Del Marstro’s footwork looks slow IMO.

Liked Ludwinski’s game
- LAHawk

At worse case I think DelMaestro will find his way to be effective in a third pairing. He will do well because he is smart, talented, a leader and a hard worker. He has tools to be effective offensively and defensively. His skating and footwork will be an area he has to work to improve and maybe that limitation means he might only be third pair NHL material Give him a second year to develop and work in things though and see how far he comes along by next training camp. He would be a logical replacement for Murphy if he is ready for NHL

At worse case I think DelMaestro will find his way to be effective in a third pairing. He will do well because he is smart, talented, a leader and a hard worker. He has tools to be effective offensively and defensively. His skating and footwork will be an area he has to work to improve and maybe that limitation means he might only be third pair NHL material Give him a second year to develop and work in things though and see how far he comes along by next training camp. He would be a logical replacement for Murphy if he is ready for NHL
- jhawk59

Based on this one game, Allen is currently more advanced than del Marstro is

Based on this one game, Allen is currently more advanced than del Marstro is
- LAHawk

The talking heads were comparing Allen to Hammer. We can only hope

The talking heads were comparing Allen to Hammer. We can only hope
- wizardofi

They weren't necessarily comparing him to Hjalmarsson.

They were saying his game was in the mold of a player like Hjalmarsson - all defense, very little offense.

Didn’t get to watch, thanks for the recap guys.
- Angotti

i believe you still can on blues NHL site

There is almost three weeks before season starts. Let´s not jump into conclusions after first prospect game. Let´s celebrate that hockey is back!

I thought nazar, spellacy, slaggart, savoie and allen stood out. Didnt care much for edm and commesso. Misiak was invisible. But its only the beginning… at least hockey is back

I thought nazar, spellacy, slaggart, savoie and allen stood out. Didnt care much for edm and commesso. Misiak was invisible. But its only the beginning… at least hockey is back
- LFS

We get to enjoy more of it today

The Hawks lose to the Blues 4-3 in OT. I’m calling it now, the season is over.

5-2-6-2-5
- DarthKane

For once you're not joking.

I thought nazar, spellacy, slaggart, savoie and allen stood out. Didnt care much for edm and commesso. Misiak was invisible. But its only the beginning… at least hockey is back
- LFS

I think someone posted that Nazar didn't do much after the pp goal..?

For the prospect dudes:

Top 2025 NHL Draft prospect Anton Frondell is set to undergo knee surgery, shares Djugardens IF insider Robin Fredriksson. No timeline for a return has been revealed. It’s Frondell’s second major lower-body injury in as many years, after a separate injury limited his 2023-24 campaign to just 42 league games. Frondell impressed when he did play, notably scoring 39 points in 29 U20 games, and adding seven points in seven games at the World U17 Hockey Challenge. His name has appeared near the very top of early 2025 Draft rankings, though another significant injury could make him an early faller.


Does this mean he isn't going to be a top 10 pick?

I think someone posted that Nazar didn't do much after the pp goal..?
- captainserious

I thought he played pretty well start to finish, probably the most NHL ready looking of the forwards IMO. He made a nice pass on the PP, but I was more impressed by Lardis managing to get all of it and finish that chance so well.

Really liked the shorty, Ludwinski did well to read the play, his pass was a little behind Slaggert, but Slaggert with a really nice job to use his back skate to kick it up to his stick and make the play to score.

Based on this one game, Allen is currently more advanced than del Marstro is
- LAHawk

Nolan Allen has always been a much better short area skater with balance; he entered his draft year with everyone thinking they would see an assertive offensive style, not necessarily as a scoring attacking defenseman as a guy who was owning the neutral zone with smart passes.
He simply under-performed in his draft year. Not sure if it wqs injuries, knicks or what...I watched enough to be unimpressed and I dropped him out of the guys on my top 60, and then the Bowman consortitum saw enough in the junior playoffs & international play to think he was worthy of a late first round, and telling the press, something to the effect, "It is time to draft a Seabrook-type." That was to make sure the press and fan base weren't thinking he was the next offensiveman in line after the Adam Boqvist trade, a guy they cut bait with after three developmental NHL seasons.
Nolan Allen was always smart strong and assertive on the defensive side. He really misses a chance to "get one in" on the opponent, but concentrates on the game over dumb stuff.
It bugged me that only three of the defenseman were actual drafted prospects, but it is smart to intern the likes of Thnias Mathurin (an unsigned Detriot 2022 pick), who was a good 2-way player in Windsor, Wyatt Kennedy who was a good player in North Bay, and Luke Benton, Moose Jaw b/c the hawk's college boys (Rinzel & Harding) are back in school and these tourneys ALWAYS see teams filling vacancies through the try-out route.
They might be more to their presence at camp than as fillers.
All finished their junior season last year as solid plus players whose contributions involved their size and ability to play hard minutes with success.

If you can develop a stable of big defenseman who are up for the task, you might have replacements when trades, injuries, and releases happen to the farms older defenseman who don't come through as NHL able.

