hypothetical:
NJ picks Kappo
NY picks pod
Chicago picks cozens or hughes big decision there me i m picking cozens over hughs due his size and 2 way game either way hawks get a good player. I think that is how the first 3 picks go. Things can change as far as ranking players from now until the draft in June.
- Scott1977

And I am taking JVR and Turris over Kane because they are bigger and have a better 2 way game.

hypothetical:
NJ picks Kappo
NY picks pod
Chicago picks cozens or hughes big decision there me i m picking cozens over hughs due his size and 2 way game either way hawks get a good player. I think that is how the first 3 picks go. Things can change as far as ranking players from now until the draft in June.
- Scott1977

And size is something you can't coach. God either gave it to you or He didn't. Is it the do all be all ? Absolutely not. I played contact sports, and everything else being equal, it does matter.

And I am taking JVR and Turris over Kane because they are bigger and have a better 2 way game.
- -Doh-

Yep, can’t argue with that point. It’s easy to fall in love with tape measure and weight scale metrics on these kids - but you miss out sometimes on the real gem.

The thought of moving the #3 has to be an option. Regardless of what the reviews are, all of these draft prospects are just that. A prospect/coin flip. Someone like Marner is a legit NHL'er. A known commodity. Marner can play now, is a stud and makes the Hawks instantly better. Stan should be looking at every angle this summer. If Marner is not affordable, then maybe take a shot a Kasperi Kapanen. Leafs are a year away from Cap Chaos.

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.
- -Doh-

Next years draft has more high end tier guys than this one which has a one man first tier, maybe a five player top end.

I cannot guarantee who is there when the Hawks pick, where they will finish after the surprising return to lief tis year...but it is a draft maybe equal to this years in the top 24.
There are always items looking to acquire first rounders but do they want to portage rosters impact guys for them. Difficult to explain to your fans why you do this unless you sent out a letter to them about a rebuild...

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

- paulr

And they aren't going to be able to sign one given the market prices for one. Even if they lose AA for picks and don't bring back Ward, it's only $6MM or so of usable cap space. Not going to be enough for a top pairing D guy.

I am of the opinion the best thing the Hawks can do now to help their defense is to bring in/coach up forwards to actually hold the puck in the offensive zone and win some 50/50s in the NZ. Just cutting down the amount of chasing back to backcheck and by effect, the total D zone play time, would go a long way to easing the pressure on the weak defensemen.

Put Cozens up with 12/17, develop Perlini to play with Saad and Caggiula as a really good third line - almost a 2B, have Kampf, Kubalik and Kahun on the fourth line and the final offensive hole left to plug is a power LW to play with 19/88. Saad was much more effective playing on that third line.

That group could be a far better possession threat up front.

Cozens (or Kakko if still available) please.

Dude, I wrote a long post yesterday bluntly stating that Cozens is similar to Connor McDavid, and that Cozens has a Connor McDavid ceiling if he works hard and reaches potential... The only factor that separates Cozens and McDavid is that McDavid is naturally talented in all aspects of the game and Cozens doesn't have that natural talent, so he's going to have to really work hard and LEARN how to split NHL defenders, find open space and use his size and speed to his advantage on NHL players at the NHL level... With McDavid tho, that stuff is just natural for him - he doesn't even have to work at it - he just does it without thinking too much about it.

The problem with Cosens is that he could easily turn out to be a bust.. Think Nail Yakupov... So Cosens is a moderately high risk but extremely high reward type player... I mean he could turn out to be a Connor McDavid but at the same time he could be a Dylan Strome as well and at worst a Nail Yakupov.. It just depends on how hard he's willing to work and how he adjusts to NHL competition... I mean Cosens looks like Connor McDavid in juniors but the NHL is an entirely different..

That's the thing about the CHL tho, some players can just dominate and they look like the best players ever but they get to the NHL and they're average if not complete busts..

