move on too, rather than being on a depleted roster that is in transition. Either way, though, he will likely need time in the AHL to even make the NHL roster, and even then he will probably need some time to acclimate and find his game at the NHL level at any sort of consistent pace. Then there is his size to consider, as well. He will have to learn how to be a small guy in the NHL with all these giants that are made of pure muscle. Again, I'm not gonna be surprised or upset or anything like that, if I'm wrong. But, I am also not going to bet on him or any of CHI's prospects being an impact players for at least 2-5 more years, including whoever we pick in the next few drafts.