Windy City Update: Lylemania is over
2024-04-11Last week saw the talk of the town leave the Blackhawks organization with a little less fanfare than he came in with. Brady Lyle, inexplicably drafted in the 1st round of the EHE draft as the first 1st round pick in five years for the organization, shockingly never turned into a player that proved he was NHL quality and was traded in an AHL deal with Calgary for Cole Reinhardt. After being patient with the overager for two years, it became apparent to the Blackhawks that the player would never be more than AHL depth.
Lyle leaves the Blackhawks organization having played 148 games for the AHL club and amassing respectable offensive numbers with 19 goals and 43 assists for 62 points, but his weakness was defensive play where his +/- through his tenure was -28 which ultimately prevented him from climbing the depth chart.
Recounting the 2021 EHE draft, rumours have EHE execs overhearing voices at Chicago's draft table boistrously announcing:
He is the next 'can't miss' defensive prospect. We haven't been this excited about a prospect since the great Griffin Reinhart!
While the execs didn't know who "he" was, they assumed it was the likes of Scott Morrow or Logan Mailloux, who were still on the board at the time of Chicago's pick, or Owen Zellweger who was picked two spots before Lyle.
To no one's surprise, that was the last draft that scouting department oversaw as new management came in and appointed their own team. While it's too early to see the fruits of their labour, the organization is quietly confident that another Lyle scenario won't happen for a very long time.
Boy do I remember those days of being told by the hawks scouts that Makar was worthless and that Lyle was the guy. Well at least he’ll play a role for the Wranglers and see if he can match up to Makar
Windy City Update: Lylemania is over
...before it even began
Thank god the Blackhawks have a whole new scouting staff now.
Windy City Update: Lylemania is over
...before it even began