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?
- wonthecup10

I just do not see how Bowman drops the pass (as you say). Too much at stake for him and the organization, right. Consensus among the many gathered at the table AFTER lengthy discussion, right.

But somehow that same procedure churned out some really awful selections too. First round blunders. So you look at this draft and say, whom are they sold out on as the best player available at #3. I do not know it is an easy answer. I am maybe too quick to counter, there is no clear cut #3. There are players, however, that i do not take so high.

Probably the best fit for Chicago is Cozens.

Probably makes too much sense NEXT to go after a goaltender because if you aren't sure you have a future star in the system at goaltender position, it sure is a heck lot cheaper to draft one than pony up in trade or free agency. Well one leading guess how to accomplish that is the rendundancy (from me at least) to offer Gus for a #1. Conditional trade - if the netminder wanted is available with that pick. And yes repeating past statements i have made when saying this blows up Bowman love affair with magic Gus offense being a weapon until Boqvist comes along.

Who knows what Bowman thinks, though, about goaltenders. I mean how conservative is his viewpoint. Is he believing a team can win with average goaltending like Detroit won a Cup. But Bowman has Crawford winning Cups and he was (is) no ordinary Joe. Yet Laakinen is showcasing his ware at the World Tournament. So you have to consider Laakinen, right.

If you answer yes, then you can trade Gus and hope to land another forward. What type of forward. Dach would be a great add but likely gone by the time a second #1 pick (say from Penguins) is on the clock.

So we can imagine Bowman has so many scenarios and response plans each meticulously mapped out.

And anothet blogger could come up with some other good possibilities.

The only thing that seems more certain now is, the more talked about on this board the more it really appears concrete the top two picks are how they are rated all along.

The NYR may throw a monkey wrench into the proceedings so we wait not quite with bated breath but could Hughes fall? Is the Russian forward or that dman really a wild card? If i were betting i guees those two go betwern #5-10. The Ducks blogger probably does have a reslistic opportunity to snag Dach. And i have a hunch one if not both goaltenders are plucked before or very early round two.

Caufield - please - he is a jockey - maybe he has the ability but you cannot take him at #3. As John MacEnroe, the loudmouth tennis star from yesteryear uttered occassionally, you can't be serious? Yes i move him up on draft list but not as high as #3.

I guess Cozens or Turcotte.

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?
- wonthecup10

You have to be stupid enough to buy a seasons pass to believe for even 1 full second that Hughes/Kakko dont go 1-2. After that it is a group of about 7-8 that can go anywhere. It would be like selecting Gudbranson over Seguin in the Hall vs Seguin year.

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?
- wonthecup10

One of the Rangers’ announcers was on one of the Sirius-XM shows yesterday - he was sure that the Rags would take whichever of Hughes or Kakko fell to them at #2.

One of the Rangers’ announcers was on one of the Sirius-XM shows yesterday - he was sure that the Rags would take whichever of Hughes or Kakko fell to them at #2.
- StLBravesFan

You would have to be stupid enough to spend more than a penny on this site to take anyone over Hughes or Kakko. Regardless of positional need. Those 2 are far and above the next 8.

You have to be stupid enough to buy a seasons pass to believe for even 1 full second that Hughes/Kakko dont go 1-2. After that it is a group of about 7-8 that can go anywhere. It would be like selecting Gudbranson over Seguin in the Hall vs Seguin year.
- wreckage

There are plenty of first round flops Alexandre Daigle, Patrik Stefan, Erik Johnson, Nail Yakapov to allow for discussion that Hughes/Kakko won't be sure fire #1&2 . So maybe by following the "experts" and shooting your mouth off it's you that has to be "stupid enough to buy a seasons pass" ???

Germany upset Finland 4-2 today. Kahun sniped a nice goal (Germany’s second).

Kubalik scores in the Czech’s 5-4 victory over the Swiss.

Germany upset Finland 4-2 today. Kahun sniped a nice goal (Germany’s second).

Kubalik scores in the Czech’s 5-4 victory over the Swiss.
- DarthKane

How did the first cook go?

Germany upset Finland 4-2 today. Kahun sniped a nice goal (Germany’s second).

Kubalik scores in the Czech’s 5-4 victory over the Swiss.
- DarthKane

Kane will be proud he taught Kahun that nice backhander.

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?
- tvetter

Cozens by a mile.


All year long from October to February There is one team drafting in slot one then two,....then 216...team Wiz, just bpa, but...

