I have gone back and forth on my answering the Kakko or Cozen long term equation.


I have been trying to be diplomatic and follow my board but Cozen has old school tendencies truly exceptional top end speed and seems like he could be a generational talent like the guys above him...there I said it...no one else has said it...the soft passes, the way he masks his destination when he doesn't have the puck. and he is never gonna be the guy who doesn't follow his gut and out of deference to Kane, DeBrincat etc. try and get them the puck (like we saw Sikura and others do with clockwork) if he in fact has the shot. And even though I know the big Finnish winger (maybe centre but not in. my eyes) can sty focused with multiple opponents draped on him, I stayed up and reviewed that Dylan Cozen has against Western league opponents too.
Thank you Wiz ! Like you info ! I go on your site ! awesome info
I have loved this class of forwards down to Krebs so much and was holding back my energy levels to not be caught on a limb if/when they possibly flat-lined, but now I can tell I have told many I wanted Cozens but never thought there was a chance in the late trip ten.

Go back and read my diplomatic responses in the last two blogs and maybe you can see through to that.

I am not going to revise my Draftsite Mock ranks, because I feel that right now they still reflect MY best player available with Podkolzin at three slot, based on attributes, but as a Hawk hockey boy, I see dozens I like in Cozens

My question is: May I be forgiven.

This is so exciting for me!


btw I have the top 40 profiles up in my mock
- wiz1901

Tampa doesn't want a game where they have to block shots, worry about defensive coverage, concern themselves with anything but playing a fast moving game and Columbus is doing what all good playoff teams do, they've racheted up the defense, Tampa has no room and no time do do anything. Tampa still has the more talented team if they're willing to work as hard or harder than Columbus. If they aren't interested in working hard and playing defense, blocking shots etc. then I guess they have the president's trophy and Tanner says that is the true indication of a winner.
- paulr

Not to mention their best player blew a gasket and might get a game.

Jets lose in 7, Maurice will be gone.

Should be a lesson to all, Winnipeg was the next great team like the Hawks.

3 years later, no SCF, no cups, on the ropes, bloated cap situation and lots of tough decisions based on salary.

Again, without any cups.
- vabeachbear

Maybe, but not so bad that they would lose Trouba though. With Hayes falling off their payroll, they can probably beat any offer sheet that would make sense.

On the Hawks side of things I really have two questions: (since I missed the mailbag)
1-"Do you really think they trade AA?"
2-"Would it really bother us if the Hawks were quiet this summer?"

I don't know that lines of:
Drake-Toews-Kane
Cat-Strome-Perlini
Saad-*Cozen*-Kahun
Kampf-AA-Hayden

Really bother me that much.

On defense, I would really want to see what we have in Joker, Breadin, and Broqvist.

I'd save the money for the Stromes, Cats, and other kids.
1. Blowing payroll on a second-tier free agent isn't going to put us over the top
2. None of the top FAs are going to take a short-term deal that we need causing the team to lose players down the line
3. A high-priced FA is going to get in the way of our prospect pipeline

Exception being if a player like Stralman is willing to take a huge two-year contract......

Not to mention their best player blew a gasket and might get a game.
- 6628

Exact same hit Kadri threw on Wingels last playoff and Kadri got 3 games. Be interesting to see if Kucherov gets the same. Doubt it though, the one thing about the NHL that frustrates me is the two tiers of punishment, one for star players and one for the rest of the players.

Not to mention their best player blew a gasket and might get a game.
- 6628

How many did Kadri get last year? Precedence. Not all that different of a hit.

Totally BS, punk ass move.

Maybe, but not so bad that they would lose Trouba though. With Hayes falling off their payroll, they can probably beat any offer sheet that would make sense.

On the Hawks side of things I really have two questions: (since I missed the mailbag)
1-"Do you really think they trade AA?"
2-"Would it really bother us if the Hawks were quiet this summer?"

I don't know that lines of:
Drake-Toews-Kane
Cat-Strome-Perlini
Saad-*Cozen*-Kahun
Kampf-AA-Hayden

Really bother me that much.

On defense, I would really want to see what we have in Joker, Breadin, and Broqvist.