And that's the thing with Cosens - he's either going to be a top 6 forward or he's not going to make it at the NHL level because his speed and offense is what makes him such an interesting prospect... I mean he has no other abilities to fall back on.
- Savard2Secord

This is confusing to me....SIMILAR to McDavid (who we knew was going to be a generational star) and then you preface Cozen COULD easily be a BUST.
No one ever thought there was any chance of a Mcdavid bust.
McDavid isn't some natural he has worked trained and made himself along with those gifts he started with.

For those who are interested in that Anton Wedin interest by Chicago - I just use the Swedish to English translate, no need to disparage the guy who gave us a site with new info...

"Anton Wedin signed a contract extension last autumn with Timrå IK.
But that contract was broken on Monday, when Timrå was forced to leave SHL, for games in HockeyAllsvenskan, after losing to Oskarshamn.
Wedin is of course very interesting for the SHL clubs. But then it doesn't.
According to information for the SportExpress, Wedin has decided to try to enter the NHL in the fall.
- I have been told about the interest yes, says Wedin.

Timrå's big star probably became that. most interesting name for the SHL clubs when Timrå went out.
But they won't even get the chance to recruit him.
Wedin has finished bids on the table and will sign for an NHL organization.
Tasks say Arizona is the best club. But there are three more clubs that are hard at getting his signature. It's about Colorado, Chicago and Toronto.
- Nothing is clear what to do. It is my agent who handles it there, says Anton Wedin.

According to my information, you have decided to choose NHL and will not even write with any SHL law.
- We'll soon see how it will be, says Wedin.

The season does not have to end for the 26-year-old.
If it is so that he is taken out to the national team and is involved in fighting for a World Cup site then no decision will be official until the season is finished."

Ty said: Honestly, this might be a weird answer, but I think the biggest adjustment on the ice will be mental. The emotional toll of firing Quenneville took a lot out of that team. However, as the season went on, they were reborn and a new team emerged – one that was having fun again and one that had new chemistry building. Colliton can continue that momentum as he appears to be very good at communicating on/off the ice, as well as on-the-fly with all his players.

I say - yes, the new mental approach we saw since January or so was an important “adjustment”.

Now I’d like to see a major emphasis on forwards being more defensively responsible - making sure to come back hard when the puck goes the other direction - dramatically reducing the times the slot is left open, fewer “two Hawks covering one opponent” on the boards or behind the net leaving an opponent wide open at the net, much more “muscling” opponents away from Crawford / Delia, more responsible leaking out in anticipation of a clearing move.
- StLBravesFan

A new emphasis in proper team defense begins with the forwards coming back hard. The opposing player left open in slot, is an issue which needs to be addressed. So you are spot on with actually the entire blog; i merely want to point out a couple of additional coverage concerns

The effort to backcheck on behalf of the forwards is critical to team defense so that means

1) everyone must buy in. Strome and DeBrincat were abysmal in their effort last season. Going forward, even superstars - whom often escaped wrath for taking a vacation to backcheck - have to be responsible. I do not expect that Kane develops into a Selke Trophy candidate. He has fit the mold of suoerstars who are given a pass on backchecking. Colliton needs everyone on board.

2). The majority of our defensemen prospects do not play a naturally physical style. In today's new attack NHL which wiz has touched upon, the physical checking dman is less frequently found and actual checks or being physical in confrontations is of secondary importance. It is all about puck possession and generating offense. This is what Blackhawk brass spent an hour uodating Scotty Bowman about its intricacies.

So not only do we have a preponderance of non pbysical style playing prospects, but their physical size is not conducuve for success when they do engage in the physical confrontations.

How is this addressed.then in the overal new attack NHL

It helps to have accountability aka responsubility as aforementiined. A defensuve system will be preached as course work 101 in training camp
.
Now we will see hiw soon Bowman and Collision together arrange the proper pieces in #3 & #4 bottom line. forwards. Two members on each line should be above average skaters. One or more member each line had to be a scrappy gritty forward.

