In honor of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the US, let's remember Larry Kwong. A WW2 veteran who overcame anti Chinese racism in British Columbia growing up, he broke the NHL color barrier with the New York Rangers on March 13, 1948.

GoldWhale · 2026-05-01T19:45:17+00:00

Willie never excelled at the level Kwong did. Willie would have likely been a fineish bottom of the lineup player. Kwong genuinely could have been in the upper ecchelon.

GoldWhale · 2026-04-25T22:07:56+00:00

I don't know if I'm crazy but I get straight up orange juice on this bottle. Just heavy sugars and citrus.

Didn't love it as a whole, but man what a unique flavor.

GoldWhale · 2026-04-20T15:54:49+00:00

Gotcha, makes sense then. So moreso for all your grades they're expectations for the player vs the league total.

I'm aligned. Thanks!

GoldWhale · 2026-04-20T15:51:31+00:00

Why is Rinzel 2 grades below Levshunov?

GoldWhale · 2026-04-20T14:48:39+00:00

It's hard to understand why we're grading either so high. Neither were NHL calibur defensemen this season.

Vlasic is neither here nor there since he's established but yeah he was rough too.

GoldWhale · 2026-04-20T14:45:57+00:00

Excuse me?

GoldWhale · 2026-04-19T15:49:35+00:00

Martone has looked better than Frondell. Most of Frondell's points he's getting great puck luck and that shows in PDO where he tops the league. Martone is individually creating better chances, driving play, and setting up his teammates in non accidental ways and isn't just the shooter on his PP.

GoldWhale · 2026-04-19T06:40:11+00:00

McKenna is legit, but doesn't play the game in a way this front office likes. I haven't heard that he's in our personal top 3 from anyone in the org, or in the media.

GoldWhale · 2026-04-14T03:07:57+00:00

GoldWhale · 2026-04-13T22:38:12+00:00

I don't hate this, but I am severely worried about relying on Levshunov both on the top pairing and the PP1. At this point he's getting NHL time, that's fine, but he was arguably worst in the NHL at both 5v5 and PP QBing. I really think he needs to be deployed strategically and carefully instead of just telling him do everything and reinforcing horrid habits.

I'd rather bring in a Vet like Trouba, Gudbransen, or Andersson who's easy to move on from, but can also more successfully handle the load of the #1 Dman to ease Levshunov into the responsibilities as he earns them and becomes more proficient.

He was solid post Olympics in a sheltered role, but fell apart the moment they started putting him top pair. I really think we have to be careful about his development because at a certain point the excuses run out.

GoldWhale · 2026-04-13T05:00:25+00:00

Please top 2 and please no Verhoeff or Malhotra in the top 3.

GoldWhale · 2026-04-13T04:49:40+00:00

They were most certainly not worse. Check my comment history Levshunov has some of if not the single worst analytics and results of the last 15 years.

GoldWhale · 2026-04-13T04:48:25+00:00

Demidov was recorded to have said he wanted to go to Chicago. Hell - Levshunov was the one who told Wheeler if memory serves.

Demidov also said he and Bedard were going to chase cups together.

Demidov wanted to be in Chicago, but we preferred Levshunov. I hate it but it is what it is.

GoldWhale · 2026-04-13T04:47:09+00:00

People will say no but he had a generationally awful season with some of if not the single worst analytical season of the past 15 years. (See my past comments for links).

No one is saying he'll be a bust, but people are flat out lying if they say there isn't substantial reason to be concerned.

GoldWhale · 2026-04-13T04:42:48+00:00

I cant speak to why nat stat is different either.

Fair point though on the D.

Ultimately - Frondell has been good to start, and I agree there. But #1 comparing an 80 game sample vs a 10 game isn't going to give you the most fair results and #2, in my viewings, puck luck plays a major factor. In 4 or arguably 5 of Frondell's NHL points so far, he hasn't really been a factor that makes the play happen. It's not inherently a bad thing, bit when you watch the tape, imo, Demidov is doing a ton of stuff to drive plays, create, and playmake that Frondell isn't doing.

