Blackhawks Win Third Overall Pick In 2019 NHL Draft
The NHL Draft Lottery was held on Tuesday evening and the Chicago Blackhawks moved up from the 12th pick to 3rd overall.
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 10, 2019
The last time the Blackhawks selected third overall the name they called was Jonathan Toews.
Not only did the Blackhawks move up, but they also won because the Ottawa Senators pick that’s headed to Colorado fell to fourth overall.
The @NJDevils have won the first overall selection in the 2019 #NHLDraftLottery. pic.twitter.com/RxlmySoICU
— NHL (@NHL) April 10, 2019
My son just gave me the news as I walked into the house. I immediately asked him about Colorado, who slipped to 4th.
YES YES YES!!!
Thanks, Tab.
MORRISON
April 4, 2019 at 11:41 pm
I am going with that we are going to get the lottery pick and get 2nd or 3rd pick.
Craig, you said it to.
Stan will have some interesting options with the #3 pick, or he could possibly trade down with another team in exchange for a top defenseman. Or, and here’s a pipedream, get Keith or Seabrook to waive their NMC and swing a deal with Florida which would include swapping 1st round picks.
Just got in great news, chance to get a real top end future forward. Possibly top line center. Podkolzin a big winger considered by many 3rd best in the draft, but gas questions on when he d arrive, likely drops down.
Kirby Dach, 6’3″ centre (can play wing) skates like the wind, super supwer skilled, scary skilled……. the Forsberg steal of the draft!
Stay away from the Russian guy who will not be in the NHL anyway next season so in would look at DACH!
“That,s just great, Anita!”
Then you can trade away AA for a dman and sign a free agent winger like Dzingel.
Kirby Dach!
Do people have solid information that Podkolzin won’t come to NHL next year or is that just speculation?
Craig Button has the gap between Podkolzin and Kakko as very narrow and said he hasn’t decided who of the tow should #2 or #3 – maybe Kakko falls to #3
From what I’ve read Podkolzin sounds like a power forward wth great hands – Button said he’s the best stick handler in the draft class
Exciting to think the Hawks may get a player who could play in the NHL next year
Nice. Cozens or Podkolzin? Assuming Kakko and Hughes go.
Wrap alot of knowledgeable people real high om Podkolzin and say will be worth a wait. I believe i heard he is under contract to khl team next season, so wouldn’t be here if thats the case.
Button has been high on him since last summer.
Just reading that he has a contract with SKA for two more years and therefore wouldn’t be coming to the NHL until 20-21 season – 2 years away
Can the Hawks wait that long? – interesting decision already
You’d have to think with a fair bit of time between now and the draft that the Hawks will do their due diligence on him and when the Hawks could expect to see him on their team if they were to draft him
Would a player like Cozens or Dach get to the NHL any faster? – maybe by one year if all goes perfectly but I don’t get the feeling that either of those players will be NHL ready next year at least from what I’m reading
@Hull65, have you seen Dach play? He does not skate like the wind and in fact is closer to Dylan Strome’s skating than anyone who skates like the wind. I watched him play a couple days ago when his Saskatoon team lost to P.A. and he looked “lumbering” out there. That’s not to say he can’t be a very good NHL player because guys with size and skill don’t have to be great skaters – but he’s not a great skater.
Top-2 pick would have been great but I’m not complaining with #3 – GREAT NEWS and a lucky break for the Hawks. Long time to go before the draft and lots of options for Stan but my early vote goes to selecting Alex Turcotte at #3.
What’s all the fuss about the various forwards? Bowman is smarter than the average bear, the Hawks’ D was poor this year (he essentially admitted this the other day, despite the fact he’s the one responsible for the roster), so he will draft another D man.
Why not? Just keep piling them on one after the other.
Good that there is more the one Kakko kind of player. I think I would have blown the doors off if we got top 2 picks. Hearing this about these other guys makes the initial feeling of winning the lottery stand.
An argument can be made for any of the top guys. We need a top 6 winger. We could use a good center who, in time, could become our number one. We could use a stud defence prospect who could play all situations. Each of those guys ranked directly behind Hughes could fill one of those needs. I guess the easy thing to say is take the best player available, and as long as Stan grabs one of them and does not go off the board for another smurf I’m good with it.
