My thoughts, which are worth less than the electricity I paid to power up my computer:

Expected: Turcotte
My Choice: Zegras
Lowest Risk: Byram
Dark Horse: Newhook

Regarding Turcotte, I am having a tough time getting excited about him. He is the safe play for Bowperson and it would not surprise me if he went that route. If he is the pick, then Turcotte may turn out to be a heck of a safe pick, but what I have read/heard there are players who have more elite talent in one particular facet to their game. I listened to the interview with Craig Button (who btw, is a pretty decent talent evaluator), and while Button was just one of a few that I have listened to or read, he mentioned that Turcotte did not come off as the best player on the ice when with other high end talent. At the third overall pick, I think that you have to go with a guy that sticks out and provides the highest upside/ceiling. Lastly, I get a little nervous about hip injuries with hockey players and while he recovered and is young, one must still include that in the overall analysis. I could care less about the grit/sandpaper aspect to his game. The Pulford days are long gone and let's keep it that way.

Personally, I like the flash that Zegras plays with and feel that he would slide comfortably in with the team as a dynamic player. Initially, I was not thrilled with the thought of Byram, but if they do take him, I would expect it would open up a few more options to move some guys who are on the blue line.

Oh and if you want to get a look at some historical predictions/rankings, the following website is solid:
http://www.mynhldraft.com/NHL-Mock-Draft/

The Wiz is so very smart. Cozens at 3 - PLEASE!

This has that anticlimactic feel to it. We're all sitting here hitting refresh every few minutes hoping something will have happened ... anything. As a Hawks fan this is not unfamiliar territory over the past bunch of years where we watch other teams make big trades and read other Hawks fans complain about Stan sleeping at the switch. Now, not even other teams are making trades, or not many of them, it's kind of maddeningly boring.

BUT ... this year is different for one main reason - we have the #3 pick which is essentially the top pick after the no brainer Hughes/Kakko picks. That makes this boring no-trade lead up more like the excitement felt by kids waiting for Christmas morning to finally get here. Bore me all day - just pick a future Hawks star player tonight.

Morning.

Guaranteed the Hawks and one fantastic hockey player today

The Wiz is so very smart. Cozens at 3 - PLEASE!
- Z3Hawk

Wiz is having fun yanking fellow analysts chains!

When are they announcing what the final cap number is? Then I think the domino's start to fall.

When are they announcing what the final cap number is? Then I think the domino's start to fall.
- LAHawk

I heard the league is waiting on the players and hope to know tomorrow.

Wiz is having fun yanking fellow analysts chains!
- walleyeb1

Why would other analysts care what Wiz posts?

And by creating a moving target of prospects to "yank other analysts chains" how seriously can we take his Draftsite?

He was an offensive dynamo for sure, but he wasn't great on the defensive side of the puck. There certainly is a place for a player like that on a team, but when I think of a true #1 D, I think of someone that I put out against McDavid, Crosby, etc. Someone like Keith, Jones, Doughty, Hedman, etc. I'm not sure based on any of the analysis I've read, listened to, or watched that Byram is in that category. That's why I'm less excited about the Hawks taking him Turcotte, Cozens, Zegras, or Dach.
- Larmer

Larmer - dead on. That is my feeling as well about Byram. If you are going to go D at 3 he has to be very, very special.

I don't understand why people still justify the Byram choice by saying that we don't have a true #1 D prospect in the pipeline. We have no idea what we have because they are all 19-21 years old and are still learning how to play professional hockey. Not to mention the fact that you CANNOT project Byram there any more than the ones we currently have in the system.

1) Is Byram's D good enough (against elite competition)?
2) Was his skill/skating just so much better than everyone else's that it made up for some other deficiency?
3) Do we know how his style of play will fit into the scheme that the Hawks intend to play?

