Tyler Cameron: NHL Combine Thoughts and Blackhawks Tidbits There were 103 payers interviewed, tested and schmoozed this past week.

The set up saw a familiar schedule; the first portion of the week was a lot of meetings and dinners with NHL team executives. It's at this stage that the teams can really dig in to determine what time of person these "players" are.

Any hints on who the Blackhawks will take at #3?

First !

I would bet that intrigue is the big word around Stan Bowman and their organizational meeting. Not only whom the consensus is to draft, but should they trade a somewhat main or major player (or two)

I sure would love to see benefit in drafting two firsrt round. Caufield, Dach, Zegras, sp Knight, Broberg each would be amazing second of two first round. I ser Turcotte in ths group too. I would trade Gus + for an early pick. Tough to trade a dman and draft another. But i see Keith skating and advanced development in Broberg.

Better do your homework if you want the other dman or Turcotte #3.. I am skeptical to draft both at #3

If hockeybuzz had a vote tally on whom bloggers choose, would generate lots of interest and hits

I have been leaning Cozens since hawks first won the draft lottery. But, I must say, the gap has shrunk now. And I see Cozens, Dach, Turcotte and Byram as close to even odds for the Hawks. Caufield (Sorry Darth) and Zegras....not so much. Possible, but outside my top 4.

Gonna be very interesting, as will the Free Agent and trade front. I am really hoping Stan doens't feel forced to make an idiotic signing and we avoid the long-term expensive contracts. Keep building with the young guys and look for some inventive additions by "Helping" some of those Cap-crunched teams, as they all "Helped" themselves to our Cap issues during the Cup years.

Stan should try to get back into the top 10 by moving assets. My guess is one of Cozens, Dach, or Zergas could be there.

TC, you mentioned Edmonton. They’re drafting 8th and are win now mode.

Do you guys think a package of Gustaffson, Kurashev, and a 2nd gets Edmonton’s 8th?

Blackhawks #3
AA
Gustafsson

To EDM for

Nugent-Hopkins
EDM #8

EDM can then take Byram to shore up their D and Hawks can take a forward at #8.

off topic:
The two forwards that Colorado is going to come out of this draft with are going to be really special.

Blackhawks #3
AA
Gustafsson

To EDM for

Nugent-Hopkins
EDM #8

EDM can then take Byram to shore up their D and Hawks can take a forward at #8.
- scottak

too far a DROP FOR ME plus Nugent-Hopkins --- despite the fact he has been over-payed at 6 million for 6 yrs already, and won't want to not get more, he doesn't check boxes for me at 26 yrs old, as equal value...
Is the kid we draft next year the cornerstone of the Hawks future or are we gonna "Red Wing around" for a decade?

So...you get your pick of the litter but want to drop back and get leftovers to add an NHL player...
IF that "player" isn't TRULY an affordable fit in $, position and salary pecking order and doesn't solve the face-off, strengthen the defense, why?

I suggest everyone go try and find the draft combine results form other years as you will see lots of no names (not in the NHL yet) in the lists.

Stan should try to get back into the top 10 by moving assets. My guess is one of Cozens, Dach, or Zergas could be there.

TC, you mentioned Edmonton. They’re drafting 8th and are win now mode.

Do you guys think a package of Gustaffson, Kurashev, and a 2nd gets Edmonton’s 8th?
- Bjm84

Huh? The Oilers are not in a win now mode. They are in a "lets function as a professional hockey team" mode. They are a longer way from win now then the Hawks.

Peter Chiarelli is no longer the GM. Ken Holland is. I think there will be a lot less baffling moves by the Oilers with Holland there.

I suggest everyone go try and find the draft combine results form other years as you will see lots of no names (not in the NHL yet) in the lists.
- wiz1901

Remember when Colin Wilson blew everyone away with his performance at the combine? Didn't really do anything for his career. Imagine an 18 year old Wayne Gretzky at the combine? I bet he would have been last in all the strength tests.

Combine didn’t change my mind but I think Byram and Cozens probably helped themselves. Both did pretty good in the physical tests.

I’d imagine in the next week or so the Blackhawks will be getting the group together and pull their board together. Some highlights below, from this link:

https://www.nhl.com/black...ts-on-combine/c-307636804


Projecting the future for each prospect means Kelley will work with everyone from Bowman to Strength and Conditioning Coach Paul Goodman to understand how these players could perform years down the road.

"They're 17 or 18 years old, I'm talking to them and I'm looking at them and I'm saying to myself, he doesn't even shave," Kelley said.

After meeting with "80 or 90" players over the course of the Combine, Kelley and the Blackhawks have nearly wrapped up the fact-finding portion of NHL Draft preparation.

Next, the staff will get into a room and continue a journey that will end on the draft stage in Vancouver as the Blackhawks pick third for the first time since 2006. That year, Chicago selected a player named from Winnipeg named Jonathan Toews. No pressure or anything.

"Most teams are probably in the same position we're at," Kelley said. "They're trying to assess, take all the information for the week and build a board."

too far a DROP FOR ME plus Nugent-Hopkins --- despite the fact he has been over-payed at 6 million for 6 yrs already, and won't want to not get more, he doesn't check boxes for me at 26 yrs old, as equal value...
Is the kid we draft next year the cornerstone of the Hawks future or are we gonna "Red Wing around" for a decade?

