Who will the Blackhawks draft?
The first round of the 2019 NHL Draft begins on Friday evening. Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman spoke with the media on Wednesday and led most to believe the organization’s decision with the third overall pick has already been made.
Stan Bowman made it sound like #Blackhawks know who they’re taking third overall and the next couple days will be spent fine-tuning the full list/later rounds.
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) June 19, 2019
So who are the Blackhawks targeting?
As we detailed in our mock draft recap on Wednesday, most analysts have the Blackhawks taking center Alex Turcotte. He has a strong two-way game; many analysts have given Ryan Kesler or Jonathan Toews as the comparable. Others are touting defenseman Bowen Byram, who has drawn Drew Doughty comparisons.
Will one of those two be the Hawks’ pick at three? Or will it be someone else?
For reference, here’s the link to NHL Central Scouting’s final player rankings. And here is the link to TSN’s final player rankings.
Will it be Turcotte?
Here are the top ten forwards in the Blackhawks’ system according to Scott Powers’ most recent rankings (with overall organization rank):
- (3) Dylan Sikura, 24 years old, 5-11, 166
- (5) Dominik Kubalik, 23, 6-2, 179
- (11) Artur Kayumov, 21, 5-11, 176
- (12) Alexandre Fortin, 22, 6-0, 184
- (13) Matthew Highmore, 23, 5-11, 188
- (14) Anton Wedin, 26, 5-11, 194
- (15) Evan Barratt, 20, 6-0, 190
- (16) Philipp Kurashev, 19, 6-0, 192
- (17) Niklas Nordgren, 19, 5-9, 190
- (18) Brandon Hagel, 20, 6-1, 174
Turcotte’s two-way game is consistent with how the Blackhawks have drafted, as is his size; he is listed at 5-11 and 186 pounds.
On this list, only Barratt and Kurashev are listed as centers. And only one player on the list – Kubalik, a new addition to the organization – is listed as taller than 6-foot-2.
As the Blackhawks look forward to an active trade market, one name that continually comes up (especially from Hawks fans) is Artem Anisimov. With Dylan Strome appearing to be the second line center moving forward and the Blackhawks having some other centers in the organization, Anisimov may become a piece Bowman looks to move. Two centers who might factor into bottom-six roles in 2019-20, Luke Johnson and David Kampf, are RFAs currently.
Chicago has some organizational depth at center. In addition to Barratt and Kurashev, Mackenzie Entwistle was acquired from Coyotes last summer and Mikael Hakkarainen was a fifth round pick last year. Kurashev, Entwistle and Hakkarainen have signed with the Blackhawks already.
The center position is always a need in the NHL, and Turcotte would be the best center prospect in the system immediately. But is Turcotte the guy?
Will it be Byram?
Perhaps more importantly, however is the fact that seven of Powers’ top ten prospects in the Hawks’ system are defensemen. Chicago used both of their first round picks last year on defensemen (Adam Boqvist, Nicolas Beaudin) and their first two picks in 2017 on defensemen (Henri Jokiharju, Ian Mitchell) as well.
Byram would be the best defenseman in the organization immediately and brings different skills to the table than the four players selected over the past two years.
Given the Blackhawks’ investment of recent picks in defensemen, the question must be asked: do the Blackhawks need Byram? The answer to that is yes… but will they take another defenseman?
So who’s the pick?
Our prediction for the Blackhawks isn’t Turcotte or Byram.
It’s Kirby Dach.
In their final rankings, NHL Central Scouting has Dach rated as third among North American Skaters (NAS) behind Hughes and Byram; Turcotte is fourth on the NAS list. Dach was second on the NAS list on Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings.
In the final rankings, TSN has Dach fifth overall. After Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko, TSN has Byram third and Turcotte fourth before Dach.
Dach is a playmaking center who passes incredibly well, has terrific vision on the ice and has soft hands. His scoring increased this season as he looked for his shot more frequently, but he is one of the better passers in this year’s draft class. He incorporates teammates in the offense well, uses his size effectively on both ends of the rink and shows a high hockey IQ and uses his size and passing ability to be a strong contributor the power play.
What Dach brings to the table that the Blackhawks organization lacks is size. He’s listed at 6-4 and almost 200 pounds already. TSN’s Craig Button called him a first or second line, playmaking center and gave Ryan Getzlaf as the comparable veteran. If top pair defensemen are hard to come by, big offensive centers are just as rare.