For the prospect dudes:

Top 2025 NHL Draft prospect Anton Frondell is set to undergo knee surgery, shares Djugardens IF insider Robin Fredriksson. No timeline for a return has been revealed. It’s Frondell’s second major lower-body injury in as many years, after a separate injury limited his 2023-24 campaign to just 42 league games. Frondell impressed when he did play, notably scoring 39 points in 29 U20 games, and adding seven points in seven games at the World U17 Hockey Challenge. His name has appeared near the very top of early 2025 Draft rankings, though another significant injury could make him an early faller.


Does this mean he isn't going to be a top 10 pick?
- captainserious

No, and it is difficult to pigeon hole Frondell and the Russian kid, Ivan Ryabkin, draft slots, or where Misa comes off the board, where top defender Schaefer is taken, and just how early big C McQueen is taken, and the landing slot of Porter Matone, and the other defenders like RD Logan Hensler.

It will be curious where the Blackhawks pick, but also if Porter Matone lingers on the draft board after two tournies where he wasn't the dominant producer.

My wanton calculating brain has Martone as #3 on my board, but since Kyle will trade any pick at anytime, will he attempt to do another two for one to move up as he offered Columbus at slot four so he could take Demidov?


I just think it is smart to find big young fluid UFA defenders who need time and continue to grab at any chances to select early to find forwards who can help attack the net sooner.

I just read that Marcelx2 got banged up and Gagnier took his place.

I just read that Marcelx2 got banged up and Gagnier took his place.
- bjphawkfan

Who is Gagnier?

Who is Gagnier?
- jhawk59

Brought him in from the Fuel. Signed as a free agent

https://www.eliteprospect...layer/485876/ryan-gagnier

The guy in the booth with Mike from RKF is Ben Gislason. He was the best PBP guy in the USHL a few yrs back. He had to quit cuz he got married and had to earn so off to corporate America. The MN Wild knew of him, tracked him down and hired him as the AHL Wild PBP man.

Dude is prepared, objective, played the game and is a joy in this day and age of guys in the booth trying to go viral.

1-0 Wild after 1. Nazar very noticeable. Savoie physically involved. Thought Gaudreau was solid in net. Allan is a much better skater than Del Mastro. Ludwinski and Lypen are very similar, fast, but small guys. Hard to gauge the D outside of the two I mentioned because I don’t know much about them. My takes after 1.

Nazar has been the best player on the ice. Misiak and Hayes are more involved tonight, nice to see. Misiak with a great pass to Nazar on his goal. Hayes with a goal as well on a nice pass from Del Mastro. As I said yesterday, so glad to have hockey back!!

Nazar has been the best player on the ice. Misiak and Hayes are more involved tonight, nice to see. Misiak with a great pass to Nazar on his goal. Hayes with a goal as well on a nice pass from Del Mastro. As I said yesterday, so glad to have hockey back!!
- ChicagoHope

I have been looking forward to see how much farther along Hayes has advanced in his development not o ly as a scorer but a descentvwell rounded player. U less KD trades for someone it appears this kid is our goal scoring hope maybe even some point thus upcoming season. I do not know how he would fare playing against stronger physical players (men) coming after his competition in the USHL and junior OHL. Mr Richochet I k ow has followed his progress perhaps you or others could comment on his progress toward NHL employment

Nazar has been the best player on the ice. Misiak and Hayes are more involved tonight, nice to see. Misiak with a great pass to Nazar on his goal. Hayes with a goal as well on a nice pass from Del Mastro. As I said yesterday, so glad to have hockey back!!
- ChicagoHope

I have been looking forward to see how much farther along Hayes has advanced in his development not only as a scorer but a descent well rounded player. Unless KD trades for someone it appears this kid is our goal scoring hope maybe even some point this upcoming season. I do not know how he would fare playing against stronger physical players (men) coming after his competition in the USHL and junior OHL. Mr Richochet I k ow has followed his progress perhaps you or others could comment on his progress toward NHL employment

Nazar has been the best player on the ice. Misiak and Hayes are more involved tonight, nice to see. Misiak with a great pass to Nazar on his goal. Hayes with a goal as well on a nice pass from Del Mastro. As I said yesterday, so glad to have hockey back!!
- ChicagoHope

Rolston with his 2nd goal of the game!!!!!

Blackhawks up 3-2

Rolston with his 2nd goal of the game!!!!!

Blackhawks up 3-2
- dahawks8819

As a rookie last season Rolston did nit get top line or even second line minutes. He was Injured for a long stretch and barely scored any goals

No, and it is difficult to pigeon hole Frondell and the Russian kid, Ivan Ryabkin, draft slots, or where Misa comes off the board, where top defender Schaefer is taken, and just how early big C McQueen is taken, and the landing slot of Porter Matone, and the other defenders like RD Logan Hensler.

It will be curious where the Blackhawks pick, but also if Porter Matone lingers on the draft board after two tournies where he wasn't the dominant producer.

My wanton calculating brain has Martone as #3 on my board, but since Kyle will trade any pick at anytime, will he attempt to do another two for one to move up as he offered Columbus at slot four so he could take Demidov?


I just think it is smart to find big young fluid UFA defenders who need time and continue to grab at any chances to select early to find forwards who can help attack the net sooner.
- wiz1901

I can't wait for this next season to be over and get to the draft. June is my favorite month.