It so funny how the two big men have both been compared with Getzlaf (not both by me) and they are both different but sneaky good possible NHL dominant players.

Dach is a big guy, so you can lose how well he gets around at his size.
He looks like he is laid back when gliding into an area, and then he surprises with quickness in stealing pucks and getting to his teammates, and also scoring as he gets to open pucks before you expect.

If he did have issues on his pins, I am not so sure he have gotten as much time on the penalty-kill.
He's ranked this high, top three- six, not just based on his size...he is very good on the move, very smart and effortless as to what he has to do on offense.

Where Cozen,s a burner, has that choppy step, Dach moves quicker than average too, he is a really good skater, but I think his skating gets down graded because the best part of his size his while moving, he has a very good stickhandle to him, and when you watch how he gets separated away and passes the puck afterward, you have to watch how his feet are part of the escape.

I think Hayden will be one of the first players dealt, maybe included in a bigger deal or for a mid to late draft pick I don’t know if a prospect will take his place, a free agent signing may be more realistic.
- DarthKane

There are going to be more than a few teams that have fans clamoring for change, or GMs promising upgrades or facelifts or changes...after the Hawks keep finding new talent to bring, it leads you to believe that Hayden, maybe Anisimov, and one of the left side defenders might end up as a package to one of those teams, if those teams are unsuccessful are striking bigger deals with other clubs.

It so funny how the two big men have both been compared with Getzlaf (not both by me) and they are both different but sneaky good possible NHL dominant players.

Dach is a big guy, so you can lose how well he gets around at his size.
He looks like he is laid back when gliding into an area, and then he surprises with quickness in stealing pucks and getting to his teammates, and also scoring as he gets to open pucks before you expect.

If he did have issues on his pins, I am not so sure he have gotten as much time on the penalty-kill.
He's ranked this high, top three- six, not just based on his size...he is very good on the move, very smart and effortless as to what he has to do on offense.

Where Cozen,s a burner, has that choppy step, Dach moves quicker than average too, he is a really good skater, but I think his skating gets down graded because the best part of his size his while moving, he has a very good stickhandle to him, and when you watch how he gets separated away and passes the puck afterward, you have to watch how his feet are part of the escape.
- wiz1901

I saw one of Dach's WHL games and I've seen him a couple other times - so very limited viewing - but I have yet to see him "engaged", meaning he always seems to be drifting and not sticking his nose into the action. Obviously he gets involved in the action but he seems more passive than I would like to see from a potential #3 pick.

I'll tell you who impressed me yesterday in the Halifax/Guelph game was Raphael Lavoie. One minute he's coasting back and a Guelph player speeds past him to save icing and the next minute he's stealing the puck in the neutral zone and breakins in to score a top-shelf goal. In other words - just when I thought he showed laziness he makes a great play and scores a great goal. Another big guy with not great skating - but he makes plays.

Central Scouting had Schiefele ranked #16 for NA skaters in their final rating - immediately below such notables as Mark McNeill, Zack Phillips, Joe Morrow and Jamie Oleksiak.
- RickJ

I heard this and might have been total bull, but one of the reasons in my mock that year I had the hawks taken Schieifele was someone told me the hawks had him in, were out talking too his kin, because he honestly wasn't close to ready and the hawks were very confident he was gonna be there. He was in need of body development, was heavy footed but it was clear despite so-so gaol totals he already looked like a play maker.
Maybe he wasn't gonna drop all the way to the hawks on slot 18, but who knows maybe the hawks discussing a trade up...but on to the gossip:

this person told me Kevin Cheveldayoff knew how much the hawks liked Mark Scheifele and one of his first commands was to the Jets scouts to give him a stronger once over....I rarely say wow! while a name is called, but believe me I was totally surprised he was selected seven over.

I saw one of Dach's WHL games and I've seen him a couple other times - so very limited viewing - but I have yet to see him "engaged", meaning he always seems to be drifting and not sticking his nose into the action. Obviously he gets involved in the action but he seems more passive than I would like to see from a potential #3 pick.

I'll tell you who impressed me yesterday in the Halifax/Guelph game was Raphael Lavoie. One minute he's coasting back and a Guelph player speeds past him to save icing and the next minute he's stealing the puck in the neutral zone and breakins in to score a top-shelf goal. In other words - just when I thought he showed laziness he makes a great play and scores a great goal. Another big guy with not great skating - but he makes plays.
- EbonyRaptor

No, I agree, he is swooper.
He reaches in...it keeps him able to not get tied up in the trash.

Yeah, but in the same way:Lavoie was up & down , hot and cold all season...he certainly is keeping himself in the conversation. I have kept him as late as #15 Montreal for a long tiime, I dropped him in early April but now he is really focused engaged.
Talk about big guys who when they have the puck are difficult to defend against.
I am not sure how Byram, Boqvist or Henri Joku stop him from going where he wants...