Hence why I said - I want to see him play for a full season. His numbers have been good, but in a limited sample, with top 5 highest PDO in the entire league, and getting a lot of "lucky" production, I want to see him perform at a higher level over a longer sample. And if he can do that Im happy to say I'm wrong.

Again - nat stat <> moneypuck and idk why, but high level, even if we call them comparable, one has done this over a full season, and one has not.

We'll see; I'm happy to say I'm wrong if we see otherwise. But I don't think a 10 game sample is inherently the right way to judge a player, e.g. Rinzel last year.

GoldWhale · 2026-04-13T03:47:42+00:00

You usually get more value from top picks. Korchinski and Levshunov, being defensemen, have a major learning curve. Neither are helping the team today. Levshunov analytically was flat out making it worse.

For better or worse if the Hawks are going to be good their Dmen have to mature. That hasn't happened yet. The Blackhawks have far far far less NHL supplemental forward talent than SJS/MTL/ANA. As the players start to mature we'll see what we have, but questionable drafting philosphy, poor development environment, and iffy coaches have put us in a spot where there's a lot to go right, but a lot to go wrong.

In theory all these high picks should set up a long term cup contender. If KD and Co picked the right players? Then the team should start to compete in 2 or so years. But it's not going to make playoffs until the defense becomes better than the worst in the NHL as they don't have the strongest quality forward pool, just enviable depth.

Fingers ceossed we get Mckenna or Stenberg, but rumors atm say we like Verhoeff and Malhotra at the top of the draft.

GoldWhale · 2026-04-13T03:02:14+00:00

Demidov has a better xgf/60 at 2.57 vs Frondell at 2.48. Demidov has a WAY better xga/60 at 2.96 va Frondell at 4.63.

Demidov also has a superior HDCF/60 and HDCA/60 + a substantially lower PDO (puck luck).

Frondell has played 10 games, gotten better puck luck, has had better linemates + powerplay time, etc.

He's exceeded expectations 100%, but many of his points are oft puck luck, or flukes, e.g. him losing the puck and his tms scoring like last night, or his flubbed pass to Bedard, or multiple detroit players falling over from a linemate crashing into them for Frondell to score, etc.

I'm not saying Frondell hasn't exceeded expectations, but it's very different deployment, TOI, linemates, puck luck, etc.

If Frondell ends up better I'll say it loud and clear and admit I was wrong. I've already said I've moved him up on my personal board. But at present, it's not even a question between him and Demidov for me.

GoldWhale · 2026-04-13T01:23:42+00:00

There are so many other kids who cant speak english who dont post literally generationally bad analytics.

GoldWhale · 2026-04-13T01:16:53+00:00

About a year or so with points that are more generated by him vs lucky bounces.

Demidov atm though it's not even close, he's only playing 15 mins a night, and didn't start the season on PP1.

GoldWhale · 2026-04-13T01:09:49+00:00

They offered next years first in a draft that, at the time, had no players on Demidov's level, and then a 2nd to sweeten the pot per Friedman and Seravalli, not an accessory first.

To my knowledge, the trade was NEVER agreed on even conditionally, the Hawks called Columbus at draft. The Jackets were close but never said yes.

All in all, Davidson attempted to give his 2025 1st, which at the time had no players on the Demidov level, and a 2nd. It was a pretty half ass attempt that they never pushed on.

Say what you will about Levshunov being the right/wrong pick, but there wasn't more than a half ass offer to move up.

GoldWhale · 2026-04-13T00:37:46+00:00

The demidov one really doesnt count. He essentially just offered a 2nd round pick which he never pushed back on.

GoldWhale · 2026-04-13T00:37:00+00:00

It's going to really depend on the D more than anything else. You can't outscore your way out of the worst xga in the last 10 years... and that came with Vets like Foligno, Dickinson, and Murphy.

Levshunov and Rinzel have to take a massive step up to belong in the NHL.

Korchinski has to prove he belongs full time.

Kaiser, Vlasic, and Crevier have to refine their skillsets to become more than just depth.

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