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.
- Z3Hawk

Almost all young dmen have holes. This is why dmen usually take longer to develop. The real question is - does Byram have the hockey IQ and willingness to learn? I have seen nothing to suggest that he lacks hockey IQ or a desire to be the best

Should've got an unsportsmanlike penalty for that
- just69sayin

2min for hurt feelings

Maybe even warranted a suspension

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

I'd like to see the team draft Byram but I have no real idea if he's the BPA? That playoff run by him was special however. The US players may play against lesser competition but they practise more and should have finer skills as a result.

I have had seasons ticket to the Oshawa Generals for 20 plus years and I usually go to other towns, like Peterborough, London etc to watch junior games. I went to London 3 times this season to see Boqvist and even seeing 20 or 30 games a season I have trouble getting a great read on the Gens players. That's why the Scouts and Bowman get paid the big bucks and why I spend my money flipping burgers on tickets to generals games.

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

So this is all simply your opinion vs knowing for sure Cozens ceiling is higher? Depending on the report, I've read similar for other players like Byram, Dach or Turcotte.

Also, one of the knocks I have read on Cozens is that he doesn't necessarily think the game well and that other than his speed he doesn't possess any elite qualities.

Like others have mentioned though, if that's who Kelly and Stanbo decide, I'll go with there judgement.

Other than McNeil, they really haven't whiffed on any first round picks since Bowman's been GM. Don't (frank) it up now Stanbo!

Hawks are going to pick who they believe who has the best upside, whoever it is. That is how they ended up with Bovquist last year, who was rated 3rd but dropped for various (not talent related reasons).

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


- Rota's Rooter

hossa should have poked him one in face or nads...but he is to much of a class act to do that...

guys is super star jerkbag...glad he is done and the ducks have to eat his contract...

Hawks are going to pick who they believe who has the best upside, whoever it is. That is how they ended up with Bovquist last year, who was rated 3rd but dropped for various (not talent related reasons).
- LAHawk

Turcotte it is.

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

This. If BB is drafted it opens a lot of options to acquire additional assets. I could see guys like Mitchell and Beaudin moves then. IE: Gustaffson to VGK for Tuch, Saad and Beaudin to Carolina for Dougie Ham.

On the offensive side of the puck, what are the Hawks most devoid of?

Big guys who can skate and take the puck to the net.

To me, this is a watershed moment in the franchise, as this pick, and the lower round picks as well, will tell the story about what kind of team the FO envisions for the Hawks in the future.

There is enough finesse and skill on the roster, but the lack of push up and push back is a huge reason why the ice is titled against them so often, resulting in far too many SOG against and too many minutes spent chasing the play instead of dictating it.

Cozens is the best guy if this team is serious about getting tougher on the forecheck.

Hawks are going to pick who they believe who has the best upside, whoever it is. That is how they ended up with Bovquist last year, who was rated 3rd but dropped for various (not talent related reasons).
- LAHawk

Not hard to understand. I get why people want a certain player, but at the end of the day none of us has a real idea who is the best prospect. Especially to the point that we need to make imaginary negative scouting analysis on the player(s) we didn't choose.

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.
- RickJ

Yes but Beach was picked when Dale was GM...though I'm sure according to board (BOD) lore, it was because Stan convinced Dale that Beach was the BPA.

On the offensive side of the puck, what are the Hawks most devoid of?

Big guys who can skate and take the puck to the net.

To me, this is a watershed moment in the franchise, as this pick, and the lower round picks as well, will tell the story about what kind of team the FO envisions for the Hawks in the future.

There is enough finesse and skill on the roster, but the lack of push up and push back is a huge reason why the ice is titled against them so often, resulting in far too many SOG against and too many minutes spent chasing the play instead of dictating it.

Cozens is the best guy if this team is serious about getting tougher on the forecheck.
- Return of the Roar

I read Zegras may be the best forchecker.

Where did you hear about heart and motor? From a guy who saw him live 10 times I heard the opposite
- just69sayin

Cozens is known as a player who plays very hard on D - is relentless on D. A player who plays hard. I’d question your boy. The WHL is as tough a league as there is. I know, I live in a WHL city. The WHL is also full of elite first year players every single year. Cozens rose above and won Rookie of the Year in the WHL.

Yes but Beach was picked when Dale was GM...though I'm sure according to board (BOD) lore, it was because Stan convinced Dale that Beach was the BPA.
- HawkintheD

CAUFIELD!!!!!

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.
- RickJ

that hurts....

I read Zegras may be the best forchecker.
- paulr

I think Cozens is a better overall mix of talent.

Fixed.
- DarthKane

Lol. Dont be Stevie Rain Darth.


Now post the Bowman unicorn pic and lets get this (frank)ing day started.

On the offensive side of the puck, what are the Hawks most devoid of?

Big guys who can skate and take the puck to the net.

To me, this is a watershed moment in the franchise, as this pick, and the lower round picks as well, will tell the story about what kind of team the FO envisions for the Hawks in the future.

There is enough finesse and skill on the roster, but the lack of push up and push back is a huge reason why the ice is titled against them so often, resulting in far too many SOG against and too many minutes spent chasing the play instead of dictating it.
If they draft Cousins, in a couple of years the Hawks could field 4 big centers, Toews, Strome, Couzins, Entwhistle,

Cozens is the best guy if this team is serious about getting tougher on the forecheck.
- Return of the Roar

Almost all young dmen have holes. This is why dmen usually take longer to develop. The real question is - does Byram have the hockey IQ and willingness to learn? I have seen nothing to suggest that he lacks hockey IQ or a desire to be the best
- hankscorpio

However, remember that my major point is that Byram is not a 3, not that he isn’t talented.

I think Cozens is a better overall mix of talent.
- Return of the Roar

There are some places where I've read Zegras and a few others, in their opinion have a better overall mix of talent.

Lol. Dont be Stevie Rain Darth.


Now post the Bowman unicorn pic and lets get this (frank)ing day started.
- mrpaulish

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


- Rota's Rooter

Should have been excommunicated from the NHL... for sacrilege against St Hossa... the patron saint of 200’ ft hockey.

The players determine that?
- just69sayin

I don't understand the nuances - but I think it has something to do with the escrow and players approving or not to use the escalator.

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

Almost all young dmen have holes. This is why dmen usually take longer to develop. The real question is - does Byram have the hockey IQ and willingness to learn? I have seen nothing to suggest that he lacks hockey IQ or a desire to be the best
- hankscorpio

That's a fact. In a previous post I mentioned Doughty, Hedman, and Jones (and Keith). When those three were drafted as high as they were, they came with a "future Norris Trophy winner" label. I haven't seen or heard anything like that associated with Byram, which to me doesn't justify using the 3rd pick on him. Picking dmen is risky because they are harder to project than forwards. I can very well be wrong. If they pick Byram and he turns out to be an all that, I will be thrilled. But I'm wary of him as a third overall pick. I am more excited by the idea of adding one of the centers.