Curious what everyone thinks....with the Blues looking like they will move on (Sharks are a MASH unit)....Blues vs. Bruins looks like it could be an absolute war. Will be a fun series to watch.
- glennjpawlak22

"Fun" is not the word I'd use. Vomit-inducing. Yeah, I'll go with that. Haha, I hate both teams. I liked the Sharks odds, but after the humiliation, I think Bruins beat Blues.

With Lankenin's performance at the worlds, I hope the Hawks give him a shot at the #2 goalie position. I personally do not think at this time Delia is an NHL goalie. His athleticism will only get him so, far, but his technical deficiencies will lead to too many soft goals against (as we saw happen too often after his first couple of games).

No, I agree, he is swooper.
He reaches in...it keeps him able to not get tied up in the trash.

Yeah, but in the same way:Lavoie was up & down , hot and cold all season...he certainly is keeping himself in the conversation. I have kept him as late as #15 Montreal for a long tiime, I dropped him in early April but now he is really focused engaged.
Talk about big guys who when they have the puck are difficult to defend against.
I am not sure how Byram, Boqvist or Henri Joku stop him from going where he wants...
- wiz1901

Probably about as well as Makar, Heiskanen, Q.Hughes, S.Girard, and many of the other "new age" defenders will - which is to say not well.

I heard this and might have been total bull, but one of the reasons in my mock that year I had the hawks taken Schieifele was someone told me the hawks had him in, were out talking too his kin, because he honestly wasn't close to ready and the hawks were very confident he was gonna be there. He was in need of body development, was heavy footed but it was clear despite so-so gaol totals he already looked like a play maker.
Maybe he wasn't gonna drop all the way to the hawks on slot 18, but who knows maybe the hawks discussing a trade up...but on to the gossip:

this person told me Kevin Cheveldayoff knew how much the hawks liked Mark Scheifele and one of his first commands was to the Jets scouts to give him a stronger once over....I rarely say wow! while a name is called, but believe me I was totally surprised he was selected seven over.
- wiz1901

Wiz, I think you are bang on to much of the details of how Scheiffele got picked early. And here is another part of the story - Scheiffle played junior for the Barrie Colts coached by Dale Hawerchuk. Being a loyal former Winnipeg star, you just know Hawerchuk gave the Jets scouts all they needed to know about the kid. (A hockey player knows another hockey player when he sees one).

On a different topic, who likes Sharp on the National broadcasts....much better than the goofs they have been trotting out for years.
- glennjpawlak22

I bet Kathryn Tappen likes it when he is on the set with her.

I saw one of Dach's WHL games and I've seen him a couple other times - so very limited viewing - but I have yet to see him "engaged", meaning he always seems to be drifting and not sticking his nose into the action. Obviously he gets involved in the action but he seems more passive than I would like to see from a potential #3 pick.

I'll tell you who impressed me yesterday in the Halifax/Guelph game was Raphael Lavoie. One minute he's coasting back and a Guelph player speeds past him to save icing and the next minute he's stealing the puck in the neutral zone and breakins in to score a top-shelf goal. In other words - just when I thought he showed laziness he makes a great play and scores a great goal. Another big guy with not great skating - but he makes plays.
- EbonyRaptor

That's funny. Discussing Cozens and Dach this morning and we were different sides.

I watched the Halifax/ Guelph game and after that game, I dropped Lavoie 6 spots to 28th in my personal rankings. For a player who might be the oldest player in the draft, I couldn't believe how much work needed to be done on his game.

It so funny how the two big men have both been compared with Getzlaf (not both by me) and they are both different but sneaky good possible NHL dominant players.

Dach is a big guy, so you can lose how well he gets around at his size.
He looks like he is laid back when gliding into an area, and then he surprises with quickness in stealing pucks and getting to his teammates, and also scoring as he gets to open pucks before you expect.

If he did have issues on his pins, I am not so sure he have gotten as much time on the penalty-kill.
He's ranked this high, top three- six, not just based on his size...he is very good on the move, very smart and effortless as to what he has to do on offense.

Where Cozen,s a burner, has that choppy step, Dach moves quicker than average too, he is a really good skater, but I think his skating gets down graded because the best part of his size his while moving, he has a very good stickhandle to him, and when you watch how he gets separated away and passes the puck afterward, you have to watch how his feet are part of the escape.
- wiz1901

Wiz, when you do your mock drafts, do you put the picks in order of who you think is best, or who you think the team will pick? Who would GM Wiz pick at #3?

That's funny. Discussing Cozens and Dach this morning and we were different sides.

I watched the Halifax/ Guelph game and after that game, I dropped Lavoie 6 spots to 28th in my personal rankings. For a player who might be the oldest player in the draft, I couldn't believe how much work needed to be done on his game.
- manvanfan

Who cares about your perceived draft position of these picks?