So...you get your pick of the litter but want to drop back and get leftovers to add an NHL player...
IF that "player" isn't TRULY an affordable fit in $, position and salary pecking order and doesn't solve the face-off, strengthen the defense, why?
- wiz1901

None of the players outside Hughes and Kakko will contribute for 2-3 years. At that point, Kane, JT & Keith will be 2-3 years older.

Can this team, adding a UFA or 2, really compete, or are they looking at another playoff miss? My money is on the latter.

Stan should try to get back into the top 10 by moving assets. My guess is one of Cozens, Dach, or Zergas could be there.

TC, you mentioned Edmonton. They’re drafting 8th and are win now mode.

Do you guys think a package of Gustaffson, Kurashev, and a 2nd gets Edmonton’s 8th?
- Bjm84

I play Edm GM
It is a reasonable offer
But i ask my scouts how much do you like Caufield. Dach or Zegras. Maybe Brophy. Each would be real nice fit for what they need going forward.

But your win now is a valid point, too, if Holland feels the owner must make playoffs. Yet consider Chiarelli didn't leave much future building blocks as in drafted players. That pick provides a player whom could become a key piece. Consider what each would conpliment add to their core.

Were you blogging back at The Daily Herald must be around ten years ago back when Sasoon was around? Or it was hockeybuzz back then also.

Blackhawks #3
AA
Gustafsson

To EDM for

Nugent-Hopkins
EDM #8

EDM can then take Byram to shore up their D and Hawks can take a forward at #8.
- scottak

If this could be pulled off it would mean that CHI could get Caufield at #8 and solve other problems too! Not sure EDM would go for it, is there a market for AA?

Combine didn’t change my mind but I think Byram and Cozens probably helped themselves. Both did pretty good in the physical tests.
- walleyeb1

You just HAVE to like everything about Turcotte too.

Instead of any of us lamenting in whomever isn't the hawks pick, we have to be really happy for this opportunity at a really high end NHLer player, and the fans on other sites/boards saying that it isn't fair (and their teams have HAD top five-ten picks consistently)!

You just HAVE to like everything about Turcotte too.

Instead of any of us lamenting in whomever isn't the hawks pick, we have to be really happy for this opportunity at a really high end NHLer player, and the fans on other sites/boards saying that it isn't fair (and their teams have HAD top five-ten picks consistently!
- wiz1901

This ^.

The Hawks should have been picking ten slots lower, but instead lucked into being fortunate enough to be taking a potentially truly franchise-altering talent.

Whoever the team feels is the BPA is all that matters. I will be happy with any pick, knowing our future is in a much better place either way.

You just HAVE to like everything about Turcotte too.

Instead of any of us lamenting in whomever isn't the hawks pick, we have to be really happy for this opportunity at a really high end NHLer player, and the fans on other sites/boards saying that it isn't fair (and their teams have HAD top five-ten picks consistently!
- wiz1901

I want other players more than Turcotte. I can't read your mind but i think you concur.

None of the players outside Hughes and Kakko will contribute for 2-3 years. At that point, Kane, JT & Keith will be 2-3 years older.
- scottak

Not so much worried about patching now as much as having a keystone player later. There are plenty of promising players at forward eventually in Rockford and maybe hawks but there are no guys like at #3 ...

The guys in my group to 8 are REALLY good possibles to be dynamic NHL players in a few years, but pick after the pick the length you wait the upside that they were graded as having (how much they can get better physically and how they fit as NHL - impactful possibles) drops.

And that how the draft works except for teams with crappy scouting reports, or take defenseman as needs...and has worked for far more than a decade now....a change from the draft boards being darts and iffy.

I want other players more than Turcotte. I can't read your mind but i think you concur.
- jhawk59

Jimbo, I really trust they will take the best player, and I will not look backward at them ...unless they miss Bobby Orr or Paul Coffey (cough).

This ^.

The Hawks should have been picking ten slots lower, but instead lucked into being fortunate enough to be taking a potentially truly franchise-altering talent.

Whoever the team feels is the BPA is all that matters. I will be happy with any pick, knowing our future is in a much better place either way.
- TommyHawk

Yeah, lucked into

I want other players more than Turcotte. I can't read your mind but i think you concur.
- jhawk59

There’s no one I want more than Turcotte.











I think.





Maybe.

You just HAVE to like everything about Turcotte too.

Instead of any of us lamenting in whomever isn't the hawks pick, we have to be really happy for this opportunity at a really high end NHLer player, and the fans on other sites/boards saying that it isn't fair (and their teams have HAD top five-ten picks consistently)!
- wiz1901

Well put, Wiz.

The Hawks are going to be in a great spot after round #1.

I'm excited to see how the rest of their draft goes as well. Do they try to acquire anymore mid-round picks? I think they may.

Looking at the picture / video of Byram - listed at 6'0" - 194 lbs. - like probably all of the prospects at the Combine, you can see why so very very few of them are really ready to play in the toughest men's league in the world - even if they HAD all of the required 200' skills - Byram seemingly needs a lot of physical development.

The Avs are a coming power in the Central and the WC. I don't know if they will take 2 forwards with their picks in 1st round. They may try to grab Spencer Knight with that 2nd one. And they probably wouldn't mind Byram if the Hawks pass on him.