In 2010 the Blackhawks used their first round pick on Kevin Hayes, who went to Boston College for four years and then opted to sign elsewhere.
Nine years ago, Hayes was listed at a similar size to Dach with an interesting skillset; Dach is a better prospect than Hayes was in 2010. Nine years later, Hayes signed a seven-year, $50M contract with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Will it be Turcotte, Byram or Dach? Or someone else? We’ll find out on Friday evening who the Blackhawks have apparently already circled on their draft board.
Boy, this is depressing if Sikura is our top forward in the system.
Nope…too much size for Bowman. It will be Turcotte…under 6ft., shorter reach, Chicago connection (how has that worked out for Bulls and Bears ?), etc. Turcotte is Bowman’s kind of guy! Remember none of his current mighty mites have shown they can stand up to the grind of Playoff series after series. Maybe we’ll never find out with a “Bowman” team!
A few years down the road I could feel differently, but with what we know right now – I will be happy with whoever the Hawks select. My order of preference is Byram, Turcotte, Zegras, Dach and then Cozens … but any one of those guys has a higher upside than the player they would have gotten picking at #12 and certainly better than any of the top forwards in the prospect pool.
But I still hope it’s Byram.
Bowman rarely selects the player that the “experts” agree upon at his spot. That is partially because over his tenure he was selecting late that there is more variance and room to “reach” but even with his early selection last year he went heavily against expectations.
Longwinded way of getting to the point that I think those of you talking Zegras as a dark horse may be right. That guy just feels like a Bowman pick to me. Slight build (6’0″ 169 lbs,) good skater, great playmaking ability and great finish. And someone that the experts have ranked lower than I predict the Hawks do. I also think that everyone looking to pick after the Hawks know this about Bowman (that he tends to pick his guy regardless of the expert opinions) so they have no reason to try and move up because he isn’t likely targeting the same players they are.
I’m not saying it’s the right move for the Hawks but the more I think of Zegras the more he looks like the guy that Bowman is going to take. It totally feels like a Bowman pick. It’s definitely a high risk high reward type of move and IMO a total reach at #3, but it totally reeks of the kind of thing Stan would do.
I think if there was a clear choice as the BPA after Hughes and Kakko (NByram, Turcotte, etc…) someone would have made an offer for the third pick. As far as I can tell, no one has…
According to BetOnline.com here are the up-to-date odds on the player drafted 3rd overall:
Alex Turcotte 5/9
Bowen Byram 8/5
Kirby Dach 13/2
Dylan Cozens 7/1
Trevor Zegras 10/1
Vasili Podkolzin 14/1
Field 25/1
Miro, I agree with a lot of what you said but regarding other teams not trying to trade up to get the #3 pick – we really don’t know if other teams have inquired but didn’t offer enough for Stan to take it.
I hope they keep the pick and take the player they think is the best player – if that’s Zegras and others think Zegras is a reach at #3 – who cares – stay true to your beliefs and take the guy you like best.
@Miroslav: I get what you’re saying, but hope it doesn’t go that way. Rather, hopefully, there is enough clarity this high in the order that he doesn’t feel compelled to reach and goes with the BPA (my vote is for Byram).
We still need a #1 defenseman and (despite all the other defenseman picks) if we were to pass on Dobson, Bouchard, and Byram I think we will have missed the boat.
As for big centers, eight years ago Stan also went for one (Mark McNeill). That one didn’t exactly work out.
If I am reading those betting lines right, the Vegas odds has you winning $5 for betting $9 on Turcotte? Those are some heavy odds in favor of Turcotte being selected…
What happens to these odds if the Hawks trade the #3 pick?
I have a feeling it’ll be a chalk selection, Turcotte or Byram. It’s just too obvious.
McNeill wasn’t as big (6-1) as Dach. Not good comp.
re: “What happens to the odds if the Hawks trade the #3 pick?” – the odds are which player is selected third – NOT which player is selected third by the Blackhawks.
Powers has a nice article on Turcotte in TheAthletic today. For those of you with a subscription:
https://theathletic.com/1038396/2019/06/20/what-makes-nhl-draft-prospect-alex-turcotte-tick-i-just-want-to-be-the-best/
Give me a hundo on Kirby Dach. Good pay out.