I try to best play available but also rank the defenseman 1, 2, 3, and then there is the issue of all the more vague rarely seen Euros, sandwiched around the if & when's of the top Russians to sleeper / smaller Russians.

I am really surprised I am not completely whacked by this task especially since after a week of seeing various kids in games, I say, wait, maybe I don't like him as much, or how where idd t=did I miss this 7th USA developmental undersized defender, move him here...

And then when I start to re-order all seven rounds (which becomes murder if I don't do it all at once)that is when the Russians creep into teams I alswsy feel are actually comfortable and able to grow them, and stereotype Montreal and Ottawa some French kids.

The thing about this draft is I always said it was terrific and that every non playoff team was fortunate, unlike MOST years when the "fat tier of equally tarnished(or not complete) that extends into the second round" begins by the 20's in the first round thereby having that bottom end being guys my snobbish ass calls non-first round tiered players.

The year I ripped the hawks for reaching for Nick Schmaltz (they stopped using my evals with all the others starting that year, b/c my wasn't glowing or containing temperament)...was a perfect example of how the late first round usually becomes a "nice chance to find a kid to grow."

So if you have too much time, and you get flustered trying to pigeon hole prospect to team, you are adjusting and adjusting.
Hell, right now simply looking at my board makes me want to not have Poulin pigeon holed to Ottawa,my "afraid to take the shot" Ryan Suzuki be in the higher teens and if I stay on it for over a couple seconds I Amy be compelled to start tinkering.

Right now my 25 through 38 are driving me crazy, I don't like them where they are but there was reason for the order and these 3 defensemen (25-27) and the other three NOT in there in 32, 35, 36 are my concern, but there is time to look and shift.

For a week I want to start a reorder aND TYPE INMORE PROFILES FOR THE GUYS in the lower rounds.
I have more players who you CANNOT VIEW than I do in the 216....440 guys in this group.

So the answer is...I don't know...I never can decide, but try to sustain from more erratic switched than I can.

Cozens by a mile.


All year long from October to February There is one team drafting in slot one then two,....then 216...team Wiz, just bpa, but...

I try to best play available but also rank the defenseman 1, 2, 3, and then there is the issue of all the more vague rarely seen Euros, sandwiched around the if & when's of the top Russians to sleeper / smaller Russians.

I am really surprised I am not completely whacked by this task especially since after a week of seeing various kids in games, I say, wait, maybe I don't like him as much, or how where idd t=did I miss this 7th USA developmental undersized defender, move him here...

And then when I start to re-order all seven rounds (which becomes murder if I don't do it all at once)that is when the Russians creep into teams I alswsy feel are actually comfortable and able to grow them, and stereotype Montreal and Ottawa some French kids.

The thing about this draft is I always said it was terrific and that every non playoff team was fortunate, unlike MOST years when the "fat tier of equally tarnished(or not complete) that extends into the second round" begins by the 20's in the first round thereby having that bottom end being guys my snobbish ass calls non-first round tiered players.

The year I ripped the hawks for reaching for Nick Schmaltz (they stopped using my evals with all the others starting that year, b/c my wasn't glowing or containing temperament)...was a perfect example of how the late first round usually becomes a "nice chance to find a kid to grow."

So if you have too much time, and you get flustered trying to pigeon hole prospect to team, you are adjusting and adjusting.
Hell, right now simply looking at my board makes me want to not have Poulin pigeon holed to Ottawa,my "afraid to take the shot" Ryan Suzuki be in the higher teens and if I stay on it for over a couple seconds I Amy be compelled to start tinkering.

Right now my 25 through 38 are driving me crazy, I don't like them where they are but there was reason for the order and these 3 defensemen (25-27) and the other three NOT in there in 32, 35, 36 are my concern, but there is time to look and shift.

For a week I want to start a reorder aND TYPE INMORE PROFILES FOR THE GUYS in the lower rounds.
I have more players who you CANNOT VIEW than I do in the 216....440 guys in this group.

So the answer is...I don't know...I never can decide, but try to sustain from more erratic switched than I can.
- wiz1901

I have no clue how you rank these teenage prospects, so my question isn't critical I'm just curious. In your last version of the mock draft you had Turcotte at #3, Turcotte had a good and Cozens a not so good U18 Hlinka tournament. Obviously the tournament had no bearing on your ranking. What changed that you now rank Cozens at #3 and ahead of Turcotte?

