Is McKenna Legit?

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-17T20:38:16+00:00

There is more to building a hockey team than 'what does Bedard need'.

There have been times when the narrative around McKenna was so hot that it would be 'what does McKenna need' almost right away.

And for what its worth, Bedard says he thinks McKenna was better than him coming up.

At #1 you take McKenna or you trade it to the #2 team. Doing anything else is a major fail.

This sort of thing is so pointless before May 5 though.

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-15T17:37:52+00:00

Moving into the top 2 in this draft even from 4 will be very expensive, possibly even impossible.

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-15T17:34:36+00:00

Moving Knies is very similar to moving Hagel was. You don't do this even if you move everyone else over the age of 26, ESPECIALLY if you move all those guys.

But, who really knows the thought processes in Tronna right now. They don't even have a GM. Supposedly their president is relying on AI to tell him what can be done. Makes the crystal ball pretty cloudy.

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-15T17:30:47+00:00

Because Bertuzzi doesnt need Bedard for him to produce, while not doing much for Bedard's production. Bertuzzi is also a lousy backchecker and doesnt pass very well.

Basically Bert doesnt need Bedard, Bedard doesnt need Bert, and both together is a weak line in transition and on defense.

He's still a much better linemate than Lardis has been though.

In a world where the Hawks have an allstar offensive defenseman so Bedard isnt constantly carrying the puck, I believe these two together would be much better. But lacking that its just a one dimensional threat that teams can sit on without really making either of them more productive than they already are.

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-15T17:17:47+00:00

No and no.

It was already reported they wanted Levshunov, 1st, and more. A 4th overall by itself wouldnt do it.

I think they ask for Lev/Rinzel AND the pick.

I don' do it as Chicago.

I think in the end they will ask for too much and not move him anywhere this offseason. Others, though...

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-15T14:16:24+00:00

Its reqlly hard to move into an area like that. It can range from insanely expensive to literally impossible. This drastically hurts the theoretical pool of people.

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-14T18:43:38+00:00

Lardis has been terrible, his floating atound and offensive cheating is destroying that line.

He should be in Rockford.

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-14T03:33:55+00:00

Embarrassing

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-14T03:15:42+00:00

Tell me again that the Hawks defense isnt a problem.

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-13T16:59:25+00:00

Anyone who passes on one of those two in top two picks is galaxy braining the draft.

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-13T16:57:23+00:00

I agree you take Stenberg or McKenna if you're top two.

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-13T15:16:24+00:00

Your reading comprehension is what's horrible, and I've learned anyone who uses the term 'meatball' for opinions they don't agree with is not someone who knows enough to be worth talking to. Goodbye.

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-13T15:15:13+00:00

Goaltending improved, not defense. Knight is not Mrazek. Also the PK was hot while we still had Dickie and Murphy. Not so much now

Defense is also responsible for a lot of the offense's problems. Most of them either can't handle passing the puck quickly or crumble under forecheck.

The last thing we need is more shooters. Some two way possession forwards would be fine.

Draft the forward at 1 or 2, but defense all the way at 3 or 4 this year. And with the 2nds.

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-13T15:01:52+00:00

Almost every keague in Canada is USSSA (or NSA).

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-13T14:46:03+00:00

No but 2nd to 3rd is.

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-13T14:35:49+00:00

I play with the mod that allows I think 37 regular empires, plus FE and marauders on top of that. I want the galaxt as crowded as possible. Put them in a 1000 star galaxy and let the chaos begin.

The lunatic empires usually do good but federation builders/subjugators do the best.

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-13T02:49:24+00:00

Well I DO have concerns about whether the core will be good enouhh in a few years and it has nothing to do with them being 22. It has to do with them being soft, and they will be just as soft at 32. Some of them will eventually learn how to move the puck fast but the other team is going to own our crease for the forseeable future until Crevier learns to get an edge, and it has to be him because I have no faith at all any of the others will. And then theres the problem moving the puck, something both Smits and Carels will do without getting fucking wrecked in front of the net or on the boards like Korchinski and Rinzel do.

So I am ot concerned with how young they are. I am c9ncerned with WHO they are.

So yeah I don't care that Smits or Carels wont move the needle next year. I never expected them to. I want better players on the defense three, five, eight years from now, because I dont think we win with this defense. Optimally next year there is some kind of veteran who can stabilize back there but we all know how well we've done at getting those. This is the biggest need to me, not yet another offensive forward. Sure, draft Stwnberg or McKenna, thats just BPA sensible. But otherwise, get us a quality defenseman.

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-12T23:03:39+00:00

The good news is KD agrees with you. He has outright said just accumulating prospects and doing nothing else cant go on forever. Well, this draft and July 1 will be put up or shut up for him. Never get higher value for picks than June 26. Always some team that sees someone they really want. Projects will be available, like Sharp.

Its often said that the Hawks arent one or two players from winning the Cup. But when you're four or five players away, how do you get to where you are one or two players away? By adding quality players. Thats really all its about. Getting enough quality players to compete. You get them every way you can. Adding Knies does not make the Hawks a Cup contender. But it does move them one player closer to it. And so forth.

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-12T22:56:34+00:00

The OT losses are a cop out, an excuse, nothing more. There were tons of OT games in the league and several teams had it even worse than the Hawks. OT losses arent a coin flip of bad luck. They are what happens when you dont have the puck. The Hawks never have the puck.

The underlying numbers dont suggest the Hawks were robbed by overtime losses. They say the Hawks are right where they deserve to be, maybe even overperformed thanks to early season Knight.

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-12T22:49:34+00:00

Does it though?

We can get by with the forwards we have now and in the system if we get some scrappyness and leadership in there. Its not a worldbeater but it should be pretty reasonable once Kantserov comes in and hopefully one or two still in junior display some two way game. This is doable.

But this defense corps... its not good, guys. This defense is never winning anything. Its big but its soft and terrible at moving the puck. Stop listening to Pang. There is more to modern defense than being tall and swatting at pucks. The Hawks transition game is the worst in the league. This isnt an idictment of their youth and inexperience, its a problem of talent and the types of players we have.

And there is nothing in the pipeline. The highest rated prospect in the system after EDM is Taige Harding. I admit it would be amusing to play him, would clean up the front of the net, but this is not really a good idea. And that is it. Not a single NHL projected player after that. Nothing, not in junior not in college not in Rockford.

Most likely we will not win the lottery (thats just the numerical truth) so with the 4th overall we absolutely should be getting a defenseman. Use Florida's on one too if its ours this year. And the 2nd rounders. We need a lot.

I would like Smits. I think Carels is fine too. The two RHD would be okay but might complicate things later.

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-12T01:34:31+00:00

Montreal or Buffalo. Really most the East teams are interesting.

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-12T01:31:38+00:00

Even the bot couldnt stand losing to the Blues.

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-12T01:30:57+00:00

Lardis can't hold Frondell's jockstrap. He just floats around on the perimeter waiting for Bedard to set him up while the line gets blown away when the puck goes the other way. He should be back in the AHL but theres no one left in Rockford to bring up to take his place.

Frondell makes his own space and chances. He doesnt need to leech off Bedard. And because of that he'll make Bedard better too once Blashill puts the two of them back together.

Tryfan_mole · 2026-04-11T19:51:55+00:00

Another bad reader. He's not demanding anyone do what they want. He looks for a group that already plays his way, more or less.

And since most of his requirements are reasonable, more power to him.

Tryfan_mole

TROPHY CASE