This is not me saying that I don't think he should be the pick, or that I don't like him. I just really don't understand the justification some give for him being the pick.
- Chunk

I just wasn't them to pick who they think is the best available player with the most upside as a NHL player, even if it's a winger.

Position of need, (frank) no.

Larmer - dead on. That is my feeling as well about Byram. If you are going to go D at 3 he has to be very, very special.
- Z3Hawk

How do you know he is .... or isn't?

I do not think Byram is ready for the NHL next year, but with the state of the Hawks defense right now he probably could play next year in Chicago. He will not be a #1 defenseman as a 18 year old, but he could play in Chicago's top 7. Keith, Seabrook, Jokiharju, Maatta, Gus, Murphy, and Byram. All contingent on the fact that he is good defensively of course. No, I do not want Byram as a 7th defenseman either, but those 7 blueliners look a helluva lot better than shuffling in Forsling and Slater K. Just my opinion, but I think you take the defenseman instead of Turcotte, the Hawks top 2 center in Toews and Strome looked pretty impressive last year as a 1-2 punch.
- ChicagoHope

Good to hear about Turcotte, imo. He's got hawks written all over him. (Crosses fingers) In regards to selecting Adam over Oliver last draft, I remember them saying Adam wasn't going to be on the board by the time they selected & were looking at other players. He was a player that couldn't be passed up on.

Thanks for the blogs all this week, keeping the boring times fun. You kept pumping out pieces just like you said you would. It may not have always been good news ... Corey Perry (blah) but the discussion is still great. Keep up the good work, TC!
- I Am The Breadman

Hi Breadman - I am not a Turcotte fan. I’d take the player that can skate like the wind, plays with crazy intensity on O and D and is a goal scorer and playmaker not just a playmaker. Don’t want assists at 3. That player is Cozens.

I started out a Cozens fan all the way ,and after listening to everyone on here and sports shows and reading everything I could find on the draft I am right back to Cozens as the best player available at 3 if Hughes and KK are gone .I think if he slips to LA or Col he will become that teams leader and possibly Captain . We will regret missing out on this kid mark my words ,,
As for FA I would stay away from any ageing vets and get our two kids Strom and DBC signed if they can ,I have a feeling both will have exceptional year next season . And we don't want to make the same mistake Toronto did last year ,all be it on a some what smaller scale . DBC get's over 50 next year, and he very well could ,your looking at maybe 8 to 10 mill

Sorry, I did not mean to quote my own post, hit the wrong button!! LOL, carry on DRAFT DAY BABY!!

My take:

If they take Byram: 2-3 follow up trades.
Why? StanBo has things in the works. Byram makes more D-men expendable and d-men are a hot commodity right now.

If they take Turcotte: 1 follow up trade.
Why? Clear the d room a bit. Probably doesn't like the offers he's getting, so maybe deal Forsling, Koekkoek or Dahlstrom or a couple of those.

But, it should be fun!!!
- CanOCorn

I don't think the Hawks first round draft choice will be tied to any trades Stan does or does not make.

Morning.

Guaranteed Stan will screw up the draft
- mrpaulish

Fixed.

Hi Breadman - I am not a Turcotte fan. I’d take the player that can skate like the wind, plays with crazy intensity on O and D and is a goal scorer and playmaker not just a playmaker. Don’t want assists at 3. That player is Cozens.
- Z3Hawk

Cozens is considered a straight ahead hockey player. He goes hard to the net and, if he has to, goes through people to get there. He has a good shot and is strong defensively but his hockey creativity and passing ability have been questioned. Turcotte is considered to be a more heady player who also skate well passes well has a good shot and is good defensively. But he has had some injury problems. The rankings on both players is all over the map depending on what person is doing the analysis.

I heard the league is waiting on the players and hope to know tomorrow.
- breadbag

I am not so sure a 1% to 2% is going to have a big effect, but it will have some.
Trade triggers:
1) pre draft moves today
2) a known Cap limit
3) post draft moves in the next week or so
4) pre-July 1 free agency
5) post free agency opening

My guess is that there is very little trade activity until very close to or after July 1.

