I think A lot of teams will be doing cartwheels if the HAWKS take Tuecotte at 3 .I don't know what I am missing but in most of the rating have him between 5 and 9 spot . Cozens Byram Pod Dach Zegras Caufield all rate ahead of Turds . Cousins big tough can score ,what's not to like . Couzens will either be playing in the NHL next year or ripping up the WHL and leading Canada to gold at the WJC at Christmas .
- oldduffman

You really need to come in off of that ledge you’re on. It’s not healthy to worry so obsessively over something that might not even happen.

I quote the late great Tom Petty: “I’m so tired of being tired, sure as night will follow day. Most things that I worry about, never happen anyway.”

Also, FWIW:

Very few of the recent rankings have Turcotte below the 4-5 range.
http://www.mynhldraft.com.../2019-nhl-draft-rankings/

My top 3:

1. Cole Caufield
2. Bowen Byram
3. Alex Turcotte
- DarthKane

I didn't know you wanted to select him?

You really need to come in off of that ledge you’re on. It’s not healthy to worry so obsessively over something that might not even happen.

I quote the late great Tom Petty: “I’m so tired of being tired, sure as night will follow day. Most things that I worry about, never happen anyway.”

Also, FWIW:

Very few of the recent rankings have Turcotte below the 4-5 range.
http://www.mynhldraft.com.../2019-nhl-draft-rankings/
- Ogilthorpe2

I don't know how your stock goes up when your not playing ,Combine I guess . Not much else to chat about at the moment .Hope your right and Turrcotte not taken at 3 ,I got a sneaky feeling they may be taking him .

I think A lot of teams will be doing cartwheels if the HAWKS take Tuecotte at 3 .I don't know what I am missing but in most of the rating have him between 5 and 9 spot . Cozens Byram Pod Dach Zegras Caufield all rate ahead of Turds . Cousins big tough can score ,what's not to like . Couzens will either be playing in the NHL next year or ripping up the WHL and leading Canada to gold at the WJC at Christmas .
- oldduffman

I don't dislike him, he's just lower on the list for me.

Earlier in this blog column the idea that Beaudin could be traded was mentioned. Mitchell, too, may have to be considered. Right. Because.they ate picking a 17 year old who may not ever be a first pair. To be honest, that is only a guess but you have to wait at least three years for Byram to fill out and gain experience. Sure Stan will wait while he plays cards with Rocky.

Mitchell and Beaudin are close to NHL ready. They both could get some games next season. Both are not difficult to imagine as future descent to above average and hopefully one day play in the second pair.

Beaudin reportedly actually is coveted by Bergevin. Reviews on Beaudin call him a solid defender......understands nuances of the position, knows and can play defence. This puts him in very good light because most rookies dmen need lots of experience until they perform adequately.

I just do not know what to expect from a Beaudin and Mitchell though IF you want to consider how much better they might become in defending. I mean both are not big & strong but some of how effective any player is comes directly from the players themselves. How physical will they choose to be. Very good talented but what about their physical play?
- jhawk59

If Bergevin wants Beaudin he can have him for Poehling.

I didn't know you wanted to select him?
- I Am The Breadman

I’m the first to admit I’ve been too reserved with my opinion on who the Hawks should draft. I’ll have to work on that.

I think A lot of teams will be doing cartwheels if the HAWKS take Tuecotte at 3 .I don't know what I am missing but in most of the rating have him between 5 and 9 spot . Cozens Byram Pod Dach Zegras Caufield all rate ahead of Turds . Cousins big tough can score ,what's not to like . Couzens will either be playing in the NHL next year or ripping up the WHL and leading Canada to gold at the WJC at Christmas .
- oldduffman

What you're missing is that you're looking at lists from spring or something. Turcotte has been regularly ranked 3-6 by many of the better evaluators more recently. Just some I know off the top of my head:

Pronman #3, Wheeler #3, Dobber Prospects #3, HockeyProspect.com #4, ISS Hockey #4, Sportsnet #4, Future Considerations Hockey #5. NHL Central scouting had him #$ for NA. Button (TSN) will probably have him 4 or 5 in his final list because he raved about his rise as of late.

I really like Cozens too and that pack 3-8 is so close, so I'd personally be happy with the Hawks taking either but putting down Turcotte is a bit weird. He may not be your preference, but by many accounts, he'd be a good and expected pick at #3.

I’m the first to admit I’ve been too reserved with my opinion on who the Hawks should draft. I’ll have to work on that.
- DarthKane

Yeah, I knew who everyone else wants selected at 3, but you. Honestly, I was greatly disappointed that this was the first I was reading about it.

My top 3:

1. Cole Caufield
2. Cole Caufield
3. Cole Caufield
- DarthKane

Fixed

Even if the Hawks don't draft Bowen (which they won't because they're drafting Caufield) I would be surprised to see a current D prospect dealt. In an ideal world Jokiharju, Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell and Krys would all make the team but that's not realistic. There are too many similar styles. I think Jokiharju stays and one of Boqvist and Beaudin goes. My money is on Boqvist.
- DarthKane

Your reasoning about the dmen style makes sense. Although Beaudin could play here as early as next season and Boqvist is probably two seasons development elsewhere then maybe too many same or similar style.

Your reasoning about the dmen style makes sense. Although Beaudin could play here as early as next season and Boqvist is probably two seasons development elsewhere then maybe too many same or similar style.
- jhawk59

I like Beaudin too but I'm not sure why you think Beaudin could possibly play next season but Boqvist is a couple years away and Byram is 3 years away. How do you come up with these expectations?

As far as who to trade from the "4-horsemen" if indeed one of them is to be traded - Boqvist would be the last of the 4 I would trade because he has the highest ceiling which is exactly why he was drafted #8 while Beaudin was #27, Joki was #29 and Mitchell was #57. Joki, Beaudin and Mitchell all have fairly good offensive abilities but Boqvist is on another level entirely, as in Byram.