I have no clue how you rank these teenage prospects, so my question isn't critical I'm just curious. In your last version of the mock draft you had Turcotte at #3, Turcotte had a good and Cozens a not so good U18 Hlinka tournament. Obviously the tournament had no bearing on your ranking. What changed that you now rank Cozens at #3 and ahead of Turcotte?
- paulr

And while we're picking Wiz' brain - I have a question too ...

Is it more difficult to project a d-man than a forward?

My premise is that a d-man requires more reaction in his game than a forward does. A forward reacts to plays and must play defense too but his main emphasis is to proactively drive the play. A d-man, on the other hand, has to react to the attacking player and is therefore dependent on his reaction to the play - he is the receiver rather than the driver.

If that premise holds water - then doesn't it make it harder to assess and project a d-man because he may not get the opportunities to show how he would react in certain situations if those opportunities just don't come about during a game?

Cozens by a mile.


All year long from October to February There is one team drafting in slot one then two,....then 216...team Wiz, just bpa, but...

I try to best play available but also rank the defenseman 1, 2, 3, and then there is the issue of all the more vague rarely seen Euros, sandwiched around the if & when's of the top Russians to sleeper / smaller Russians.

I am really surprised I am not completely whacked by this task especially since after a week of seeing various kids in games, I say, wait, maybe I don't like him as much, or how where idd t=did I miss this 7th USA developmental undersized defender, move him here...

And then when I start to re-order all seven rounds (which becomes murder if I don't do it all at once)that is when the Russians creep into teams I alswsy feel are actually comfortable and able to grow them, and stereotype Montreal and Ottawa some French kids.

The thing about this draft is I always said it was terrific and that every non playoff team was fortunate, unlike MOST years when the "fat tier of equally tarnished(or not complete) that extends into the second round" begins by the 20's in the first round thereby having that bottom end being guys my snobbish ass calls non-first round tiered players.

The year I ripped the hawks for reaching for Nick Schmaltz (they stopped using my evals with all the others starting that year, b/c my wasn't glowing or containing temperament)...was a perfect example of how the late first round usually becomes a "nice chance to find a kid to grow."

So if you have too much time, and you get flustered trying to pigeon hole prospect to team, you are adjusting and adjusting.
Hell, right now simply looking at my board makes me want to not have Poulin pigeon holed to Ottawa,my "afraid to take the shot" Ryan Suzuki be in the higher teens and if I stay on it for over a couple seconds I Amy be compelled to start tinkering.

Right now my 25 through 38 are driving me crazy, I don't like them where they are but there was reason for the order and these 3 defensemen (25-27) and the other three NOT in there in 32, 35, 36 are my concern, but there is time to look and shift.

For a week I want to start a reorder aND TYPE INMORE PROFILES FOR THE GUYS in the lower rounds.
I have more players who you CANNOT VIEW than I do in the 216....440 guys in this group.

So the answer is...I don't know...I never can decide, but try to sustain from more erratic switched than I can.
- wiz1901

I don’t follow it as close as Some but I have to agree with you Bill, when the first two are gone I would say Cozens also.
What would really be some high-end finagling on Bowman’s part is if he was able to somehow move up if the goalie is there still at the beginning of the second round, what’s his name Spencer Knight?

And while we're picking Wiz' brain - I have a question too ...

Is it more difficult to project a d-man than a forward?

My premise is that a d-man requires more reaction in his game than a forward does. A forward reacts to plays and must play defense too but his main emphasis is to proactively drive the play. A d-man, on the other hand, has to react to the attacking player and is therefore dependent on his reaction to the play - he is the receiver rather than the driver.

If that premise holds water - then doesn't it make it harder to assess and project a d-man because he may not get the opportunities to show how he would react in certain situations if those opportunities just don't come about during a game?
- EbonyRaptor

I will refrain from any jokes about receiving and driving.....

I think you're correct though. D-men are hard to project. They have to be able to read and react to a wide range of attacking forwards and d-men in today's game. Plus be able to read plays and initiate the offensive rush from the back-end.

Cozens by a mile.


All year long from October to February There is one team drafting in slot one then two,....then 216...team Wiz, just bpa, but...

I try to best play available but also rank the defenseman 1, 2, 3, and then there is the issue of all the more vague rarely seen Euros, sandwiched around the if & when's of the top Russians to sleeper / smaller Russians.

I am really surprised I am not completely whacked by this task especially since after a week of seeing various kids in games, I say, wait, maybe I don't like him as much, or how where idd t=did I miss this 7th USA developmental undersized defender, move him here...

And then when I start to re-order all seven rounds (which becomes murder if I don't do it all at once)that is when the Russians creep into teams I alswsy feel are actually comfortable and able to grow them, and stereotype Montreal and Ottawa some French kids.