EB Turcotte very talented, smaller center but committed to Ncaa Wisconsin so not sure when he’d be coming either. Could 2 or 3 years too.
Cozens is a strong candidate be ready for 20 21 season for sure if he doesn’t crack lineup next year.
Caggiula-Toews-Kane
Cat-Strome-Perlini
Saad-Turcotte-Kahun
Kubalik-Kampf-Sikura
Groom Turcotte to be a top-6 center to take over when Toews slides down the lineup in a few years.
To those who said to throw games to get a top pick, need a towel to get the egg off.
Cozens would be my 2nd pick from among the 2nd tier of forwards.
Podkolzin may end up being better player but I just don’t like the risk you take by drafting a Russian that hasn’t made his intentions known that he will play in N.A. in 2019/20.
If the Hawks don’t trade down I think Cozens is the pick to make. “One of the best skaters in the draft. A high level of skill, intelligence and compete in his game. Cozens can be deployed in any situation and competed every shift.” According to Corey Pronman of the Athletic. Draft a fast center with size, who competes is highly skilled and intelligent? What’s not to like about that???
Tex, thats what you get when you pay your dues. Rewarded.
Stay classy.
I do like cozens. Size and smarts on the wing. Looked good in the world juniors.
Wow! A pot of gold! Don’t blow it Stanbo!
I am back to believing were getting Kakko. That Podkolzin screams New York Ranger,
This is exciting news. I was saying over the weekend to friend that we put good karma on ourselves by trying to move up standings and not tank.
This is so cool – isn’t it? I never wanted the players to tank and I knew they couldn’t/wouldn’t anyway, but I flipped flopped several times on wanting the team to lose to improve draft position – all with the hope of getting a top pick presto – they made the end of the seasons exciting and the young players got experience in being in a push for the playoffs and then they got a top pick anyway. WOW – life is good.
yep, rewarded.
Some of the draft analysts were saying recently that the gap between Kakko and Podkolzin is closer than the gap between Hughes and Kakko. I’m pretty sure Craig Button was one of the guys that said that and I think there was another well known analyst that made the same statement. So … who knows – maybe NYR takes the rooskie and the Hawks end up with Kakko after all. Wouldn’t that be sweet.
Er, its what we deserve. We were a bottom 3, record team, in the first 30 games. Then made The roster adjustments and games 30-80 a playoff team without a full roster. What does that tell you. Lets get it on. Add Add Add Add and we re back. Caint wait until the Four Horsemen are NHL ready and then established and then start prime yrs. Its a wave and its a big wave.
Jealous big guy, eh, eh.
Tex, not saying to you to stay classy. Just to people do, do it.
ER, the whole mantrol is top 5 team or top 5 pick. Were getting better top 6 skill pick.
Top 3 pick.
Suck on Thaaaaaaaaaaat!
Of players other than Podkolzin or Kakko, Cozens does seem very appealing to me
Maybe he joins the Hawks a year earlier than say Podkolzin but if the Hawks are confident the Podkolzin is the better player and also confident that he’ll be in CHI in 2 years (remember Toews stayed another year in NCAA) I think you go with the best player and the Hawks have shown themselves to have that attitude
But if there is any suspicion that he may not even come to NA then I think they have to look elsewhere and like I said Cozens still looks very good as do a few others
If you have to wait 2 years for Podkolzin it still shouldn’t change the plan for this summer – they just received a gift go of the #3 pick – don’t change plans just treat it as a lucky bonus
The really exciting news is if this pick turns out to be a high end difference maker whoever it is then it should extend the potential championship window with T and K another couple of years
This is just fukking enormous anyway you look at it or think about it.
This is the breaks and bounces, we got screwed on from refs and others, that we took and are now saying suck on thaaaat. Do the right thing.
Sont ta bitch.
There will probably be dozens of scenarios Hawks fans will conjure up between now and the draft and some of them will be variations of trading the pick. Things like using the pick to get a stud d-man of even to get rid of an ex-stud d-man. Lot’s of possibilities. Ain’t it cool.
Thanks for the shout out above Morrison. I’m with you, I had a really good feeling that the Hawks would wind up in the top 3. Stunningly great night for the Hawks.
