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.
- Z3Hawk

How are you so certain?

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?
- paulr

You’d have to ask him!

I was pretty certain that my drafts were being cloned and also used as parts of consensus built mocks by more that two publications, and I knew that it wasn't going to hurt anything to do a merry go round over the course of the next days while I actually am feverishly looking through scribbles and trying to find why I justified putting everyone in the 7 rounds at all. IT IS GOOD for internet Hits(Business) if there suddenly is a new order to things...
There was not any part of today that I didn't spend on the draft, because I have to ready to load every REAL pick so I have to keep adding to my "not seven ads", if they are eligible and the teams select them...they are not one person....likeme.

But what I came across by way of a FRIEND WHO PAID FOR a couple online draft downloads is they read like mine, too close in both slot and words that my paranoia set in...and these sites had a dozen writers/prognosticators and I started thinking....here, this something I love doing.. a gift...free to all..my gift...my opinion, (and one that seems to place stress on my marriage due to my fanatic devotion of time) an opinion you can decide to take, or dispute, but to see it used to SELL some download is to me lazy and wrong, and I kinda want to find a way hold back my opinions and have them appear like tomorrow instead of all year round.
Part of today was trying to have some loose decision on the top four rounds for next year...sure very early and fluid, but I wanted to give everyone a look forward to junior play for August 2019 until June draft 2020,,,,I am starting to think I may just nOT do that put one round and let them do their own work!

Paul: All year it is Wiz puts the players as if I am each team, debating until my head explodes but I love doing it...
NOW in the next few by Friday noon, a non travel day, I will try and have player to team, and that is already starting to line up....

I just want to say this once:
If anyone thinks Bowen Byram is ACTUALLY destined to be an all around impact number one defender (and that the deficits that I have brought up and a couple other folks are now acknowledging), the entire draft board is stuck at slot three (causing us an inability to try and fill after the three slot forward tumble) is resolved in one of the following:
a) The Hawks are attempting to enjoy the projections of Byram there and will be involved in discussions of plenty of scenarios that are short jumps where they still secure a big centre/big player?
b) This would mean they HAVE decided on going for an impact forward.
c) The only logical trade down candidate WOULD be the Kings and at this point I have pretty much convinced myself that the prowess of Spencer Knight, his upside in place athleticism is going to NOT SEE HIM on the board by that second Kings (Leaf's) pick at slot 22...he won't last, and they are not trading the pick for Derek Forbort or a player on a King's teamer to another lower than slot 6. Not good business long term for the franchise.
d) The Blackhawks have locked on Byram and are not looking back and his defensive failing are only a figment of my imagination and he a good business decision for the state of Chicago NHL hockey and
e) The hawks are bypassing the forward position in this FAT class of upside forwards, or
f) They are trying to sucker the Rangewrs to make a mistake.
- wiz1901

So. what about rounds 2-3-4 etc?

Any players stick out that the Hawks may be looking at?

How are you so certain?
- paulr

Agreed, if the Hawks take him at #3, they obviously think he is a Top 3 talent.

So. what about rounds 2-3-4 etc?

Any players stick out that the Hawks may be looking at?
- stan-ley-cups

Nah. Those dont matter at all

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

What's up, Z3? I'm fine with like 5 players tbh. I hear your concerns, and it's cool. Turcotte, from what I've read, is a cerebral player & that draws me in, personally. I don't think Cozens is a bad pick, just not the way I'd go. I'll be happy with whoever though.

Excuse my dyslexia. ...I'll refer him as BB from now on.
- Hawkytalk

Someone say BB???

So. what about rounds 2-3-4 etc?

Any players stick out that the Hawks may be looking at?
- stan-ley-cups

I am eligible. Although, I am not sure that a 46 year old with skating deficiencies, good wood working skills and a good sense of humor is what they are looking for.

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.
- paulr

Of course he does. Reading is a skill, and from the multiple scouting reports from various online sites, it's relatively easy to see that Caufield is the player the Hawks will most likely regret not choosing.

Yeah but, this isn't "grit". This is being an ass.


- Rota's Rooter

Should've got an unsportsmanlike penalty for that

You’d have to ask him!
- walleyeb1

I saw that, it was in response to my post where I asked why he kept changing his rankings. Other sites ranking have been pretty static for a month, Wiz's have been changing almost daily. Seems like only Wiz's chain is being yanked and he's doing the yanking.

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.
- paulr

You can’t teach elite world-class skating and Cozens is top of the Draft, just as Boqvist was. Also can’t teach heart and motor where Cozens is also top of Draft. Goal scorer too. Your criticism about Cozen’s skill/creativity has also been made against Turcotte. Critics say he doesn’t separate himself from the other US players and he should be separate to be 3. Ceiling higher with Cozens I think. Cozens thinks ready for NHL already, mainly based on skating and shot. Can also play wing - could be Kane’s right shooting LW.

How are you so certain?
- paulr

He and elbows know everything about everything, just read their bullpoop

Because no one agrees on who is the best talent available, let's trade #3 to Colorado for #4 and #16 or to LA for #5 and #22.

Of course he does. Reading is a skill, and from the multiple scouting reports from various online sites, it's relatively easy to see that Caufield is the player the Hawks will most likely regret not choosing.
- HawkintheD

Hello, HawkintheD(arthKane)

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

Waiting on what players...how, for what?

Cozens has my vote... and has from the beginning.

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.
- paulr

You are right .Just going by what I have learned over many years of watching drafts and reading draft projections .Byram is the best defenseman in a weak D draft year ,don't think he is worth a 3 overall . The USA team players IMO face a weaker schedule and run up the score at times against weak teams for personnel stats . Nothing is for sure and I am the 1st to admit I have been wrong before .Cozens and Dach are one two for me .

Waiting on what players...how, for what?
- just69sayin

The final salary cap number.

You can’t teach elite world-class skating and Cozens is top of the Draft, just as Boqvist was. Also can’t teach heart and motor where Cozens is also top of Draft. Goal scorer too. Your criticism about Cozen’s skill/creativity has also been made against Turcotte. Critics say he doesn’t separate himself from the other US players and he should be separate to be 3. Ceiling higher with Cozens I think. Cozens thinks ready for NHL already, mainly based on skating and shot. Can also play wing - could be Kane’s right shooting LW.
- Z3Hawk

Where did you hear about heart and motor? From a guy who saw him live 10 times I heard the opposite

Because no one agrees on who is the best talent available, let's trade #3 to Colorado for #4 and #16 or to LA for #5 and #22.
- hankscorpio

Great idea...the Hawks seem to know who they want at #3...would be a risk to trade the pick and not get their guy but maybe they get him anyways at 4 or 5...

How are you so certain?
- paulr

From watching and reading. Byram does not transition well from O to D. If a play stalls often does not chose the most sound strategy. He has defensive holes.

Prediction?


- PatShart

🤪😭

The final salary cap number.
- paulr

The players determine that?

You are right .Just going by what I have learned over many years of watching drafts and reading draft projections .Byram is the best defenseman in a weak D draft year ,don't think he is worth a 3 overall . The USA team players IMO face a weaker schedule and run up the score at times against weak teams for personnel stats . Nothing is for sure and I am the 1st to admit I have been wrong before .Cozens and Dach are one two for me .
- oldduffman

Decisions decisions. Remember when the Hawks picked Kyle Beach 4 spots ahead of Erik Karlsson?

Just trade the pick Stan and avoid any potential embarrassent 5 years from now.