I'd save the money for the Stromes, Cats, and other kids.
1. Blowing payroll on a second-tier free agent isn't going to put us over the top
2. None of the top FAs are going to take a short-term deal that we need causing the team to lose players down the line
3. A high-priced FA is going to get in the way of our prospect pipeline
- TexasHawk

Common sense says you don't come back with the same lineup and expect to get better results. However, there are extenuating circumstances that should be considered.

First, the term "same team" is misleading because the team that finished the season had some different pieces and was playing better than earlier in the season. And second, the same lineup could and should play even better after spending a training camp and preseason under Colliton. However, even with that organic improvement, it probably isn't enough to vault them to legitimate Cup contender.

Realistically, the 2019/20 season is another transition year. Where the Hawks went from Point-A to Point-B in 2018/19, they are expected to go from Point-B to Point-C in 2019/20. However "Point-C" is defined, it isn't Stanley Cup champion - it is another transition year in the process of getting good enough to contend for the Cup. Our expectations should be to make significant improvement in keeping the puck out of our net, both 5v5 and PK which should result in making the playoffs. If that can be accomplished - then 2019/20 should be considered a success and position the team to go from Point-C to Point-D in 2020/21.

I agree there aren't huge personnel changes required. A lot of focus on getting a legitimate defensive top-4 guy, and rightfully so, but I'm less convinced that adding a stud d-man is the main ingredient needed than playing a tighter more cohesive defense as a team. The "final piece" of the d-corp doesn't have to get added before the 2019/20 season and in fact it may be a better idea to wait and see how things go in 2019/20 before making an investment in acquiring an outside piece. Let's see how the organic growth goes before locking in something that may not be needed. I'd rather spend less in 2019/20 and grow organically more than spend more and have less growth from the players already in the system.

The 2019/20 team doesn't have to be great, it just needs to be better than the team that finished 2018/19 and a step closer to being great in 2021/22 or possibly earlier in 2020/21.

Exact same hit Kadri threw on Wingels last playoff and Kadri got 3 games. Be interesting to see if Kucherov gets the same. Doubt it though, the one thing about the NHL that frustrates me is the two tiers of punishment, one for star players and one for the rest of the players.
- paulr

Kadri got 3? This ought to be interesting.

bolts and jets lose 2 at home...

now we see what the "best team" in 20 years responds...kucherov asshatness reminds me of seabs hit on backus 4 years ago as they went down 2-0...everyone on this board thought that series was over and the hawks were going home...

Kadri got 3? This ought to be interesting.
- 6628

Same hit in my books .Same punishment .Balls in your court NHL.

Maybe, but not so bad that they would lose Trouba though. With Hayes falling off their payroll, they can probably beat any offer sheet that would make sense.

On the Hawks side of things I really have two questions: (since I missed the mailbag)
1-"Do you really think they trade AA?"
2-"Would it really bother us if the Hawks were quiet this summer?"

I don't know that lines of:
Drake-Toews-Kane
Cat-Strome-Perlini
Saad-*Cozen*-Kahun
Kampf-AA-Hayden

Really bother me that much.

On defense, I would really want to see what we have in Joker, Breadin, and Broqvist.

I'd save the money for the Stromes, Cats, and other kids.
1. Blowing payroll on a second-tier free agent isn't going to put us over the top
2. None of the top FAs are going to take a short-term deal that we need causing the team to lose players down the line
3. A high-priced FA is going to get in the way of our prospect pipeline

Exception being if a player like Stralman is willing to take a huge two-year contract......
- TexasHawk

I'm hoping the Hawks take Cozens too but maybe he won't make the team next year. All right with me if he spends another year in the WHL. Kabulik may sign with the Hawks and would replace him as a forward.

Also would like the to see the bottom six improved. Maybe obtain a Brandon Tanev or a Cody Eakin type to help improve the PK.

Don't think we should rush the young D men and bring them up next year. Try to obtain a cheap top 4 D via trade. I'll say it again ... Miller or McNabb from soon to be cap stressed Vegas would fit the bill.

Kabulik $1M for 3 years
Tanev $3M for 3 years
Eakin $3.85M for 1 year then comes off the books and replaced by Cozens
McNabb $2.5M for 3 years / Miller $3.9M for 3 years

McNabb/Miller could be exposed to the Seattle expansion draft if necessary to make room for one of the up and coming defenseman.