The thing about this draft is I always said it was terrific and that every non playoff team was fortunate, unlike MOST years when the "fat tier of equally tarnished(or not complete) that extends into the second round" begins by the 20's in the first round thereby having that bottom end being guys my snobbish ass calls non-first round tiered players.

The year I ripped the hawks for reaching for Nick Schmaltz (they stopped using my evals with all the others starting that year, b/c my wasn't glowing or containing temperament)...was a perfect example of how the late first round usually becomes a "nice chance to find a kid to grow."

So if you have too much time, and you get flustered trying to pigeon hole prospect to team, you are adjusting and adjusting.
Hell, right now simply looking at my board makes me want to not have Poulin pigeon holed to Ottawa,my "afraid to take the shot" Ryan Suzuki be in the higher teens and if I stay on it for over a couple seconds I Amy be compelled to start tinkering.

Right now my 25 through 38 are driving me crazy, I don't like them where they are but there was reason for the order and these 3 defensemen (25-27) and the other three NOT in there in 32, 35, 36 are my concern, but there is time to look and shift.

For a week I want to start a reorder aND TYPE INMORE PROFILES FOR THE GUYS in the lower rounds.
I have more players who you CANNOT VIEW than I do in the 216....440 guys in this group.

So the answer is...I don't know...I never can decide, but try to sustain from more erratic switched than I can.
- wiz1901

Caufield by a kilometre.

Caufield by a kilometre.
- DarthKane

Gold!

Caufield by a kilometre.
- DarthKane

So it is Colzens as a mile > kilometre 🙂

And while we're picking Wiz' brain - I have a question too ...

Is it more difficult to project a d-man than a forward?

My premise is that a d-man requires more reaction in his game than a forward does. A forward reacts to plays and must play defense too but his main emphasis is to proactively drive the play. A d-man, on the other hand, has to react to the attacking player and is therefore dependent on his reaction to the play - he is the receiver rather than the driver.

If that premise holds water - then doesn't it make it harder to assess and project a d-man because he may not get the opportunities to show how he would react in certain situations if those opportunities just don't come about during a game?
- EbonyRaptor

And is projecting a goalie the most difficult of all?

How did the first cook go?
- paulr

Could have been better, and I expect the next one will be. It wasn't bad at all, but I think we cooked the meet for too long. The vegetables turned out perfectly though.

Germany upset Finland 4-2 today. Kahun sniped a nice goal (Germany’s second).

Kubalik scores in the Czech’s 5-4 victory over the Swiss.
- DarthKane

Germany looked great this tournament.

Gold!
- breadbag

Could have been better, and I expect the next one will be. It wasn't bad at all, but I think we cooked the meet for too long. The vegetables turned out perfectly though.
- DarthKane

What temp did you cook at? Did you use the 3-2-1 method? How is your smoker at maintaining a specific temerature?

It's quite the art. My first attempt at rib was just OK, then I gradually improved to the point now where I can make ribs pretty much perfectly every time. The tough one for me is still a brisket. I smoke it at 230F and a 7 lb point takes 15 plus hours. Enjoy it, it's a fun hobby with delicious results.

What temp did you cook at? Did you use the 3-2-1 method? How is your smoker at maintaining a specific temerature?

It's quite the art. My first attempt at rib was just OK, then I gradually improved to the point now where I can make ribs pretty much perfectly every time. The tough one for me is still a brisket. I smoke it at 230F and a 7 lb point takes 15 plus hours. Enjoy it, it's a fun hobby with delicious results.
- paulr

What is this?

We smoked ribs for 3 hours and chicken wings for 1 hour. I think 2 hours for ribs and 45 mins for wings will be enough.

So it is Colzens as a mile > kilometre 🙂
- FourOrr

Cozens by a Country Mile ..

I will refrain from any jokes about receiving and driving.....

I think you're correct though. D-men are hard to project. They have to be able to read and react to a wide range of attacking forwards and d-men in today's game. Plus be able to read plays and initiate the offensive rush from the back-end.
- bhawks2241

Exactly. A forward can more or less showcase his game proactively, whereas a d-man is dependent on the opposition providing "opportunities" to showcase his abilities on the defensive end.

What is this?

We smoked ribs for 3 hours and chicken wings for 1 hour. I think 2 hours for ribs and 45 mins for wings will be enough.
- DarthKane

That’s quick for ribs. I usually go at least 5-6. What temp were you at?