REGGIE, I thought the same think when seeing Sikura (no goals in 38 games) atop the list. Stan has to be desperate for a center. Dach is more NHL-ready than the others, which may be a factor in getting T&K help.
If management grades Dach, Cozens, and Zegras closely, they should try trading down with BUF, receiving their #7 and #31 picks. Two of them should be available at 7.
Still think Byram is the best long-term choice for the organization.
Corrected word:
REGGIE, I thought the same thing when seeing Sikura (no goals in 38 games) atop the list. Stan has to be desperate for a center. Dach is more NHL-ready than the others, which may be a factor in getting T&K help.
If management grades Dach, Cozens, and Zegras closely, they should try trading down with BUF, receiving their #7 and #31 picks. Two of them should be available at 7.
Still think Byram is the best long-term choice for the organization.
Hope it’s Byram. Anytime you can get a potential franchise d-man, you have to do it.
Im burned out on this. Lets get this pick over with already.
I really don’t know, but…Both Dach and Bryam play in the WHL Dach had 73 points in 62 games as a center and Bryam had 71 points in 67 games as a d-man. Bryam is 6 months younger which is a lot in a draft year. A big gamble passing on Bryam.
Excuse the spelling..Byram
The great thing is the Blackhawks are confident their choice will have the biggest impact in the coming years of all the players available. They did their due dilligence on it and should be all good and somebody who will fun to watch for years.
Agree, I have draft fatigue. Plus I think the next two months will be interesting. Kinda like celebrating Christmas Eve with the anticipation of Christmas Morning. Here’s hoping we like what Stan delivers on Friday night. Byram pls.
Byram plays D and had about the same points/game as Dach. Byram an all-around monster talent. If we pass on him, hope COL does the same. Otherwise, they get Byram followed by a FW stud at #16.
Supporting Tab’s comparison of Hayes and Dach, Hayes is a bottom six center and Dach will be top six.
Tells you all you need to know about Kelley and Bowman when your top prospects according to Scott Powers are Sikura and Kubalik? Very sad.
My pick remains Dach. At 6’4″ 200lbs, he is nasty, great vision, relentless, and skilled. Cozens is great but a little soft as for Turcotte; stay away from the hype. Also, he is 3-4 years away.
I have them taking Byram at 3OA and either Turcotte or Dach at 5OA after they trade Boqvist and 43OA to LA.
The kings have selected 4 centres at 11, 20, 41, 51 in the last two drafts. They would love to draft Byram, but Boqvist and 43OA is more than a nice consolation.
Leafs going to shop Kapinen for a D and Kadri for a center back. Gus and Kampf save alot of cap space for them. Anisimov wouldn’t.
I wonder how quickly Rob Blake would be burned in effigy in LA if he traded the Hawks the fifth pick for Boqvist and the 43rd pick. That would be a neat trick.
I wonder what it would actually take to get LA to part with that pick, besides divine intervention…
A few thoughts re: Bodhisattva’s comment…
1. You don’t trade Boqvist and not pick Byram.
2. I wouldn’t trade Boqvist at all.
3. If the Blackhawks want to trade back into the first round, do it w/ Gustafsson. Don’t mortgage more young assets for bandaids any more, and there won’t be a player on the board in the middle of this year’s first round who’s better than Boqvist.
Finally, if the Hawks go C, I would be stunned if Byram lasted to 5. My sources have indicated the Kings REALLY like Dach and have him circled on their board.
Just some words on the Ollie Matta trade.
Now that days have passed and theres more time to really absorb this, I do feel that Bowman did well on this trade.
He also was smart to act on this early because there has been plenty of activity on defensemen this week which will drive up the price of the remainder.
Maatta had an injury plagued year. Now he has a new start. He has motivation. Thats big.
Also Bowman bought low and sold high which is what youre supposed to do. I like Kahun but I dont see much more ceiling than what we saw.
Ill give credit where credits due. Bowman did pretty good here.
I wonder if Blackhawks were willing to take last year of Hortons ltir salary would Gus and Kampf for Kadri and Kapinen be doable.
And its Turcotte.
No ifs ands or buts.