Same hit in my books .Same punishment .Balls in your court NHL.
- oldduffman

I have been saying that for years - do not look at the player, look at the play. It shouldn't matter repeat offender or not, a play deemed suspendable for x games should be served, whether it is a first timer or repeat offender.

Exact same hit Kadri threw on Wingels last playoff and Kadri got 3 games. Be interesting to see if Kucherov gets the same. Doubt it though, the one thing about the NHL that frustrates me is the two tiers of punishment, one for star players and one for the rest of the players.
- paulr

Not to be contrary but I think the hits are different. Kadri's hit was more from behind whereas Kucherov's hit was more from the front. Both are still bad hits imho but Kadri's was more dangerous imho. I think the hit the front vs hit the back will allow them to reduce it to say 1 game.

There was a hit on Bortuzzo by Lowry that was similar last ngiht, just not as close to the wall. It went without even a penalty and sliced Bortuzzo's wrist in the process.

Maybe Kucherov getting suspended will do for the Bolts what Seabrook getting supsended did for Chicago?

Again, here's last year's Kadri hit & this year's Kucherov shot in sequence. May come down to principle point of contact. #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/M7W3nY5i6w

— Nick Alberga (@thegoldenmuzzy) April 13, 2019

Not to be contrary but I think the hits are different. Kadri's hit was more from behind whereas Kucherov's hit was more from the front. Both are still bad hits imho but Kadri's was more dangerous imho. I think the hit the front vs hit the back will allow them to reduce it to say 1 game.

There was a hit on Bortuzzo by Lowry that was similar last ngiht, just not as close to the wall. It went without even a penalty and sliced Bortuzzo's wrist in the process.

Maybe Kucherov getting suspended will do for the Bolts what Seabrook getting supsended did for Chicago?

Again, here's last year's Kadri hit & this year's Kucherov shot in sequence. May come down to principle point of contact. #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/M7W3nY5i6w

— Nick Alberga (@thegoldenmuzzy) April 13, 2019

- Jason Millen

It was the trip by Kucherov that put the player in that position. To follow up like he did indicates intent to injure in my mind. He should get 2 games at least in my mind.

It was the trip by Kucherov that put the player in that position. To follow up like he did indicates intent to injure in my mind. He should get 2 games at least in my mind.
- Elbows15

Good point.

(frank) the Bolts.

It was the trip by Kucherov that put the player in that position. To follow up like he did indicates intent to injure in my mind. He should get 2 games at least in my mind.
- Elbows15

Didn't get to watch the game so I didn't see the lead up. Interesting dynamic to the play for sure.

All’s well. Here in Kansas City tonight. You?
- Ogilthorpe2

Things are decent. Been an interesting year on some fronts but it seems to be rounding in to shape thank goodness.

Good point.
- Ogilthorpe2

I thought so.

It was the trip by Kucherov that put the player in that position. To follow up like he did indicates intent to injure in my mind. He should get 2 games at least in my mind.
- Elbows15

I agree...not in the flow of the play at all...he was not near the puck.

Common sense says you don't come back with the same lineup and expect to get better results. However, there are extenuating circumstances that should be considered.

First, the term "same team" is misleading because the team that finished the season had some different pieces and was playing better than earlier in the season. And second, the same lineup could and should play even better after spending a training camp and preseason under Colliton. However, even with that organic improvement, it probably isn't enough to vault them to legitimate Cup contender.

Realistically, the 2019/20 season is another transition year. Where the Hawks went from Point-A to Point-B in 2018/19, they are expected to go from Point-B to Point-C in 2019/20. However "Point-C" is defined, it isn't Stanley Cup champion - it is another transition year in the process of getting good enough to contend for the Cup. Our expectations should be to make significant improvement in keeping the puck out of our net, both 5v5 and PK which should result in making the playoffs. If that can be accomplished - then 2019/20 should be considered a success and position the team to go from Point-C to Point-D in 2020/21.

I agree there aren't huge personnel changes required. A lot of focus on getting a legitimate defensive top-4 guy, and rightfully so, but I'm less convinced that adding a stud d-man is the main ingredient needed than playing a tighter more cohesive defense as a team. The "final piece" of the d-corp doesn't have to get added before the 2019/20 season and in fact it may be a better idea to wait and see how things go in 2019/20 before making an investment in acquiring an outside piece. Let's see how the organic growth goes before locking in something that may not be needed. I'd rather spend less in 2019/20 and grow organically more than spend more and have less growth from the players already in the system.

