All for trading back a few picks if Kakko is gone by #3. NYR taking Podkolzin would be a Godsend.
- Assman22

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.

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

I agree that the forwards need to be more involved in the defense.

That is why I do not like Kane and Toews together. When Toews played with Hossa/Saad his line could go toe to toe with the other team's best line, or Q could match them up against 3rd or 4th lines and exploit them. I would put Kane with Strome and ADB. It is an awful defensive line, but the offense is great. Then have Toews, Saad and a RW with some offense and a 200' game. Then you add a 4th line with Caggiula, Kampf and a FA power forward RW that is physical, mean and can also play on the PK. It could be your 2nd shut down line (like Kruger's line was in prior Cup winning years). The 3rd line would have Kahun, AA (if he is not traded) or a legit 3C FA (if AA is traded) and then Sikura/Kubalik,Perlini or the likes.

If you can set up the forward lines like that, add a stud top 4 defender, have a healthy Crow for 55 games, and full training camp team the D could improve dramatically.

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.

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.

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

Asking as one who believes that - other than the McDavid / Matthews / Laine class of player the best decision would be for the picks to play in the minors for a period of time - how long before Cozen would be contributing to the Hawks in the Show?

Would he benefit from a development period in Rockford?

...and you know what Jack Hughes is pure and simple a player but I question not that he can play on any NHL clubs PP NEXT season but that long term whether he can continue to attempt to go to the middle to attack. More and more I have seen him held up stifled and roadblocked because he is been marked for detour.

I might even be leery of selecting him if Cozens is there.

Shero's comments just in my frantic brain started me feeling I wasn't the only viewer with some questions about Hughes, no disrespect for his accomplishments and abilities.

Agreed. Offer sheet him at $8.117 for 5-6 years and see what happens.
- Assman22

Leafs match.

Asking as one who believes that - other than the McDavid / Matthews / Laine class of player the best decision would be for the picks to play in the minors for a period of time - how long before Cozen would be contributing to the Hawks in the Show?

Would he benefit from a development period in Rockford?
- StLBravesFan

well yesterday's blog had me comparing him to Mark Scheiefe's totals and he took TWO entire junior seasons before he was a clear dominant confident stronger specimen.

The hawks have the benefit a a huge support staff and he could / would be a winger of #15 replacement sooner than later.

Leafs match.
- mohel

100% they do, they aren't letting Marner go.

There is no one in this draft who will be as good as Marner.
- paulr

That is the beauty of all of it, we keep this years # 3, sign Marner for lets say 10,147 and hopefully loose two very low 1st rounders a 2 and a 3. id say its a win win

...and you know what Jack Hughes is pure and simple a player but I question not that he can play on any NHL clubs PP NEXT season but that long term whether he can continue to attempt to go to the middle to attack. More and more I have seen him held up stifled and roadblocked because he is been marked for detour.

I might even be leery of selecting him if Cozens is there.

Shero's comments just in my frantic brain started me feeling I wasn't the only viewer with some questions about Hughes, no disrespect for his accomplishments and abilities.
- wiz1901

For me I hope the Hawks draft him or Kakko (in the unlikely even the Rangers pass on him).

...and you know what Jack Hughes is pure and simple a player but I question not that he can play on any NHL clubs PP NEXT season but that long term whether he can continue to attempt to go to the middle to attack. More and more I have seen him held up stifled and roadblocked because he is been marked for detour.

I might even be leery of selecting him if Cozens is there.

Shero's comments just in my frantic brain started me feeling I wasn't the only viewer with some questions about Hughes, no disrespect for his accomplishments and abilities.
- wiz1901

A lot of commentary - including on the networks and other media - about Shero’s comments.

Except for McDavid and (maybe) Matthews recently - why would any GM in Shero’s position completely commit to a first-round pick 10 weeks before the draft? Even if he was 90% sure of the choice.

I took the comment as - let’s do our due diligence and work them out and have interviews, even listen to offers from other teams and....

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.

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.

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

Wiz - How much value would the Hawk's 1st round pick next year carry. I am thinking if they are looking for a top 6 forward or a top 4 defender what would a package of something like AA, the Hawk's first pick next year, and a prospect like Hillman/Sikura or the like get you.

That is the beauty of all of it, we keep this years # 3, sign Marner for lets say 10,147 and hopefully loose two very low 1st rounders a 2 and a 3. id say its a win win
- riozzo

^this guy gets it!

The comp picks wouldn’t be in this draft - they’d be in the 2020 draft.
- StLBravesFan

So you think the Hawks will be a lottery team in 2020?

All for trading back a few picks if Kakko is gone by #3. NYR taking Podkolzin would be a Godsend.
- Assman22

I wouldn't be surprised if NJ took Kakko instead of Hughes. NJ has a couple young centers in Hischier and Zacha and might rather get a stud RW for Hischier. But, if they do take Hughes with the #1, then I would explore what it would take to get NYR to swap picks so the Hawks can take Kakko.

The thing with having (4) young high draft pick PMD prospects is that it is unlikely all of them can play in the lineup together - someone on D has to actually play solid defense. Therefore, I think it would be be a good idea to use 1 or 2 of them in trade packages ... such as using Mitchell or Beaudin as enticement for NYR to swap picks. It wouldn't need to be #3 & Mitchell for #2 - there could be other pieces involved - but that would be the general principle.