Unreal that Lazarus says Stan should let all 30 other GMs know that he’s open for business and willing to deal the puck for immediate help. He brought up Cam Barker. The thing with Barker in 2004 was that Washington won the lottery. They jumped up from 4th to first and pushed Pittsburgh from one to 2 and Chicago from two to 3. Ovechkin and Malkin were the clear franchise players that year. Barker was not in that class.
Tonight the Hawks JUMPED from 12 to 3rd, the difference between getting a really good prospect and a great prospect. Keep the pick. Get a stud at #3.
In December we were thinking that the Hawks were going to get the 5th pick. Then their offense started sizzling and they looked almost like a playoff team. I kept hoping that we would lose a lot of games by one goal and stay in the hunt for a high pick.
What a gift. Last year, Stan had his highest pick at #8 and now an elite #3.
Great draft news for us compared to other teams in our division, except COL which has #s 4 (at least not #1) and 16. MIN #12, DAL #18, NAS #24. No picks for WPG and STL.
Craig, when They say bounces and breaks even out. This is my acceptance with that.
Because with the closer to, Things, to me just doesnt float my boat.
Here come the Hawks.
Crazy trade ideas incoming …
To Anaheim:
Chicago’s #3 pick
Ian Mitchell
To Chicago:
Anaheim’s #9 pick
Hampus Lindholm
To Toronto:
Anaheim’s #9 pick
Artem Anisimov
To Chicago:
Kasperi Kapanen
Nazem Kadri
Sign UFA d-man Ben Chariot
Saad-Toews-Kapanen
Cat-Strome-Kane
Kubalik-Kadri-Kahun
Cagguila-Kampf-Sikura
Perlini
Lindholm-Jokiharju
Keith-Gustafsson
Chariot-Murphy
Seabrook
Craig, sweet baby rays.
Kirby Dach will be seriously in the picture too. He reminds me of a Saad at center, plays all situations, strong defennsively, can help pk. When he gets going can pull the big power moves and blow by defensemen and go hard to the net. Battles hard for the puck and strong on skates, hard to knock down to go with good speed, has a net front presence thats noticeable. Some nights the best player out there and other nights not so noticeable.
Great news.
@Ebonyraptor Kane should notbe on the same line with Cat and Strome. They don’t complement each other. Keeping him with Cags and Toews is the right decision. Finding a suitable good young winger for Strome and Cat is what Stan should do so that when Toews and Kane retire there won’t be enormous holes in the lines.
Classy move by the Rangers!
Used a fallen hero’s (NYPD) badge as a good luck charm!
https://twitter.com/NYRangers/status/1115796565787009024
Thanks for sharing Joey, classy indeed and quite a story behind that award.
Just read where Craig Button said Podkolzin definitely playing over here next season. So maybe he will terminate his khl deal to do so. Interesting.
BEEEUTY!
Now choose wisely.
Personally – no more Russians.
Pick should be North American and include size and speed.
ER, thanks for your not so crazy ideas. What about trading our pick to BUF for their #7 and #26?
I don’t buy into the 19/88 short window meme. Both have 4 years left under contract and are still at their peaks. I expect Kane to stay very close to that level during that time – he has been very durable. I would see Jonny falling off a bit more due to playing a more physical game, but if this year has shown anything it is his resilience and adaptability. Consider also that 12/17 will improve over that time and can carry more of the load and if we get the right guy with the #3 pick we could have another stud. Bottom line, I don’t see any need to rush things.
Even better, if 19/88 were to re-up with cap friendly deals at the expiration of their current contracts the window might be a few years longer than some are suggesting. Through a combination of luck and acumen (I’ll give Stan some credit here while suggesting he keep Arizona on speed dial) things have fallen nicely our way since last summer’s ugly moves. Things are working. Let’s stay patient.
Bowman trades #3 pick to Stl for Jay Bouwmeester.
Bowman: “I had this dream two weeks ago…”
Just kidding.
Anyhow…Raptor…your trades are intriguing but other teams never seem to want to give up much and the draft pick team wants too much. It could happen tho.
Kapo Kakko!
But if for some chance he is taken, then i agree, skip over Podkolzin.
