Yes, sort of...

Cozens, like Beach, is physically gifted at playing hockey... but, the reason why Beach never panned out in the NHL was because of what was (or wasn’t ) between his ears.
- Chief4Feathers

Well, ROY in the WHL doesnt mean too much in the NHL so doesnt mean much to me

Elite forwards? Hughes and Kakko are the only true elite forwards. Turcotte, Cozens, Dach and Zegras are very promising talents but none fall into that elite category. That is the problem with this year's draft. There is Hughes/Kakko and then everyone else.
- hankscorpio

That is where this year’s Draft is messed up. This won’t be popular but here goes. The young US players had a showcase at the Worlds and did absolutely nothing. Hughes at the World Championships did less than nothing. Then he skipped the Combine. Hughes should not be 1. Kakko should be 1, having excelled as a mature player across the board. Also the fall to 3 is not as far as is widely held. I don’t think there is that great a fall at all.

I actually think Hughes is going to be a bust or simply average. Also his stats are make believe, run up the score, stats. However, he had basically no stats when the opposition got tougher. Hughes looks like he’s 12. I would have been interested in seeing his Combine weight and other stats. Remember that Kane went to London, in the tough OHL, to prove he could compete. Kakko was not always a consensus 2 either. Hughes has been the consensus 1 but it is as if by inertia.

The Hawks at 3 have an opportunity to chose a player, a leader that may prove best in the Draft, in exactly the same way that Toews was. The Hawks cannot blow this opportunity.

Well, ROY in the WHL doesnt mean too much in the NHL so doesnt mean much to me
- PatShart

Ok snowflake...

Here's an article singing the praises of Bowen Byram.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...am-best-defenceman-draft/
- boilermaker100

Byram will not be taken at 3.

Ok snowflake...
- Chief4Feathers

Whatever wussywillow

Can anyone name a Top Line Center under 6' in the NHL today?

You’d have to ask him!
- walleyeb1

Preach the word wiz!

Well you've convinced me. You would think at the ripe old age of 18 he would have figured that out by now.
- Rota's Rooter

Last game Byram played was Game-7 in the WHL championship and he was still 17. Like Boqvist, Byram is one of the youngest players in his draft class. The criticism Wiz and a couple others have said regarding Byram's defensive play is not slow to react or slow in any respect - it's play recognition and they all say he has been able to mask that issue because he's such a great skater. None of them state the problem of play recognition is due to low hockey IQ - in fact they all say his hockey IQ is very good. Therefore, improving defensive play recognition should be something can be learned and improved upon. Should not be a red flag for not believing he will be a #1 d-man in the future.

Can anyone name a Top Line Center under 6' in the NHL today?
- EnzoD

Sydney Crosby.

Sydney Crosby.
- EbonyRaptor

he's 6' I thought?

EDIT: NVM he's 5'11 per NHL.com. I think whoever they take will be a GOOD NHL Player, but who has the highest potential to be GREAT?? Hard to say but man Byram is a monster as are Cozens and Dach.....

Russ Cohen has 3,4 and 5 being Turcotte, Byram, Dach.
- LAHawk

Heard him explaining why he has Turcotte going at #3. This is funny, but it’s because he didn’t have a poker face at the combine! He was singing all the Blackhawks praises, how much he likes Toews etc..... So he saw that as a tell that the Blackhawks were taking him and he gave the secret away. Yeah ok!

Can anyone name a Top Line Center under 6' in the NHL today?
- EnzoD

Reported 6ft or really 6ft?

Aho in CAR isnt that big...he comes to mind
Max Domi maybe as well?

he's 6' I thought?
- EnzoD

5'11" / 200lbs.

All in good fun! Been there! Plus, who doesn't like reliving that screw up!

- resqmed99

Exactly.....It's easy to laugh at this mistake that's for sure.

When we draft him, he'll be knows as Bo anyway. Hopefully not a BO-ZO !!

Can anyone name a Top Line Center under 6' in the NHL today?
- EnzoD

Wait let me look, nah forget it better things to do with my time.

Should've got an unsportsmanlike penalty for that
- just69sayin

Anytime that mofo stepped on the ice he should have received an unsportsmanlike penalty. He seems like a guy who would kick his cat after a bad game.

That is where this year’s Draft is messed up. This won’t be popular but here goes. The young US players had a showcase at the Worlds and did absolutely nothing. Hughes at the World Championships did less than nothing. Then he skipped the Combine. Hughes should not be 1. Kakko should be 1, having excelled as a mature player across the board. Also the fall to 3 is not as far as is widely held. I don’t think there is that great a fall at all.

I actually think Hughes is going to be a bust or simply average. Also his stats are make believe, run up the score, stats. However, he had basically no stats when the opposition got tougher. Hughes looks like he’s 12. I would have been interested in seeing his Combine weight and other stats. Remember that Kane went to London, in the tough OHL, to prove he could compete. Kakko was not always a consensus 2 either. Hughes has been the consensus 1 but it is as if by inertia.

The Hawks at 3 have an opportunity to chose a player, a leader that may prove best in the Draft, in exactly the same way that Toews was. The Hawks cannot blow this opportunity.
- Z3Hawk

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

If I knew how to cue-up The Wiz scene from Seinfeld I surely would.

Again I am not saying Byram does not have positive attributes he does. However, what I am saying is, after reading and watching, to take him as a D at 3, over the elite forwards, he would need to be a generational talent or near that and nothing suggests that he is.
- Z3Hawk

That kind of assessment is way above my pay grade. Have to leave that to the Blackhawks scouting staff and Bowman.

worried about turcottes recent injury history. also worried that McD is whispering in Stans ear, telling him to take the Chitown kid cause it would make for good PR.
I LIKE COZENS!!!!

So still no trades or legit rumors...

Kyle Beach also won WHL ROY...so am I to be impressed by that?
- PatShart

You can’t compare Kyle Beach to anyone, are you kidding? Beach, who one would have thought would be a quintessential Q guy couldn’t get out of his own way and his “way” was always the wrong way for Q it seemed. His concussions and injuries did not help.

Hey gang... seems to be a calm before storm.

I don't have much but sounds like the Hawks are interested in Perry (yuck!).

I'll keep you posted if anything else comes up.

worried about turcottes recent injury history. also worried that McD is whispering in Stans ear, telling him to take the Chitown kid cause it would make for good PR.
I LIKE COZENS!!!!
- Nmbr1

If he didnt have a serious Hip Injury I would be 100% onboard with Turcotte as the pick. I'm confident that Turcotte will be a solid 2C, but I think there could be more upside/ceiling in Dach or Byram. A lot to love about Turcotte's combination of skill and will/heart/compete, but a 17yr old that dominated the big boy Jr League of the WHL and draws Scott Neidermeir comparisons......

Byram, Dach, Turcotte, Cozens in that order for my preferences. If they aren't taking Byram I think they should aggressivley pursue a trade down with LA/DET/COL

Hey gang... seems to be a calm before storm.

I don't have much but sounds like the Hawks are interested in Perry (yuck!).

I'll keep you posted if anything else comes up.
- Tyler Cameron

via GIPHY