Cmon. He walks in the interview and says he idolizes Toews and his game to his interviewers? Boom sold.
And we already know the scouts will take the American over the Canadian every time its close.
Guess Hull knows more than all of the scouts and other experts on Turcotte. He needs more development than Dach but is more skilled and projects to be a 1C. As I wrote earlier, this pick may depend on management’s timeline.
Steely Dan: It’s nice to dream but LA wouldn’t part with their pick for Boq and two second rounders.
Chicago isnt trading their 3rd overall pick. Thats just fantasy crap.
They might get some extra mid round picks tho since they have all these left handed dmen now. But thats it as far as activity.
The fun really begins on Canada Day.
So, LOAGS, Hawks should pick Turcotte because he is an American that wants to play like a Canadian?
I do like the Maatta trade for one reason is our defense is so poor and something needs to be done with the backend. Scoring was not the issue last year. Team defense and defenseman are the issue, possibly the system. The other issue is are any of the defenseman we’ve drafted in the minors ready to play at the NHL level??? If they are still not ready you have to pick Byram. Hopefully he can step on the ice at the NHL level and be one of the top 4 guys. If he is not then pick the best two way forward which looks like Turcotte. I don’t know that much about Dach’s defensive abilities, wasn’t researching him as much…. What scares me is Bowman has not drafted well as far as defenseman or bigger guys, anyone watch the cup final this year…… Just looking at the defenseman in the cup final, only 2 guys under 6 feet and 3 under 200lbs…..
Gunnarsson 6’2″ 198
Edmundson 6’4″ 215
Bouwmeester 6’4″ 206
Pietrangelo 6’3″ 210
Dunn 6’0″ 203
Parayko 6’6″ 230
Carlo 6’5″ 212
Moore 6’2″ 210
Chara 6’9″ 250
Krug 5’9″ 186
Grrzelcyk 5’9″ 174
McAvoy 6’0″ 208
BLS2
I’m saying its very apparent they will choose Americans over Canadians.
I think last year they finally chose more than 2.
So the fact that Byram, Cozens and Dach are Canadians its obvious theyll take Turcotte.
I like Turcotte but theres no debate to this. Its very obvious who they take.
A ton of pressure on Turcotte btw. Olczyk thought the pressure got to him. Imagine Turcotte in this day and age with players in a social media microscope? Good luck to him.
To Hull 65, Cozens isn’t softer than Dach-perhaps the other way around (Dach perhaps more upside)-I really like Cozens but it will be either Byram or Turcotte. Byram has enough distance between him and the next D-men– that makes him a smart pick but Turcotte being a motivated local kid with tremendous upside is a smart pick as well-
remember the original pick was 12 and both would be long gone. It will be done soon enough.
Noonan, have read a lot on Cozens and never came across anyone referring to him being a little soft. He regularly goes to the net in traffic. He and Dach are very similar. It will be either Byram or Turcotte. Several of us think a top D is hardest to draft. Byram is the smart pick and most rate him a little higher than Turcotte. Also, Byram expected to need about a year of development back in the WHL, while Turcotte will need two years or more.
Whoever we draft will please some and anger others. Post draft it will likely be 3+ years before we really know how good the pick was. To me, ER hit the true reality – whoever we pick at #3 will be much better than the options at #12.
Maybe my post wasn’t clear.
1) The Blackhawks select Byram with 3OA
2) Trade Boqvist and 43 to LA for 5OA
3) The Blackhawks select Dach or Turcotte with 5OA
I don’t expect people to be more interested in my idea, but at least I’ll be understood.
Bowman: “Hey, Brian. We know you spent the entire year mentoring Bodqvist but we’re going to trade him now.”
Campbell: “F***.”
Bowman: come on Brian, be a professional. You’ve been around the game long enough to know these things. We appreciate the work though.
Would be proud if we pick Turcotte. To me both these guys are going to be elite. Burma is that good too. So one of these guys and I am kicking the keg of Goose Island.
Where does this notion that Stan will take Americans over Canadians cone from?