The 2019/20 team doesn't have to be great, it just needs to be better than the team that finished 2018/19 and a step closer to being great in 2021/22 or possibly earlier in 2020/21.
- EbonyRaptor

Respect your opinions ER and agree that 19/20 will be a building year on the way to an even better 20/21 season. However I think some improvements have to be made this off season to help build the team toward that goal. A couple of different bottom 6 forwards and a top 4 defenseman would help alot. Hopefully Kubalik could fill one of those forward positions.

I think it's risky to think that the Hawks will get better next year by just growing organically. What if Toews and Kane don't repeat their career years? What if Cat and Strome regress? What if a full training camp to implement JC's system doesn't take hold because some of the existing personnel just aren't good enough? Now trying to be a pessimist. I'm just throwing some different light on the situation.

I'm hoping the Hawks take Cozens too but maybe he won't make the team next year. All right with me if he spends another year in the WHL. Kabulik may sign with the Hawks and would replace him as a forward.

Also would like the to see the bottom six improved. Maybe obtain a Brandon Tanev or a Cody Eakin type to help improve the PK.

Don't think we should rush the young D men and bring them up next year. Try to obtain a cheap top 4 D via trade. I'll say it again ... Miller or McNabb from soon to be cap stressed Vegas would fit the bill.

Kabulik $1M for 3 years
Tanev $3M for 3 years
Eakin $3.85M for 1 year then comes off the books and replaced by Cozens
McNabb $2.5M for 3 years / Miller $3.9M for 3 years

McNabb/Miller could be exposed to the Seattle expansion draft if necessary to make room for one of the up and coming defenseman.
- boilermaker100

Good points!

The Seattle expansion actually might come at a good time for the hawks as their best prospects will be on ECLs and their best players would be protected via nmcs

It would be nice to see us able to take advantage of a team in cap hell instead of the other way around.

Maybe the bruins? They have two guys (MCavoy and Carlo) coming up for pay raises

Exact same hit Kadri threw on Wingels last playoff and Kadri got 3 games. Be interesting to see if Kucherov gets the same. Doubt it though, the one thing about the NHL that frustrates me is the two tiers of punishment, one for star players and one for the rest of the players.
- paulr

Same for calls all over the ice, its why PE gets it right about Bettman
and the NHL.

The reffering(spelling??) in the NHL is abominable.

Good points!

The Seattle expansion actually might come at a good time for the hawks as their best prospects will be on ECLs and their best players would be protected via nmcs

It would be nice to see us able to take advantage of a team in cap hell instead of the other way around.

Maybe the bruins? They have two guys (MCavoy and Carlo) coming up for pay raises
- TexasHawk

Thanks. I'm sure teams are already looking ahead to their protected lists for the Seattle draft.

Regarding teams with cap problems, Ive been meaning to post a list of those teams and also their key RFA's that they would have to reup. Vegas, Toronto, Winnipeg and Tampa Bay to name a few. I'll have take a closer look at Boston's situation.

Same for calls all over the ice, its why PE gets it right about Bettman
and the NHL.

The reffering(spelling??) in the NHL is abominable.
- gazza53

The reason why the NHL won't make the call the same for all players is because they're terrified if a star player were a repeat offender and accumulated a huge suspension on multiple infractions. Ovechkin should have had 30 or 40 games by now for hitting guys into the boards from behind. Keith too had had numerous infractions ahd hasn't served the same time a lesser player would have received.

Powerenforcer is right about some things, this being one, but he takes it over the top by suggesting Bettman tries to prevent the Hawks from successding, especially when their success is so evident to see.

Thanks. I'm sure teams are already looking ahead to their protected lists for the Seattle draft.

Regarding teams with cap problems, Ive been meaning to post a list of those teams and also their key RFA's that they would have to reup. Vegas, Toronto, Winnipeg and Tampa Bay to name a few. I'll have take a closer look at Boston's situation.
- boilermaker100

That list reads like a who’s who of the league. It’s almost as if the cap gets very difficult to navigate when a team gets good? Here I thought all this time that Stan was just an inept fool of a GM.