Tyler Cameron: The Blackhawks Draft Alex Turcotte If…
Welcome to my draft preview series. Today we're starting with centre Alex Turcotte.

The way I'm setting these up are:

* Player Snapshot
* Highlights (so you can see on-ice skills)
* Interview (so you can get to know the player off-ice)
* Making a case for why the Blackhawks will draft this player

Enjoy!

It's funny, I see your blog about Turcotte, I see all the reasons the Hawks should draft him and then hope they do. Then tomorrow you highlight say Cozens and I think they should forget Turcotte and go with Cozens, then on to Byram etc. I have watched highlights on Youtube for all the top choices and they all look good in different ways. I have no idea who the Hawks should select and I'll steer clear of speculating or hoping they get a certain individual. I have to put my trust in Bowman and the scouting staff to choose the right guy and hope that in 5 years or so the choice is proven right.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy your blogs and I enjoys the banter and speculation by other posters, but I personally have no clue who the best guy is and I tend to go with the last write up I read.

It's funny, I see your blog about Turcotte, I see all the reasons the Hawks should draft him and then hope they do. Then tomorrow you highlight say Cozens and I see they should forget Turcotte and go with Cozens, then on to Byram etc. I have watched highlights on Youtube for all the top choices and they all look good in different ways. I have no idea who the Hawks should select and I'll steer clear of speculating or hoping they get a certain individual. I have to put my trust in Bowman and the scouting staff to choose the right guy and hope that in 5 years or so the choice is proven right.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy your blogs and I enjoys the banter and speculation by other posters, but I personally have no clue who the best guy is and I tend to go with the last write up I read.
- paulr

Haha. Exactly.

You and me both Paul.

There's no clear cut #3.

I will offer my pick at the end of this series.

Haha. Exactly.

You and me both Paul.

There's no clear cut #3.

I will offer my pick at the end of this series.
- Tyler Cameron

If all the guys are equal I want to see the Hawks draft a defenseman, assuming that defeneman has a legit chance of being a two way top pairing guy.

Haha. Exactly.

You and me both Paul.

There's no clear cut #3.

I will offer my pick at the end of this series.
- Tyler Cameron

If a team below them really wants a certain guy at #3, then I really hope Stan can pull the trigger on a deal where he can get a player (preferably a defensive defenseman) who can get right into the lineup. It just seems like there are too many guys you can take at #3, so trading down may not be such a bad thing.

Haha. Exactly.

You and me both Paul.

There's no clear cut #3.

I will offer my pick at the end of this series.
- Tyler Cameron

I’ll offer my pick on June 22.

Or - more likely - we can all criticize the BlackHawk pick on that Saturday.

If a team below them really wants a certain guy at #3, then I really hope Stan can pull the trigger on a deal where he can get a player (preferably a defensive defenseman) who can get right into the lineup. It just seems like there are too many guys you can take at #3, so trading down may not be such a bad thing.
- powerenforcer

And your last sentence is why a deal is unlikely - so many players of similar talent / skills / potential that teams with the 4-10 picks wouldn’t be willing to give up an asset just to move up to #3.

If a team below them really wants a certain guy at #3, then I really hope Stan can pull the trigger on a deal where he can get a player (preferably a defensive defenseman) who can get right into the lineup. It just seems like there are too many guys you can take at #3, so trading down may not be such a bad thing.
- powerenforcer

Unless Bowman sees a certain #3 selection can be a game breaker I like this idea. Get a decent draft pick and a player who can step right into the lineup.

Turcotte looks and sounds great ,I just wonder playing behind Hughes are his stats and play a little better because of matchups being a little easier .Also I like players coming out of the Jr. programs . Think he will go 6 or 7th .

Haha. Exactly.

You and me both Paul.

There's no clear cut #3.

I will offer my pick at the end of this series.
- Tyler Cameron

You had alluded to other players with higher ceilings, and was going to ask, but don't want to steal your thunder.

I imagine Byram, maybe Cozens, possibly Zegras. Mostly like Paul, my guesses would be from reading and watching some Youtube highlights, though I think he's at least watched a few games.

Oh well, like the pick itself...I'll just wait.

Great blog though and look forward to reading about the other potential picks.

It's funny, I see your blog about Turcotte, I see all the reasons the Hawks should draft him and then hope they do. Then tomorrow you highlight say Cozens and I think they should forget Turcotte and go with Cozens, then on to Byram etc. I have watched highlights on Youtube for all the top choices and they all look good in different ways. I have no idea who the Hawks should select and I'll steer clear of speculating or hoping they get a certain individual. I have to put my trust in Bowman and the scouting staff to choose the right guy and hope that in 5 years or so the choice is proven right.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy your blogs and I enjoys the banter and speculation by other posters, but I personally have no clue who the best guy is and I tend to go with the last write up I read.
- paulr

Sadly I'm just as wishy washy; but right now, my money's on Turcotte!