I don’t see any evidence of it – sounds like a made up narrative. I think Stan has a good ability to be objective about players and their abilities – he’s drafted well for the draft positions he’s had and no doubt had some excellent selections including Saad and Dcat in the 2nd round, TT at 18, Schmaltz at 25 (?), Joki (somewhere in the 20’s)
Let’s see what he does with his first high pick but there’s no reason to think he’s not going to take the BPA regardless of position or country – he’s said as much and I think he means it
So whoever the Hawks take I’ll look at it as though that’s the player they think is the BPA
I still think that’s Byram but if they think it’s Dach or Turcotte I’m ok with that
Less than 24 hours until the big reveal … hallie freakin looya.
1. Draft Bowen Byram
2. Trade Gustafsson and Pick for Kasperi Kapanen
3. Trade Forsling + Prospects/Draft Picks for Cody Eakin
4. Sign Anton Stralman for 2 years to give time
for Byram ans Boqvist to develop
5. Sign depth ( Nolan Acciari )
6. Trade Anisimov, Hayden
Caggiula – Toews – Kane
DeBrincat – Strome – Kapanen
Saad – Eakin – Kubalik
Perlini – Kampf – Acciari
Wedin
2019-2020 2021 – 2022
Keith – Jokiharju Byram – Boqvist
Maatta – Stralman Keith – Jokiharju
Murphy – Seabrook Maatta – Murphy
Koekkoek Seabrook
Crawford
Delia or Lankinen (Camp battle)
Draft Bowen Byram
2. Trade Gustafsson and Pick for Kasperi Kapanen
3. Trade Forsling + Prospects/Draft Picks for Cody Eakin
4. Sign Anton Stralman for 2 years to give time
for Byram ans Boqvist to develop
5. Sign depth ( Nolan Acciari )
6. Trade Anisimov, Hayden
Caggiula – Toews – Kane
DeBrincat – Strome – Kapanen
Saad – Eakin – Kubalik
Perlini – Kampf – Acciari
Wedin
Keith – Jokiharju
Maatta – Stralman
Murphy – Seabrook
Koekkoek
Crawford
Delia or Lankinen (Camp battle)
2021-2022
Byram – Boqvist
Keith – Jokiharju
Maatta – Murphy
Seabrook
1A. Delia
1B. Lankinen
( The Best take the pole at the END for playoffs )
Wraparound
Ive been suspicious of it since aboot 2014-15. His constant drafting of more Americans than Canadians each draft year was a red flag despite the ratio of Canadians in the Nhl.
Then recently, I read an article where a source confirmed my suspicions. Mark Kelley favours Americans over Canadian players.
Tell you what. If Bowman picks a Canadian 3rd overall I’ll eat my words. Pretty sure I won’t be. If its not Turcotte itll be Zegras.
Loags, I agree, I have been saying the same thing. Kelley has drafted american players more than Canadian players. In fact, he will draft a Belgium soccer goalie over a Canadian goalie any day!
The ratio is obvious and the facts don’t lie. Yet, everyone knows the CHL is much better than any other development league around. 19 Canadians on the Blues roster this year. Bruins had more Canadians as well. Look at the Hawks Cup teams! How many Canadians?
Kelley watches Americans and free agent European players instead of riding the bus in Canada. Cup teams are made when you draft well not only in the 1st round because those can always be a bust but you cannot fail in rounds 2,3, &4. This is where a team builds depth and stays competitive. Players like Anthony Louis? Why? Gilbert? Krys? Iacopelli? Sikura?
I will be shocked if he drafts a Canadian kid tomorrow. But it should not just be about a Canadian kid in the first round….it should be about drafting well in later rounds.
I hope he trades for another 1st rounder to draft a franchise goalie as well. Spencer Knight.
TGIFF, literally,
Going to be a player most everybody happy with in a few years taken at no.3
Probably alot may not be to happy at first.
Rest of the draft with trades and picks will make an interesting weekend. Gotta wonder if Saad available for a team, his pk and 2way play would make you think no, but him and Gus probably 2 best chips
See alot of negative comments on Sikura being listed top forward prospect. Think he will have a nice breakout season and this time next year the conversation around him will be alot different.
Hull fyi on playoff roster Bruins had 14 fwds 6 Amer, 4 Can, 4 Eur. 9D 7 Amer, 1 Can, 1 Eur. 2 Eur goalies and emerg 3rd was an Amer. Blues yes heavy on Canadian players 19 0r 20.