So between drafting players that we probably will not see in the NHL for a year or two and the slim chance of a significant trade, we could be on hold for the next couple of weeks. Damn.

Prediction?

How do you know he is .... or isn't?
- paulr

Much of his buzz was created 2 ways. One - Vancouver had a long play-off run where he tallied points. However, in the WHL Final he was not consistently dominant and Prince Albert won. If London had been stronger at forward and had made a longer run our Boqvist may have stolen the D headlines as he had 10 goals in 11 games. Two - he is in a Draft year which is D poor. While he is the best of this year class, that is different than saying he is best or near the top over a number of years. Last year he may have been behind Dobson at 12.

Also the debate is not whether he is a talented D, it is whether he is so talented as to be a 3 and that answer is no.

Whoever they take with 3....I just think somehow Stannie boy will trade back into the first (not sure where)...and he'll be running to the microphone like a schoolboy when making the pick like he won something exciting

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=perry+fills+glove+with+water&mkt=en-ca&httpsmsn=1&refig=6979c735101348a2b7cae6b128a0e1db&sp=-1&pq=perry+fills+&sc=0-12&qs=n&sk=&cvid=6979c735101348a2b7cae6b128a0e1db&ru=%2fsearch%3fq%3dperry%2bfills%2bglove%2bwith%2bwater%26form%3dIENTHT%26mkt%3den-ca%26httpsmsn%3d1%26refig%3d6979c735101348a2b7cae6b128a0e1db%26sp%3d-1%26pq%3dperry%2bfills%2b%26sc%3d0-12%26qs%3dn%26sk%3d%26cvid%3d6979c735101348a2b7cae6b128a0e1db&view=detail&mmscn=vwrc&mid=60D6B5496D64B3562EB660D6B5496D64B3562EB6&FORM=WRVORC

By far, my favorite Perry "Pest moment".

Gotta like this one....idiot or not....

I still crack up at it!!!!
- hawk35

Ive seen those 2 guys playing golf together in London, Ont in the summers. Carter probably wasnt surprised. Perry is an instigator. And he accidently falls on a lot of goalies.

I started out a Cozens fan all the way ,and after listening to everyone on here and sports shows and reading everything I could find on the draft I am right back to Cozens as the best player available at 3 if Hughes and KK are gone .I think if he slips to LA or Col he will become that teams leader and possibly Captain . We will regret missing out on this kid mark my words ,,
As for FA I would stay away from any ageing vets and get our two kids Strom and DBC signed if they can ,I have a feeling both will have exceptional year next season . And we don't want to make the same mistake Toronto did last year ,all be it on a some what smaller scale . DBC get's over 50 next year, and he very well could ,your looking at maybe 8 to 10 mill
- oldduffman

How do you know the regret won't be because they didn't chose, Dach or Byram or Turcotte or Zegras or .....????? Unless you have seen all of these players play live multiple times, you, like me, don't have a clue who the best prospect is. That's why we all have to trust who the scouting staff chooses.

Much of his buzz was created 2 ways. One - Vancouver had a long play-off run where he tallied points. However, in the WHL Final he was not consistently dominant and Prince Albert won. Two - he is in a Draft year which is D poor. While he is the best of this year class, that is different than saying he is best or near the top over a number of years. Last year he may have been behind Dobson at 12.

Also the debate is not whether he is a talented D, it is whether he is so talented as to be a 3 and that answer is no.
- Z3Hawk

The kid could not have done much more in the playoffs, as he led it in scoring and played over 30 minutes a night. I am not saying he is perfect, but the kid put on a great show in the playoffs, and everybody did take notice how good he was during that run he had. His regular season was very good too, but he really amped it up in the postseason. How often do defensemen lead an entire league in scoring in the postseason. Very rarely, if ever.