Yesterday I read through the Hockey News edition on the draft. They were projecting Turcotte as a 2 nd line center. They also have two awesome articles, one about Cozens and one comparing Cozens vs Dach. After reading these plus Wiz's scouting report there is no way I pass on Cozens. If you get a chance, get this special edition of the Hockey News! It is awesome!

While Turcotte may not be my first (or second) choice I would still be happy if the Hawks went with him.

Yesterday I read through the Hockey News edition on the draft. They were projecting Turcotte as a 2 nd line center. They also have two awesome articles, one about Cozens and one comparing Cozens vs Dach. After reading these plus Wiz's scouting report there is no way I pass on Cozens. If you get a chance, get this special edition of the Hockey News! It is awesome!
- FourOrr

Wiz has always questioned The Hockey News draft edition and pointed to their accuracy, or lack thereof. That said i will get my copy along with Wiz's Draft site edition and Keens and Redline and sit and watch the draft and then tell everyone that whoever the Hawks selected is who I thought they should get.

I watched a Youtube review of Cozens. He is a straight ahead, north south player who is always at the net or driving to it. He has a really quick release and an amazing shot. He looks like a really safe bet. Then add in he is supposed to have a strong character as well.

While Turcotte may not be my first (or second) choice I would still be happy if the Hawks went with him.
- DarthKane

LIAR!!! We all know the only selection that would make you happy!

And your last sentence is why a deal is unlikely - so many players of similar talent / skills / potential that teams with the 4-10 picks wouldn’t be willing to give up an asset just to move up to #3.
- StLBravesFan

Even with the glut of good players of similar skill levels after pick 2, if a GM values certain traits of the forwards (pass first or shoot first guy) or maybe the dman or their scouting department has one player graded significantly higher than the rest because he fits certain criteria they value...

All it takes is one NHL version of Ryan Pace to identify his guy.

Wiz has always questioned The Hockey News draft edition and pointed to their accuracy, or lack thereof. That said i will get my copy along with Wiz's Draft site edition and Keens and Redline and sit and watch the draft and then tell everyone that whoever the Hawks selected is who I thought they should get.

I watched a Youtube review of Cozens. He is a straight ahead, north south player who is always at the net or driving to it. He has a really quick release and an amazing shot. He looks like a really safe bet. Then add in he is supposed to have a strong character as well.
- paulr

Ok that settles it. Count me in for Cozens with the pick!

Wiz has always questioned The Hockey News draft edition and pointed to their accuracy, or lack thereof. That said i will get my copy along with Wiz's Draft site edition and Keens and Redline and sit and watch the draft and then tell everyone that whoever the Hawks selected is who I thought they should get.

I watched a Youtube review of Cozens. He is a straight ahead, north south player who is always at the net or driving to it. He has a really quick release and an amazing shot. He looks like a really safe bet. Then add in he is supposed to have a strong character as well.
- paulr

Can you imagine what a line of Cozens with Enwistle would look like especially come playoff time? Wow!

Tyler hawks need a center i have been saying it for awhile now if the hawks. So to me its Cozens or turcotte but i think Cozens has a higher ceiling. Personally i think hawks will explore possibly moving down if the right deal comes to fruition and turcotte might be sitting there for them to pick. Ultimately i think it comes down to bryam vs Cozens at #3.

I'm most confused on these extra "u"'s in words...like neighbourhood. I was taught it was neighborhood, I need to get a hold of my 2nd grade teacher.

Honestly, though I don't want a defenseman at #3, they must go with a guy that fills the net at center (not centre) or winger.

I'm most confused on these extra "u"'s in words...like neighbourhood. I was taught it was neighborhood, I need to get a hold of my 2nd grade teacher.

Honestly, though I don't want a defenseman at #3, they must go with a guy that fills the net at center (not centre) or winger.
- BlackhawkMike

In my neighbourhood I learned to colour then I learned English, in your neighborhood you learned to color then you learned American.

Haha. Exactly.

You and me both Paul.

There's no clear cut #3.

I will offer my pick at the end of this series.
- Tyler Cameron

Its Caufield...

Even with the glut of good players of similar skill levels after pick 2, if a GM values certain traits of the forwards (pass first or shoot first guy) or maybe the dman or their scouting department has one player graded significantly higher than the rest because he fits certain criteria they value...

All it takes is one NHL version of Ryan Pace to identify his guy.
- HawkintheD

But we’d be hoping for a quality asset coming back - not an overpaid vet or someone who could be buried in Rockford.

That’s what I’m looking at....

In my neighbourhood I learned to colour then I learned English, in your neighborhood you learned to color then you learned American.

- paulr

Actually you learned Canadian English whilst we learned American English. I threw in that British English word just for the fun of it.

If the Hawks take a center with the third pick ... I hope he excells on face offs.
Sometimes, a player can work on his face off skills to get better but I wonder who out of Turcotte, Cozens, Dach, is best at the dot