As a Canadian I do take pride in players from Canada but don’t care if it’s Hossa, Toews or Kane at the end of the day-if they’re good, can be coached and compete why would you care?
But I do believe the CHL is the best option as far as preparation for the NHL. It has been for the last many decades and still is.
ah the analysts lol The hawks never pick from the the analysts board..picks 3-20 could have similar weight to Bowman and his staff and he isnt afraid to take anyone he likes..it could be Harley or Caufield for anyones knows
turcotte looks injury prone to me and his dad was a bust in the NHL all risks that are valid in the scouting conv plus he isnt any better than Zegras its just that Turcotte is from Illinois and part of thius huge US draft pool is what keeps tying him to the 3rd pick and thats some dangerous reasoning…all three WHL centers are just as good as he is or better.
my money is on the rarest commodity a #1 Def
Ive been thinking of a list in honor of Bowman
here is my top 5 Bowman swerve pick list for the 3rd pick
1. Philip Broberg D
classic Bowman pick a steady riser that was unknown before Hnlinka torny
2. Trevor Zegras C
you want turcotte you get the imaginative higher ceiling alt
3. Cole Caufield RW
He scores goals like someone else we know in CHI and could take the league by storm with his quick hands and light release like another kid did quite a few years ago named Mike Bossy..dont say it couldnt happen.
4. Peyton Krebs C
although this would be a trade down injury concerns..this kid has the ult compete in the draft and he proved it playing on a terrible team and gave it is all, he has the heart of a champion and these guys are never the top pick in the draft but after his career is said and done people will always wonder what were teams thinking
5. Vasily Podkolzin
we take college players all the time so this two year KHL committ concern holds little weight..he is a mix between Jagr and Laine and would be dynamite with Kane..im not in the know but ill bet the scouting staff in CHI has fantasized more than once of Podz and Kane together with maybe Panarin coming back…what a way to jump start a team
we all have opinions and I like mine ;)
One thing I’m noticing in a lot of the mock drafts is that they reference CHI’s current D prospects as a reason not to take Byram or they reference Turcotte’s similar style to Toews and the fact that he’s from the CHI as a reasons the Hawks will take him
Both of these reasons are weak IMO and I don’t think Bowman and Kelley will give them much if any weight
I haven’t seen a mock that simply says Turcotte’s the 3rd BPA so that’s why CHI will take him and that makes me suspicious
I still think they’ll go Byram but if not then Dach or maybe Zegras – I think they pass on Turcotte
That’s my $.02 and I’m sticking to it ; )
@Dave: LOL, I have been thinking if Stan goes off the board he could go for either Broberg or Zegras. I really hope not. My hope is that his dad, after watching Byram in the WHL finals, was completely sold on Byram, came back with a glowing report, and that sealed the deal. We’ll see.
@ Jordyhawk Im cool with anyone they take since weve done a great job over the last ten years or so..im embracing the pick no matter since they have all the tools at their disposal to find the right player even if its Broberg haha
@Wraparound
great point on Turcotte and Byram totally agree
If Byram is indeed projected to be a #1 D with comparables to Keith or Doughty, why would he drop to the third pick? I think he goes 1 or 2 and Hawks get Jack Hughes or Kaapo Kakko. If he isn’t really a top D, then they should draft one of the good forward prospects. It’s a crap shoot anyway.
I m going to work but i have a thought unless a team does something unexpected ahead of us…..
our 1st and Gustafsoon plus a future Draft pick for starters to new york r
for their 2nd overall
whats everyone think
Where is Entwistle I thought he was highly rated and ready to make a step up
Tab?
Wrap…good points re: the fluff. Mostly, whenever I read “he’s from the area and therefore should be the pick,” I know it’s lazy writing, similarly for the d-men and not taking Byram I said this earlier, sometimes the words said (by Bowman) are the words meant to be heard or read. We need to stop reading between the lines to create mostly silly narratives.
It’s a BPA draft at #3, and nothing more.
Espamer, I was wondering why Entwistle wasn’t on the list as well?
Wrap, hope you are right about taking Byram. Has both the highest floor and ceiling of the ones being considered.
Some of you are thinking Broberg. Over Byram? Why would Stan take Broberg at #3 when he could get him at around #8? He would trade down.