I see several prospects whom have skill set to be awesome in the forward role on lines three and four. Most if not each of them are nit likely making the team next fall. Some players whom would mist likely start the seadon in Rickford, could receive a call up. Others lime Soderland, Barrett, Kureav or whatevet hus nane whim Rockford coach, D King, heaped praise upon, can become role players much like we enjoyed immensly in 2010 Cuo run and in following seasons.

The construction of the new edition Blackhawk ship is underway with the draft and off season transactions setting the roster for Colliton to begin assemblage. Forwards helping undersized dmen is actually the second point i was going to mention above

Can the Hawks have Backstrom from the Caps have a seminar on how forwards should block shots. He was fantastic last night at both ends of the ice
- BetweenTheDots

Hopefully they ditch this ridiculous man to man and chasing players in the Dzone. Hard for forwards or Dmen to block shots when the system is to run around chasing players in your own zone

Yep, can’t argue with that point. It’s easy to fall in love with tape measure and weight scale metrics on these kids - but you miss out sometimes on the real gem.
- Chief4Feathers

I was just stating my own personal opinion is size the end all no a lot players are not big in size and statute kane for example of a smaller player succeeding along with dcat. I was giving my pick base on some info by wiz and others that i would pick cozens over hughs. Thats all

The majority of our defensemen prospects do not play a naturally physical style. In today's new attack NHL which wiz has touched upon, the physical checking dman is less frequently found and actual checks or being physical in confrontations is of secondary importance. It is all about puck possession and generating offense. This is what Blackhawk brass spent an hour updating Scotty Bowman about its intricacies.

So not only do we have a preponderance of non physical style playing prospects, but their physical size is not conducive for success when they do engage in the physical confrontations.

How is this addressed then in the overall new attack NHL?

The construction of the new edition Blackhawk ship is underway with the draft and off season transactions setting the roster for Colliton to begin assemblage. Forwards helping undersized dmen is actually the second point i was going to mention above
- jhawk59

Pardon me, and I could be absolutely wrong here, but it seems more to me that because the defensive corps the Hawks have is so non-physical it seems that this "new attack NHL" narrative is really the "new attack Hawks" methodology.

I honestly do not see any of the true contending teams mostly devoid of defensemen with grit. Honestly, their forward groups have more grit as well. Not goonery - grit and tenacity.

I don't buy that the whole NHL is moving to a pure possession offensive minded style at all. I think this has much more to do with the Hawks front office trying to finding a way to stay competitive until the right horses are in the stable again.

Again, I could be wrong. I do grant that many teams are seeing the value in a more complete commitment to back-checking, but that is not really the same as redefining what an NHL defensive corps should look like - i.e. non-physical and puck moving at the expense of winning board battles, clearing pucks and clearing the crease - that work still has to be done.

Trouba would be great...... Chiarot had a good physical game in the Peg. Wouldn’t mind adding a guy like that on D

Pardon me, and I could be absolutely wrong here, but it seems more to me that because the defensive corps the Hawks have is so non-physical it seems that this "new attack NHL" narrative is really the "new attack Hawks" methodology.
- Return of the Roar

yeah, I can't see a Bowen Beaudin Boqvist Mitchell defense as the rule...just look around and the nice big men that complete teams backlines like Elkhom Buff, Weber,the three guys in St. Louis, the finesse trio in Dallas, the 'jackets giants, even Provorov, Erik Johnson, the Ducks guys.

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

So lets just spitball for a second.

Someone prior said he could be the next Patrick Kane, with a bit more defense.

I'll look it up later, but who were the next four #1s the Hawks drafted after Patrick Kane?

Would you trade Kane for those 4?

