Tyler Cameron: Pre-Draft Rumors and Chatter
The votes are in and there is an overwhelming amount of you – 917 to be exact – that believe the Blackhawks should draft Bowen Byram.

Alex Turcotte came in 2nd with 29% of the 1929 votes.

Now, let's get to some rumors.

Here we go.

I think your Caufield votes are a little low, you might want to double check your numbers.

If they trade down, a poll question could be: what is on Bowman's wish list; what are the priorities?

* add an NHL dman
* draft Podzlinski
* draft a forward/center
*obtain an extra first round pick and draft a goaltender

I think your Caufield votes are a little low, you might want to double check your numbers.
- DarthKane

I think that whomever drafts Caufield is going to be happy with his numbers.
As in exponentially

I think your Caufield votes are a little low, you might want to double check your numbers.
- DarthKane

On it! Ha

I think your Caufield votes are a little low, you might want to double check your numbers.
- DarthKane

Is it safe to assume you have carpal tunnel from voting for C.C.?

Anyways, thanks for the blog, TC. Crazy times & I'm excited to see how they shake out.

I see where Boston wants to move Backes (2 years remaining at 6M). With he and Perry available, someone can obtain them and have 2/3 of a douchebag line.

Regarding Saad and Anisimov, and the value they hold with their cost controlled contracts, the question is do the Hawks value those contracts more than other teams that may be calling about them. If the right trade scenario arises, does Stan move them?

Thanks for the new blog TC! Have enjoyed all the re-drafts and pre-draft speculation ahead of what we all know will be a huge Stan FAIL tomorrow.

Like you've said, I think they are going to get a really good player and I would like to see one of Byram, Turcotte, Zegras or Dach's name called.

Also hoping the Hawks make another hockey trade or two to address any shortcomings and stay away from the FA frenzy other than to maybe plug a bottom 6 hole.

Thanks for the new blog TC! Have enjoyed all the re-drafts and pre-draft speculation ahead of what we all know will be a huge Stan FAIL tomorrow.

Like you've said, I think they are going to get a really good player and I would like to see one of Byram, Turcotte, Zegras or Dach's name called.

Also hoping the Hawks make another hockey trade or two to address any shortcomings and stay away from the FA frenzy other than to maybe plug a bottom 6 hole.
- HawkintheD

I already hate the pick.

Poll couldn't be more Canadian...."at cottage".....

Kudo's to Robin Lehner and great speech. Hope he and Scott Darling connect.

Here I was hoping the blog title would be “Hold on to your butts”!

Any idea where Byram would have ranked in last years defense heavy draft?

If they let Gustafsson walk for nothing then Stan should be literally and quickly fired into the Sun.

I dont care who they draft, just so long as they manage their D prospects and make some damn trades.

They should be trading assets and working to get another 1st round pick. There is no reason to sit pat and do nothing.

I'm so excited for the draft, the hawks are going to get a very good and maybe great player.

I just wanted to a step back and appreciate the position that the Blackhawks are in right now.

With the emergence of Strome and Debrincat as really good NHL players, the lineup is suddenly looking a lot better than we thought it would just 1-2 years ago, in my opinion.

Additionally, with the Matta addition, looking at the Blackhawks defense lineup to me it looks like a pretty solid top 6. Seabs and Keith have slowed down but I feel like they get a little bit too much flak, and I actually really like Murphy and he is signed at a great cap hit. Gus has his shortcomings, but the PP looked really dangerous for a lot of the year and that is largely due to him.

So I feel like the lineup as it is currently composed is very solid and played really good hockey for the later half of last year. Additionally, after this draft, the talent pipeline is going to pretty stacked, and the Blackhawks have a lot of cap space to add a few really good players to the lineup.

So while Bownman gets dumped on a lot around here, I think the Blackhawks are in a strong position right now and moving forward for the next couple of years.