Powers isn’t big on Entwistle, he had tweeted something one time and responded asking him about Entwistle and he replied something like he’s ok, may be a bottom 6 player one day,needs offense at Nhl level. Lots seem to disagree on him, i thimk he can be a good player, help on pk and shutdown line, maybe even next year. Time will tell.
Bowman never goes consensus, it will either be Byram because they no doubt think he’s 3rd best player in draft or Zegras for same reason. I hope it’s Zegras, his offensive game is grade A. He can learn to play responsibly defensively. We have respectable dmen in our system, forwards are full of bottom 6 types
I would cringe at Zegras… could see him being a total bust.
Blind spin-o-rama passes through the middle of the ice are cute in junior.
Dudes a stud, first thing he mentioned in interviews was toning the highlight plays down playing with the big boys
Wow. Blind spin-o- Rama passes through the middle of the ice are cute in Jr.
I thought someone was talking about Patrick Kane in his Jr. days.
Why would any Hawks fan not want to draft a player who has tremendous hockey skills?
Zegras is one of the best prospects in this draft.
Dangles and spin-o-ramas aren’t the only hockey skills worth counting.
Anyway, just my humble opinion on Zegras. Based on his draft ranking I am clearly in the minority.
Here’s some common NHL players compared to the 5 guys that have been looked at the most, I’m just really bored before the draft.
Turcotte – O’Reilly, Bergeron, Toews, Point
Byram – Keith, Doughty
Zegras – Kuznetsov, Backstrom, Giroux
Dach – Getzlaf, Johansson
Cozens – Kesler (in his prime), Scheifele, Monahan
I like Dach. I feel he’d give the hawks some size up the middle, along with skills to pass and shoot. If he’s like Getzlaf in the end, that type of player is sorely missing on the Hawks roster. But as others have mentioned, seems that anthing over six feet and 200lbs is kryptonite to Stan, so I am a realist in thinking it’s Turcotte.
Pucklogic-Byram is pr0jected to be a #1 (this doesn’t always happen), but Hughes and Kakko are looked at as probably stars in the making-that’s the difference. looking at Byram being a Keith/Doughty only as a comparison in style, not necessarily substance.
Big break between top 2 and next group.
3 to 6 is a bit of a crap shoot. Unless they are really certain they pick the possible # 1 D.
See rumors flying Blackhawks interested in signing Corey Perry, seems like a bad move unless it was part of a series of moves. Perry and Toews played together internationally as linemates and had quite good chemistry together, maybe want to try to tap into that. Also if a deal similar to last summer where Canes wanted Saad for a quality top 4 Dman, Perry could be Saads replacement at a lower caphit if deal that was made. Then be free to maybe do a Gus for Kapanen deal with the Leads.
Improve the team short term and long term and not mortgage future to do it.
Blackhawks have been adamant the the no.3 puck is not to fill a need but best player available and who will make biggest impact in coming years. If they believe that playet is Byram or Turcotte, both be fine picks that’s who they pick. If its someone else like a Zegras, who i think it could be then thats who they draft. Only one vote ultimately counts and thats the one we hear tonite.
Here’s a Stan quote from 2 days ago that gives me confidence that they’re approaching this pick the right way
“We’re going to draft the player we think has the best projection to be an impact player,” Bowman said. “We’re not ruled by position on that. So the guy that we believe is going to have the biggest impact (as he develops) into an NHL player, that’s who we’re going to take.”
Byram
BTW I don’t have a problem with the Hawks acquiring Corey Perry if they can on a 1 year performance bonus at a low cap hit – why not?
He’s a winner, great in front of the net and an annoying presence that the Hawks lack since Bolly and Shaw left
Seeing 200foot list, I like Turcotte, Byram, Zegras.
I do think Bowman and crew know more info and are going to pick the better player of these future elite players.
Wrap, thanks for Stan’s quote. Biggest impact player regardless of position would be:
Byram!
The steal of the draft if he goes below #10 will be Podkolzin. No way he goes #16, despite what Button says.
Where’s my money! I had a hundo on him! $650….
HULL65 gets his man!
Byram to COL – gulp!
Great pick Canucks! Pod will be a great player.
Hull, stick tap and a beaut, for sticking to your guns and not sucking on others so called pros. You were the only, One, that had that from the beginning or anyway through without inside information. Good job dude salute.