Trouba would be great...... Chiarot had a good physical game in the Peg. Wouldn’t mind adding a guy like that on D
- 93Joe

I would rather resign Koekkoek than Chariot. chariot at best is a #5 defenseman that is going to want as a UFA in his prime term probably 3 years at a minimum of $3 mil. a year. He is not going to make a difference in being a Stanley cup contender. If by some divine guidance the Hawks are Stanley Cup contenders next year and need toughness and a depth defenseman, go get Radko Gudas from the Flyers at the TDL, as he will be a UFA in 2020.

yeah, I can't see a Bowen Beaudin Boqvist Mitchell defense as the rule...just look around and the nice big men that complete teams backlines like Elkhom Buff, Weber,the three guys in St. Louis, the finesse trio in Dallas, the 'jackets giants, even Provorov, Erik Johnson, the Ducks guys.
- wiz1901

Do not undervalue
https://www.draftsite.com...yer/philip-broberg/32317/

It is nice to have push the pace people but Judy still needs a Punch, no matter if he doesn't at 17yrs. of age, project as a dominant offensive performer independent form a team attack.

So lets just spitball for a second.

Someone prior said he could be the next Patrick Kane, with a bit more defense.

I'll look it up later, but who were the next four #1s the Hawks drafted after Patrick Kane?

Would you trade Kane for those 4?
- vabeachbear

So that didn't take long;

Kyle Beach, Dylan Olsen, Kevin Hayes, and Mark McNeill

Are you sure you wouldn't give 4 #1's.

He's that good, I'd strongly consider it.

So lets just spitball for a second.

Someone prior said he could be the next Patrick Kane, with a bit more defense.

I'll look it up later, but who were the next four #1s the Hawks drafted after Patrick Kane?

Would you trade Kane for those 4?
- vabeachbear

combined - No, individually - Hell No

combined - No, individually - Hell No
- riozzo

read my follow up

read my follow up
- vabeachbear

ahh...now i get it

Do not undervalue
https://www.draftsite.com...yer/philip-broberg/32317/

It is nice to have push the pace people but Judy still needs a Punch, no matter if he doesn't at 17yrs. of age, project as a dominant offensive performer independent form a team attack.
- wiz1901

I am extremely interested how soon Carlsson gets a serious nhl look. In the grand scheme of the composite parts or style of dmen whom comprise our NHL defense, i am attracted to Gilbert as the main physical force. I want to see how well Carlsson and Koekkoek could fit. I view Dahlstrom as depth and a bonus if he develops and gets the opportunity to play regularly in the top six.

Murphy eventually gets traded. If you can go with as much speed as possible, then someone eventually replaces Murphy. Ideally i hope we can present a puck control extremely mobile three pairs with modest (but not lacking any) push back blueline members.

Your thoughts on whom might stay or leave probably too exhaustive and lengthy. So how about this much: willing to give Koekkoek more time and if both Mitchell and Jokiharju play well enough, do they take someone's job by next spring (two rookies and this does not include Gilbert whom i hope can start season here.)
Maybe Carlsson waiting. I realize what side each plays may complicate decision making for jobs.

At 3, you take the player you feel is the best. Pure and simple. I agree. You can always trade from a position of strength to fill a need.
- Elbows15

Spot on. I hope the front office doesn't over think it. Hockey gods gave us a gift. Can't frank this one up.

This is confusing to me....SIMILAR to McDavid (who we knew was going to be a generational star) and then you preface Cozen COULD easily be a BUST.
No one ever thought there was any chance of a Mcdavid bust.
McDavid isn't some natural he has worked trained and made himself along with those gifts he started with.
- wiz1901

Nice to see you around Wiz.

Not sure I get Cozen and Strome comparison. Doesn't Cozen had near elite skating ability and speed?

Edit: Not that you were comparing the two per se.

Take this for what it's worth because I can't verify the source, but a poster on another message board claims he heard Podkolzin in an interview literally say this:

“It’s one thing to go to play for another town, but completely another to go to an overseas country without knowing their language. I don’t want to live in America, maybe when I’m a complete player and have a family.”

If true, that should steer NHL teams away unless they have the luxury of waiting years to get his services. The Hawks don't have that luxury.