TC, I would love to see a blog about the Panarin and Hammer trades now that we have 2 years of hindsight. Honestly, I think the hammer trade has worked out. I feel like Murphy is really coming into his own and has a great contract. The Saad for Panarin trade I don't think has worked out, Panarin is just so dynamic and was a big lost. Having said that, if Panarin is on the team, the Blackhawks probably don't pick 8 last year getting Boqvist and 3 this year getting a foundational player, so in the long run maybe it works out, especially if management really didn't believe there was a chance of winning in the playoffs with the team as composed.

Anyways, I think the Hawks are in a very good position right now, and depending on how the rest of the offseason goes, they could be a solid contender next year with a stacked farm system. The one huge problem I think is the Seabrook contract, but I feel you can get away with one bad contract, and I love Seabrook and will never talk badly about him.

Poll couldn't be more Canadian...."at cottage".....
- Beaver-Warrior

MAINLAND Canada....here in Newfoundland we "Goes up to da cabin"!!!

Poll couldn't be more Canadian...."at cottage".....
- Beaver-Warrior

AT the cottage with a large double double and with the pops coolin in the cooler eh!

If they let Gustafsson walk for nothing then Stan should be literally and quickly fired into the Sun.

I dont care who they draft, just so long as they manage their D prospects and make some damn trades.

They should be trading assets and working to get another 1st round pick. There is no reason to sit pat and do nothing.
- Poultryman

Who said anyone was letting Gus or anyone else walk for nothing? It's like the idea that you can't say Merry Christmas. Make up some bullpoop story and some people are bound to believe it.

MAINLAND Canada....here in Newfoundland we "Goes up to da cabin"!!!
- hawk35

Same as BC.

After Dobson at 12.

I'm so excited for the draft, the hawks are going to get a very good and maybe great player.

I just wanted to a step back and appreciate the position that the Blackhawks are in right now.

With the emergence of Strome and Debrincat as really good NHL players, the lineup is suddenly looking a lot better than we thought it would just 1-2 years ago, in my opinion.

Additionally, with the Matta addition, looking at the Blackhawks defense lineup to me it looks like a pretty solid top 6. Seabs and Keith have slowed down but I feel like they get a little bit too much flak, and I actually really like Murphy and he is signed at a great cap hit. Gus has his shortcomings, but the PP looked really dangerous for a lot of the year and that is largely due to him.

So I feel like the lineup as it is currently composed is very solid and played really good hockey for the later half of last year. Additionally, after this draft, the talent pipeline is going to pretty stacked, and the Blackhawks have a lot of cap space to add a few really good players to the lineup.

So while Bownman gets dumped on a lot around here, I think the Blackhawks are in a strong position right now and moving forward for the next couple of years.

TC, I would love to see a blog about the Panarin and Hammer trades now that we have 2 years of hindsight. Honestly, I think the hammer trade has worked out. I feel like Murphy is really coming into his own and has a great contract. The Saad for Panarin trade I don't think has worked out, Panarin is just so dynamic and was a big lost. Having said that, if Panarin is on the team, the Blackhawks probably don't pick 8 last year getting Boqvist and 3 this year getting a foundational player, so in the long run maybe it works out, especially if management really didn't believe there was a chance of winning in the playoffs with the team as composed.

Anyways, I think the Hawks are in a very good position right now, and depending on how the rest of the offseason goes, they could be a solid contender next year with a stacked farm system. The one huge problem I think is the Seabrook contract, but I feel you can get away with one bad contract, and I love Seabrook and will never talk badly about him.
- LaheysBRandy

If Panarin was on the team, they would of traded him at the trade deadline or signed him to a contract with an AAV of $10mil. and would be in cap hell. Plus even with Panarin (less Saad), the Hawks would of been a bubble team at best.

I already hate the pick.
- Ogilthorpe2

Yeah - ANYONE but the guy they chose....

Same as BC.
- DarthKane

|Must be a "coastal" thing Darth.

After Dobson at 12.
- Z3Hawk

So Bovquist > Byram?