Joe Sakic would be horrible at Poker. Lol
My guess is Bowman picks either Podkolzin or Cozens with an outside possibility of trading down. The only reason that I think trading down could be an option for them is that they likely spent a lot of time looking at players in the middle of the draft and likely feel good about some of them. So if a team selecting in the 9-12 range really want to move up, they may be willing to overpay the Hawks. In that scenario, the Hawks get a player they were targeting plus whatever the trading team gives up. However, the team wanting to move up will really have to overpay to make this valuable to the Hawks. That #3 pick is very valuable.
I still like Cozen over Podkolzin. His ability to play in any situation to me screams what the Hawks are missing. I think he ends up being the classic example of a guy who has top six skill but is used in a third line role for a few years until he is ready to take over for Toews on the top line. He can play in any situation which means he can be used in the PK, top six, middle six, shutdown, PP. The Hawks need help in a lot of areas, his flexibility could be a huge asset to this team. Plus SPEED!
My only concern with Cozens is where is his ceiling? Can he project to be a replacement to Toews on the top line in a few years? If not, then maybe #3 is too high to pick him. If Podkolzin projects to be a top line forward and Cozens doesn’t project to be better than second line center, then Podkolzin is probably the better value at # 3…
My concern with Podkolzin is if and when he will play in the NHL. If he can and will play in the NHL next season and he projects higher than Cozens, he needs to be picked.
Miroslav:
“The potential hang-up here is that Podkolzin’s contract with SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League reportedly runs through the 2020-21 season, although TSN’s Craig Button said Tuesday night that he doesn’t have any doubts that Podkolzin will play in the NHL next season.”
If you want to feel even better about last nights miracle make sure to check out the article on Pro Hockey Talk that discusses the draft lottery results. It shows 3 specific comparisons from 1999 – 2018. Pick 1 vs Pick 4 (what it means to the Avalanche). Pick 2 vs Pick 5 (what it means to the Kings) and Pick 3 vs Pick 12 ( what it means to the Hawks). If you don’t already know this is an incredible opportunity.
O6, I don’t like the quality for quantity exchange so you’re proposal to trade the #3 for #7 and #26 comes down to whether or not you think there is a separation of talent between the #3 guy and the #7 guy. If there’s not much difference – then make the trade but then why would Buffalo make the trade? Plus the #7 and #26 picks probably don’t provide immediate help so I’d rather wait on the 3rd best player than the 7th and 26th best player to make it to the NHL.
I either use the #3 pick to take the player I like the best or I trade it for immediate help, preferably a top-pairing d-man.
Miro pretty much echo your thoughts, Podkolzin best available, if Buttons is right and he plays over here next year then no doubt they take him, he makes the team out of camp and Cozens who is considered no. 1 cenrer potential, if they chose pass because of uncerainty. I am hoping no trade is made with the pick, because the piece could be crucial that is acquired with it to the future.
Without a doubt this is the biggest moment for the Hawks in years and could impact this team for quite awhile. I have faith that Stan and company will pick the right player for this team. This could not have worked out much better because now we get a player that will impact the team on our terms. Stan and company you have work to do, so lets get it right!
Ian I heard the same thing about Podkolzin. It was on Craig Buttons mock draft last night. I wouldn’t be surprised though if the Rangers went off the board with Podkolzin after going with Kravtsov last year. Though I do like Cozens a lot, and no need for Byram we have plent of defenseman loaded up in the system.
Food for thought
Chicago doesnt beat Dallas on friday.
This then means they do not hop over two teams in standings.
And that means they would actually drop a spot from #10 to #11
Crazy.
There are a lot of great choices at this level…and USNTDP U-18’s have a whole lot more to think about than just Hughes. Boldy, Caufield, Turcotte and York are all DAMN good players. And I really liked Zegras when I saw him play a couple times this year. But we cannot pick them all…Turcotte is a Chicago kid, Caufield is a cheesehead.
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0054342019.html
Doesn’t matter to me NHL ready. Who ever the top 3 players are we get one of them.
NHL ready for 2019/20 isn’t a requirement for me either – a nice to have but not a requirement. But, NHL ready and here in North America by 2020/21 is a requirement.