Draft Byram, keep Boqvist and do you you must with the other 3.

I like Beaudin too but I'm not sure why you think Beaudin could possibly play next season but Boqvist is a couple years away and Byram is 3 years away. How do you come up with these expectations?

As far as who to trade from the "4-horsemen" if indeed one of them is to be traded - Boqvist would be the last of the 4 I would trade because he has the highest ceiling which is exactly why he was drafted #8 while Beaudin was #27, Joki was #29 and Mitchell was #57. Joki, Beaudin and Mitchell all have fairly good offensive abilities but Boqvist is on another level entirely, as in Byram.

Draft Byram, keep Boqvist and do you you must with the other 3.
- EbonyRaptor

I definitely agree on Beau & Boq needing more development. I don't know if I would use draft selection spots as my main argument. For every bust, there is a sleeper. You can only hope for the best from them, but already projecting them (when 3 of them haven't played in the nhl) doesn't seem logical.

I definitely agree on Beau & Boq needing more development. I don't know if I would use draft selection spots as my main argument. For every bust, there is a sleeper. You can only hope for the best from them, but already projecting them (when 3 of them haven't played in the nhl) doesn't seem logical.
- I Am The Breadman

I used the draft positions to support the notion that Boqvist is the highest rated prospect and there was noting done in the last year by any of the 4 prospects to alter expectations that were there for each of them when they were drafted where they were drafted. Boqvist was drafted in top-10 and the other were not for a reason - because he has the hishest projection. Will it end up that way a few years down to road? Who knows, but nothing that Boqvist or the others did last season should alter those expectations and in Boqvist's case he had a very good Draft+1 season which enhances the expectations that he has a very good future and has a very good chance to be an elite player in the NHL.

I definitely agree on Beau & Boq needing more development. I don't know if I would use draft selection spots as my main argument. For every bust, there is a sleeper. You can only hope for the best from them, but already projecting them (when 3 of them haven't played in the nhl) doesn't seem logical.
- I Am The Breadman

It is not illogical to project Boqvist and Byram farther away based on the things they need to learn how to do better in their defensive performance.

I am curious how much help retired Blackhawk Campbell can provide to Boqvist.

I surmise both prospects need a full year in junior and in AHL. Then too growing from a boy to a man's body strength wise is another issue. So three years before both skate in an NHL game. Maybe a look see as a learning experience and what to work on at some point but no regular nhl time for next three seasons.

Rookies camp and Traverse City Tournament might provide better understanding where the dmen game is at on a development curve. But the rookies camp is hard to figure out much.at all at minimum for fans. Like a barometer going up and down for us to grasp much about their performance. But coaches see much more especially in the drills in camp.

Whom do you say wins the next Stanley Cup game?

Whom do you say wins the next Stanley Cup game?
- jhawk59

ST.L next two for the Blue .

My top 3:

1. Cole Caufield
2. Bowen Byram
3. Alex Turcotte
- DarthKane

For Me:
1. Cozens
2.Turcotte
3. Bryram

Sorry Darth I think Cole goes later in the first round 5-8.

Panarin posted a video on his Instagram account of him doing some mixed martial arts with a caption saying "P.Kane I'm coming for you."

Pretty much confirms a Blackhawk's reunion amirite 😉?

Hawks expansion draft strategy would be a good blog! Lots of implications with upcoming trades and signings . . .
- gmurban

Already on the calendar. Looking forward to carving that one out.

Zegras would be cool over Cozens IMO. Haven't seen one guy play, just chiming in to have fun of course but from what i've read...Cozens is a big skinny guy that doesnt engage enough for a high end lottery pick. Zegras, injured twice during the year but just as good as Hughes. Byram, ultra competitor. Cant see how that is faked or made up. Byram seems like the logical pick

Yeah, I knew who everyone else wants selected at 3, but you. Honestly, I was greatly disappointed that this was the first I was reading about it.
- I Am The Breadman

Who was that he wanted them to draft?

I don't know how your stock goes up when your not playing ,Combine I guess . Not much else to chat about at the moment .Hope your right and Turrcotte not taken at 3 ,I got a sneaky feeling they may be taking him .
- oldduffman

Every year between the end of the seasons in the CHL, NTDP and Euro leagues and the drsft you see the draft lists change with prospects moving up and down. I suspect it has to do with information leaking from various NHL teams as well as the talk heard at the combine. As for Turcotte, or Cozens, or Byram or Caufield or .... you have to trust that the Hawks scouting staff have done their homework and select the best player available. Whoever the Hawks draft at 3 or if they trade the pick I believe they will do so for the good of the Blackhawks.

Every year between the end of the seasons in the CHL, NTDP and Euro leagues and the drsft you see the draft lists change with prospects moving up and down. I suspect it has to do with information leaking from various NHL teams as well as the talk heard at the combine. As for Turcotte, or Cozens, or Byram or Caufield or .... you have to trust that the Hawks scouting staff have done their homework and select the best player available. Whoever the Hawks draft at 3 or if they trade the pick I believe they will do so for the good of the Blackhawks.
- paulr

I can't wait for the explosion when none of the above are drafted by Stan.

I can't wait for the explosion when none of the above are drafted by Stan.
- Beaver-Warrior

There will be an explosion regardless who Bowman drafts. If Bowman were to somehow end up with Jack Hughes, trade a 4th round pick for Connor McDavid and have Edmonton pay half his salary there will be posters crying for Stan's head. It's just what BOD fans do.

alot of you are all lathered up about this draft...gonna be alot of disappointment here when stanbow goes in a direction no one expects...