NEWSLETTER
What a weekend, eh? And It’s still only Sunday afternoon.
The Chicago Blackhawks concluded the NHL Entry Draft weekend with a major trade and a draft class that is, at first glance, underwhelming. With the addition of Seth Jones on Friday, the Blackhawks are looking to speed-up the process of getting back into contention in the NHL. Whether they want to admit it or not, this is a move for now, not the future.
• With an eye on the future, though, here is the full list of the 2021 NHL Draft Class for the Blackhawks…
Chicago #Blackhawks 2021 #NHLDraft Class
#32 Nolan Allan
#62 Colton Dach
#91 Taige Harding
#105 Ethan del Mastro
#108 Victor Stjernborg
#172 Ilya Safonov
#204 Connor Kelley
#216 Jalen Luypen— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) July 24, 2021
• A glaring focus that the Blackhawk had in their draft strategy this year was to get players with size. Only Jalen Luypen, the last pick the Blackhawks made over the weekend, is listed under six-foot tall and under 190 pounds. Chicago wanted to get big, and they did.
• I’m not opposed to the strategy of drafting big players, but when most of their scouting reports include lines that say something to the effect of “this player will be a bad skater at the NHL level” you get concerned. The Atheltic’s Corey Pronman gave the Blackhawk a “C” grade for their efforts this weekend.
My 2021 NHL Draft grades, with notes on as many players as I could muster. Individual team files are linked within. https://t.co/QD7RUugx4T
Thank you to all for reading and subscribing this draft season.
— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) July 25, 2021
• Not the worst grade in the bunch, but his NHL Draft counterpart Scott Wheeler had a bit harsher critique of Chicago’s draft class. Wheeler grades the Blackhawks as “Losers” in their year’s draft, ranking them almost dead-last out of the 32 NHL teams.
My winners and losers of the #2021NHLDraft’s first round:
– Ranking the picks of all 24 teams that had them
– The +/- versus my board
– Best players available to start Day 2
– Pick-by-pick scouting reports
– The Habs and Logan Mailloux…More: https://t.co/bkJzeqwGwT
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) July 24, 2021
• “I’d be surprised if the Blackhawks got one good NHL player out of their eight choices this year.” Lovely.
• With the Seth Jones trade making waves, and the Draft class leaving something to be desired, the Blackhawks’ weekend leaves me a bit perplexed going forward. Obviously, we cannot judge the draft class too harshly without having them play a “normal” season, but by all accounts, it feels like there’s going to be something missing from the 2021 class.
• One thing that will be fun to see is the new Blackhawks draft picks mixing with last year’s draft picks at the World Junior Summer Showcase.
USA White:
Wyatt Kaiser
Landon Slaggert
Connor KelleyUSA Blue:
Drew CommessoSweden:
Victor Stjernborg #Blackhawks #WJSS https://t.co/RYo7Z0EA1i— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) July 25, 2021
• One of, if not the biggest, highlight of the draft from the Blackhawks came when they selected Colton Dach, the younger brother of Kirby Dach, with their second-round pick.
The Dach family reacts to Colton being selected by the #Blackhawks 62nd overall pic.twitter.com/TDtG9jek0b
— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) July 24, 2021
• We saw this coming a mile away.
• Maybe Kirby knew something was coming too…
The @NHLBlackhawks have selected Colton Dach in the @NHL Draft.
He’ll be teaming up with his brother @kdach77 in Chicago. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/AyRZX58MfG
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) July 24, 2021
• It’s not just a pick made to be good PR, though. Colton is a sizable power forward with a similar skill-set to his older brother, but with more of a tendency to shoot-first, where Kirby is more pass-first. It will be a lot of fun to see if the two will one day play on the same line in Chicago.
The Dach brothers are #Blackhawks now pic.twitter.com/cPnasv3ndM
— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) July 24, 2021
• Adorable.
• It was a weekend full of brotherly love in the NHL. The Blackhawks drafted Colton Dach to go with Kirby, they also traded for Seth Jones to join his brother Caleb, the Devils drafted Luke Hughes to go with his brother Jack, and the Avalanche drafted Taylor Makar to play with his brother Cale.
It’s the #NHL Brothers weekend.
Cale + Taylor Makar.
Seth + Caleb Jones.
Kirby + Colton Dach.
Jack + Luke Hughes. pic.twitter.com/tKU9QlZHYr— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 24, 2021
• Speaking of Seth and Caleb Jones, the two were formally introduced to the city of Chicago and the Blackhawks yesterday.
https://twitter.com/NHLBlackhawks/status/1418975601000685577?s=20
• Side note: not sure how I feel about Seth Jones wearing No. 4…
• Part of the Jones brothers introduction to the city included a quick stop at Wrigley Field.
Meanwhile at the Friendly Confines…
Thanks for the hospitality, @Cubs! pic.twitter.com/dB0czhHsEo
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) July 24, 2021
• After that, the bothers held their first media availability on the Chicago river.
• Scott Power and Mark Lazerus wrapped up the weekend very nicely in their latest on The Athletic, noting Seth Jones’ recognition of the criticism he faces in the city, but also acknowledging that he is far from being “washed up.” Highly recommend checking it out…
Twelve thoughts on the Blackhawks’ weekend from @MarkLazerus and me https://t.co/wph038glVf
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) July 24, 2021
• Lazerus and Powers wrap their latest piece with a poignant message about how the end of the first round of the draft looked and felt for a lot of people. The Montreal Canadiens drafting Logan Mailloux, followed by the Blackhawks being front and center with their selection. A cavalcade of sex crimes and allegations and cringeworthy moments to end the night.
• For more on the lawsuits and allegations regarding the Blackhawks, I suggest Steve Greenberg’s latest for the Chicago Sun-Times, calling for real accountability from the organization.
.@SLGreenberg on the Blackhawks' alleged sexual assault cover-up:
"Anything less than transparency would be suspect and an egregious disservice to us all — and especially to all those who have been victimized by sexual assault."
His column: https://t.co/MqWYijzw08
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) July 25, 2021
• And for more on the Logan Mailloux situation and the Canadiens, I highly suggest reading this piece from The Athletic’s Arpon Basu.
The Montreal Canadiens should be ashamed of themselves.https://t.co/4LuToyoW4O
— Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) July 24, 2021
• And I’ll leave you with Canadiens Assistant General Manager Trevor Timmins not being able to answer this question from Marc Antoine Godin…
EXACTLY, Trevor’s silence speaks volumes here… pic.twitter.com/3mBd9Z5jb9
— ms. struggle (@thee4thidiot) July 24, 2021
• Silence.
• A reminder, NHL Free Agency begins on Wednesday.
• That will do it for today. Enjoy your Sunday.