I listened to Button’s post lottery mock draft – what he’s saying is that he has ‘no doubt Podkolzin is ready to play in the NHL next year’ not that he will
It’s comment on his talent and development not on his contractual status with SKA in the KHL
If Pod is able (some sort of KHL contract termination deal that the Hawks cook up) and willing to come over next year then he seems like the choice at #3 for the Hawks
Interestingly he played on the PK at World Juniors and from all accounts played well in that role as well and is known to be a good defensive player as well as offensive
If he’s not going to be here for another 2 years (when KHL contract runs out) that definitely muddies the waters IMO and maybe Cozens is a better choice then – we’ll see but I think Stan and co. will do everything they can to get Pod here next year assuming they really want him
Loads, yea I was saying that right after we went 3-16 we started winning games and I said then it could be good and work out being 6 instead of 4 or 8 instead of 6 kind of thing. Your exactly right and that is what happened then and the last 10 games, remember the ones we didn’t get the 2 pats in LA VAN PHI NAS.
Espo, what about us trading up from the 33rd pick to get Walls guy or another very good player. Would be like getting the area of pick we were getting and a free top 3 pick.
Er, yes yes.
This is fukking poetic.
@Wrap, thanks for the clarification on what Buttons said about Podkolzin. Saying a guy is is definitely ready to play in the nhl season is not the saying anything about his contractual status or availability.
Given the uncertainty on whether Pods will be able/available to play in the nhl next season, it’s too high a risk to pick him at 3. I think u and I are in lock step that Cozens is the pick the Hawks should take.
ER, BUF probably would not make the trade but I thought to put it out there. Each team has different objectives, so one never knows. I didn’t include ANA, who has two 1st rnd picks because they have too many needs and likely would not trade them to move up.
If the Blackhawks keep their pick, I predict it will either be Podkolzin or Cozens. Cozens’ scouting profile sounds like Toews. Great playmaker with explosive speed. Good size helps. Was born in the Yukon Territory, while Toews is from “warmer” Winnipeg. The reason I do not think they will pick Dach is because he is more of a power forward (a very elite one). Lots of strength and speed for his size, but slower than Cozens. He is a pass first player, similar to Strome.
The Rangers aren’t going off the board, so Kakko will be gone.
https://www.nhl.com/video/bettman-draws-this-years-lottery/t-277350912/c-67612803
@Miro – Khl contracts get terminated with some regularity – even the Hawks own goalie prospect Nalimov agreed with his KHL team to mutually terminate his contract just during this past hockey season
That provides some hope that if Podz were willing to come to the Hawks next year that some termination of his contract might be worked out – seems like a long shot but nevertheless a possibility
Who was the guy here who was saying the whole yr, when we were in the 6th pick area standings wise. It’s important because we also get the 32-35th pick.
@Wrap, thanks for the clarification, perhaps less dire than I imagined…
Thx Wrap was under impression he said both ready and would be here, didn’t see the show just read comments about it.
Being Nhl ready not a necessity, but the thought usually is the closer to being ready the better chance the prospect pans out and a top 3 or maybe 5 pick doesn’t have as a high chance of bust.
Like last year when the scouts were saying Kokaniemi was a couple of years away and too far out for a no.3 pick, and questioned the pick, but he ended up with Habs all season and had a successful rookie year.
So I read we only get the 42nd pick, not the 3rd pick in every round. What kind of is that.
The lottery is just for the first round, the rest of the rounds are unaffected.
The lottery reshuffle only applies to round 1. Our position in subsequent rounds, swapped picks aside, is twelfth.
@Miro: didn’t see your post until I refreshed, hence mine. Carry on.
More on Podkolzin:
“The questions that NHL teams will have on Podkolzin will revolve around when he is willing to come to North America. According to Elite Prospects he is signed with SKA through the end of the 2020-21 season. There have also been rumours that he could stay in Russia even longer. With SKA being one of the richest teams in the KHL, they can pay him more than he could earn on an NHL ELC. He is clearly the third best talent in this draft but those concerns could cause a draft day fall.”
Yea…no. Way too risky. Thats the prob with Russians. They have leverage.
If Kakko goes 2nd , I hope for Cozens.
Dach is a faster skater than Cozens. He really has the size and skill set that reminds people of Forsberg in Nashville. He would fit in perfectly with Chicago. And he has that intensity that makes him a real hard player to play against. Reports say the Russian is not eligible until 2020-2021.