Who cares about your perceived draft position of these picks?
- GPHawksfan

I do and I'm sure many of the others on this blog are interested in what manvanfan brings to the discussion. It's good to have other teams' fans express their thoughts.

I do and I'm sure many of the others on this blog are interested in what manvanfan brings to the discussion. It's good to have other teams' fans express their thoughts.
- boilermaker100

Yep more opinions and thoughts good for discussion

That's funny. Discussing Cozens and Dach this morning and we were different sides.

I watched the Halifax/ Guelph game and after that game, I dropped Lavoie 6 spots to 28th in my personal rankings. For a player who might be the oldest player in the draft, I couldn't believe how much work needed to be done on his game.
- manvanfan

Right - I meant he impressed me with both good and bad - he wasn't invisible. One moment he's looking like a lazy player and the next moment he's making a great play.

I 100% agree with this TC. The Athletic had a good piece from Laz the other day in which he had some quotes from head scout Kelley. Here is the key quote from the interview:

"The defensemen we've taken have all held their value, or increased their value. That's what you're looking for"

I think in that one quote, Kelley has given away the Blackhawks draft philosophy, and I'm sure the philosophy of most if not all NHL teams.

I don't think they care at all what is the current positional need of the team, or which player will provide the most immediate help, but they are looking for the player which will provide the team with the most value moving forward.

This is the best way to manage a team. If a drafted player becomes more valuable, he can always be moved to fill the teams immediate needs.

In this draft, the Blackhawks will look to take the best prospect in terms of future value, regardless of what the positional needs of the team are.
- LaheysBRandy

I'm not a Hawks fan, but don't you guys think they will likely take Byram, the d-man, great scouting reports? Could be great fit for years to come.

Right - I meant he impressed me with both good and bad - he wasn't invisible. One moment he's looking like a lazy player and the next moment he's making a great play.
- EbonyRaptor

Physically mature QMJHL players are so tough to tell whether they will turn out or not.

Yep more opinions and thoughts good for discussion
- Scott1977

That's why i'm here. Discussion.

It was a Canucks scout that said that he didn't like a prospect until a couple of the other guys mentioned a few things about him and next time he viewed him differently and it changed his opinion of the prospect.

I'm not a Hawks fan, but don't you guys think they will likely take Byram, the d-man, great scouting reports? Could be great fit for years to come.
- grahamzky

Doesn't sound like Byram is a given for the Hawks.

The debate will continue until June 21st.

With Lankenin's performance at the worlds, I hope the Hawks give him a shot at the #2 goalie position. I personally do not think at this time Delia is an NHL goalie. His athleticism will only get him so, far, but his technical deficiencies will lead to too many soft goals against (as we saw happen too often after his first couple of games).
- LAHawk

He’s played quite well at the worlds, but has he done anything in the NHL? Delia, and Forsberg have both played outstanding in the AHL while being inconsistent in the NHL. I think we need to keep developing the guys we have. If that means bringing in a vet on another 1yr deal, so be it. Crow was up and down a couple times before sticking too.

Wiz, I think you are bang on to much of the details of how Scheiffele got picked early. And here is another part of the story - Scheiffle played junior for the Barrie Colts coached by Dale Hawerchuk. Being a loyal former Winnipeg star, you just know Hawerchuk gave the Jets scouts all they needed to know about the kid. (A hockey player knows another hockey player when he sees one).
- RickJ

LOL. I didn't forget that he was under Dale tutelage, I simply forget Dale was Jet forever...

That's funny. Discussing Cozens and Dach this morning and we were different sides.

I watched the Halifax/ Guelph game and after that game, I dropped Lavoie 6 spots to 28th in my personal rankings. For a player who might be the oldest player in the draft, I couldn't believe how much work needed to be done on his game.
- manvanfan

Glad you are here and welcome.

If I had to pick a guy whose age was tipping the scale in his favor, it would be how the third year Prince Albert's Brett Leason.
There you have a giant seasoned WHL player who is playing against a whole lotta smaller younger less physically developed kids, and you have to ask if his sudden emergence this season is tied to that after the first two seasons showed little of the same dominance.
Raphaël Lavoie might have looked in no way urgent in this pace at times this season, but is difficult for me to say the kid from November didn't have considerable body control, and lean in this carries and that the one now in the extended season isn't a real good junior prospect as his season extends...

Doesn't sound like Byram is a given for the Hawks.

The debate will continue until June 21st.
- Tyler Cameron

It shouldn't be.

Cozens .

Doesn't sound like Byram is a given for the Hawks.

The debate will continue until June 21st.
- Tyler Cameron

Anybody get concrete evidence on which way the New York rangers are going to go with the second pic? Or is it purely speculation that it’s going to be Hughes/ Kakko 1&2.
Weren’t the Rangers kicking the tires on Byram also?
Maybe I’m reaching for a long shot here, but I’m hoping the Rangers take Byram and Kakko falls right into Bowman’s arms in the end zone, or will he drop the pass?