Hawks (with DeBrincat, Dach, Strome, Hagel (until deadline) and Fleury (until deadline)) won 28 games last year. Seattle won 27 and Arizona won 25.
Had they not had those players on their roster, it's pretty likely they win less than those teams.
Now they've added the 7th, 13th and 25th overall in 2022, a 1st in 2023, a 1st in 2024 which is all secondary compared to increasing their odds of drafting Bedard. If they are able to draft him or another top pick in the next two drafts, they will instantly be able to supplement them with the 7th/13th/25th/39th/57th/66th...from today along with Jones as the "Erik Johnson" veteran presence (though I'm sure they hope he's closer to Duncan Keith). 90% of their roster will be ELC going into UFA period in 2025 and they'll add support to their true core that way like they did with Hossa.
They're looking to win like they did their last three Stanley Cups, following the same plan. Draft game changers at the top of the draft and build around them. It could explode in their face like it did with Buffalo, but it's a better plan then just hoping to have the lottery balls go your way.
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