2019-2020 Roster
Dzingel Toews Kane
DCat Strome Perlini
Saad Dach Donskoi
Hagelin Kampf Cagguila
Keith Joki
Gustaffson Seabs
Chariot Boqvist
Crawford
Lehner
Most people are saying Podloz, Cozens, Dach as top ideas for us.
No matter what, a better player is coming from the 3 spot then the 12th-a great break and due to Bowman (lol)
There will be all kind of rumours/theories about what the Rangers will do so it’s nonsense to say they wouldn’t consider the Russian, they can be patient as they are a few years away, but they will probably take Kappo. It seems all of the top 3 picks are elite potential, and it’s not a given that Podz doesn’t end up better in the long run than Hughes. It happens.
Hull65 – where are you getting the idea that Dach is faster than Cozens? I’ve seen Dach play and he isn’t fast. I haven’t seen Cozens play other than highlights but draft expert analysts pretty much all say Cozens is a very good and fast skater.
Yea let’s not forget we’re adding a good player at draft/summer ufa or trade at D and FW.
Is Podloz that much better then Cozens and Dach. I am not liking this visa thing.
Dach when he gets wound can move pretty good and blow by the defenseman, his acceleration from a stop not exceptional. Cozens definitely the faster skater all around especially transitioning. Have watched both quite a bit. Cozens plays a more physical game, loves to hit. Dach can be hard to play against, shit disturber type. Cozens looks more likely to be a true no.1 center than Dach does to me.
Mo Podkolzin stickhandling supposed to be at another level than the rest in this draft. Also you mentioned 2nd pick , Albin Grewe a speedy Swedish winger, average size, dropped down projected mid 1st round to 40s overall now, be scouted well by Blackhawks and kind of sleeper pick Bowman likes if they see something in him.
Craig Button gave out his prospect awards a while ago and Cozens won best skater. That probably should’ve went to Jack Hughes but Cozens is definitely the second best skater in the draft and he’s 6’2” 180. Also in the predraft meetings Bowman and his staff will do the digging into Podkolzin likelihood to stay in Russia, and if he’s not that big of a risk they’ll take him. If not Podkolzin I’d love to see Cozens. Also trading down for a guy like Turcotte or Zegras might not be a bad idea depending on what else they got.
And say I say his likelihood too stay in Russia I mean past his 2020/21 contract.
Hull65:
Dach plays for the Blades which is the team I watch in town here.
Im not sold on him. More consistency would be a start. Dont think his roof is bigh either
Also…you have Dzingel on ur fantasy roster. Hes the one player I see staying in Columbus as he’s from there.
Dzingel went to Ohio State but he was born and raised in the Chicago area (Wheaton).
Just watched a video of the draft lottery. You should have seen the long faces on most of the GMs.
In my earlier post I stated that I think the two best at #3 are Podkolzin and Cozens, which is the consensus from most of you. Close call, but I would take Pod if he commits to the NHL after 19/20. Plays a complete 200 foot game like a Tarasenko and may even have more upside. Stan: Only trade this pick if you get an offer on steroids.
Good info on these players for those who seem them play.
From what everybody says here Podkolzin would be best player, right.
Bowman and crew wont draft a player if they arnt certain hes playing here.
Original, you see the ping pong ball video. That was cool. You should see all the twitter type places people are freaking out it was fixed and stuff. Hilarious stuff.
Same I want to keep pick unless it crazy good.
Post 107 pm.
I am taking a nap, got one hr of sleep last night and just got back from driving all day.
Wow, just wow. This certainly answers some questions and puts further pressure on this offseason. A good pick, some smart and reasonable FA moves and further progress by our young dmen and we might be singing a different tune in 12 months. The storyline just got more interesting.
Question, lots of love for Dzingel on this thread. How much do we think he’ll get on the open market per year?
If we pick Pod guy we might want Nelson.
Not sure if mentioned already but Asst Coach Barry Smith is a former coach of SKA (Podz current team). If any team will be able to get a firm read on his situation with coming over it should be us.
What I love it just when you think we have to get stuck with a samll center and we need centers with size. Bingo bango. We get our selection of the big centers.
This is the turning point (as well as game 30)(to 80) where we turn the corner and do not look back.