100% they do, they aren't letting Marner go.
- DarthKane

No chance the Leafs don't match, in fact no chance they don't have him signed before. He has to get Matthews type money. The only reason he may not is because he's not a center.

100% they do, they aren't letting Marner go.
- DarthKane

Not a chance. It would be so high a number for them not to match - if there is a number - that it would cost four #1's, Cat and probably Strome (because you'd use all the cap space set aside to sign them).

Agreed. Offer sheet him at $8.117 for 5-6 years and see what happens.
- Assman22

You know Toronto would match. You can expect he gets a very good initial offer if indeed Leafs might pay more once offet sheets come in.

Not a chance. It would be so high a number for them not to match - if there is a number - that it would cost four #1's, Cat and probably Strome (because you'd use all the cap space set aside to sign them).
- mohel

Even though I doubt it gets that far, an offer sheet for Marner by, whatever team, would be the best thing to happen because the Leafs would have to match and then have a firesale to accomodate the signing.

So you think the Hawks will be a lottery team in 2020?
- paulr

I agree with Mo - it would take 4 draft pick numbers to get Marner - and that’s too much for my taste - lottery picks or not.

Plus being back in cap Hell.

Even though I doubt it gets that far, an offer sheet for Marner by, whatever team, would be the best thing to happen because the Leafs would have to match and then have a firesale to accomodate the signing.
- paulr

WOW, after reading Wiz use of the word (potentially) "generational" regarding Cozens - I've flopped beck to salivating for Cozens. I truly am a man of weak convictions when it comes to my Hawks fanaticism.

But yeah, let's hope another team offer sheets Marner and the Leafs match and then the Hawks can swoop in and off sheet Kapanen and presto: the Hawks not only have Cozens for the future, they have their top-6 winger.

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.

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.

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

Take Cozen please. He offer the most of each center. Do not trade down then start thinking about drafting a different positional player. We better hope Kakko and Cosins do not go ahead of us. I do not want Hughes and his size and the Russian is too big a gamble at #3. Elite talent like this you draft DO NOT trade down. Unless bothb Kaako and Cozen go ahead, then trade to #4 or #5 if you have assurance the other team promises to take a player you don't want. The Seabrook affair plays out later. Do nit go overboard on that either. If we get a good player drafted so be it. That player is a more sustainable loss than to loose a top prospect

I agree with Mo - it would take 4 draft pick numbers to get Marner - and that’s too much for my taste - lottery picks or not.

Plus being back in cap Hell.
- StLBravesFan

It's kind of a moot discussion because there is no chance Marner doesn't remain a Leaf but a known quantity who comes onto the team as the top player, sorry Kane, it would be hard not to make the deal for 4 players who may or may not even make the team.

Take Cozen please. He offets the most of each center. Do not trade down then start thinking about drafting a different positional player. We better hope Kakko and Cosins do not go ahead of us. I do not want Hughes and hus size and the russuan is to big a gamble at #3. Elite talent like this you draft DO NOT trade down. Unless bothbKaako and Cozen go ahead, then trade to #4 or #5 if you have assurance the other team promises to take a player you don't want. The Seabrook affair plays out later. Do nit go overboard on that either. If we get a good player drafted so be it. That player is a more sustainable loss than to loose a top prospect
- jhawk59

I agree a big fast center who has size and speed whohas been a center already is the way to go.

WOW, after reading Wiz use of the word (potentially) "generational" regarding Cozens - I've flopped beck to salivating for Cozens. I truly am a man of weak convictions when it comes to my Hawks fanaticism.

But yeah, let's hope another team offer sheets Marner and the Leafs match and then the Hawks can swoop in and off sheet Kapanen and presto: the Hawks not only have Cozens for the future, they have their top-6 winger.
- EbonyRaptor

And then the Hawks still have the biggest issue, no top pairing defensemen.

I like Cozens too and am hoping that's who the Hawks select. But the scouting staff almost always seem to have the players ranked differently then the various draft sites. It won't surprise me at all to see Bowman go up and call a guy ranked 17, 10, 21 ..... or 3.

Take Cozen please. He offer the most of each center. Do not trade down then start thinking about drafting a different positional player. We better hope Kakko and Cosins do not go ahead of us. I do not want Hughes and his size and the Russian is too big a gamble at #3. Elite talent like this you draft DO NOT trade down. Unless bothb Kaako and Cozen go ahead, then trade to #4 or #5 if you have assurance the other team promises to take a player you don't want. The Seabrook affair plays out later. Do nit go overboard on that either. If we get a good player drafted so be it. That player is a more sustainable loss than to loose a top prospect
- jhawk59

If the unthinkable happens and Hughes is there at #3 - I take him in an instant. I understand what Wiz means when he's concerned that Hughes may not be able to free wheel in the NHL and that would limit his effectiveness - but the guy is a freaking whirling dervish on skates and he will figure it out and be elite. He's smaller than Barzal but I think would be a pretty similar player which I would be ecstatic getting with the #3 pick.