Tyler Cameron: The Blackhawks Draft Kirby Dach if… The modest and confident Kirby Dach knows he's going to be a difference maker. He already possesses an NHL type frame at 6'4 / 200 lbs… oh and he can move.

The right-handed centre would be an excellent pick in this draft and will surely go in the top 10. Should the Blackhawks take him at #3?

Let's examine...

It would be interesting to see how many NHL players became goal scorers in the NHL after only scoring 7 goals (39A) and 25 goals (48A) in their last two years of juniors. My guess is not many. I would have to pass on Dach at #3. Nice player toward the #10 pick.

Getzlaf was drafted #19 in 2003.

It would be interesting to see how many NHL players became goal scorers in the NHL after only scoring 7 goals (39A) and 25 goals (48A) in their last two years of juniors. My guess is not many. I would have to pass on Dach at #3. Nice player toward the #10 pick.

Getzlaf was drafted #19 in 2003.
- -Doh-

It would be interesting.

Sounds like Dach has always been more of a pass first kind of guy and now he's playing a little more selfish.

Will be interesting if he can build off of his 25 goal performance in the WHL next year (assuming that's where he plays).

Dach is on my list of nice players to have, happy if we select him, could be good, but would rather go a different route with the #3 selection.

Dach is on my list of nice players to have, happy if we select him, could be good, but would rather go a different route with the #3 selection.
- I Am The Breadman

In the same boat.

It would be interesting to see how many NHL players became goal scorers in the NHL after only scoring 7 goals (39A) and 25 goals (48A) in their last two years of juniors. My guess is not many. I would have to pass on Dach at #3. Nice player toward the #10 pick.

Getzlaf was drafted #19 in 2003.

Getzlaf was drafted 19th and is now 2nd in scoring in that draft. 40 points behind Eric Staal with 200 less games played.

Not sure what kind of drafts you have seen over the years but a player that projects to be around a 70 points NHL centre is worthy of a top 5 pick in almost every nhl draft ever

Getzlaf was drafted 19th and is now 2nd in scoring in that draft. 40 points behind Eric Staal with 200 less games played.

Not sure what kind of drafts you have seen over the years but a player that projects to be around a 70 points NHL centre is worthy of a top 5 pick in almost every nhl draft ever
- manvanfan

I am not knocking Getzlaf. He is a great player. I would not mind having him on the Hawks. In hindsight you can say he should have been drafted higher. But my point is that players that do not do much scoring in juniors are not often drafted with the 3rd overall pick. I would not take Dach with the 3rd overall pick. If he is still available he could be a very good pick at #10 by Vancouver.

I am not knocking Getzlaf. He is a great player. I would not mind having him on the Hawks. In hindsight you can say he should have been drafted higher. But my point is that players that do not do much scoring in juniors are not often drafted with the 3rd overall pick. I would not take Dach with the 3rd overall pick. If he is still available he could be a very good pick at #10 by Vancouver.
- -Doh-

If he’s around @ 9 doubtful... but if he is .. he’s a Duck for sure -

Since Kubalik signed, does anyone see a Kubalik-Kampf-Kahun line? I think he played with those guys before. Maybe some chemistry is there. I know we had K lines this season, but I'd be interested in seeing a Czech checking line.

I haven't seen enough of Dach to know for sure - but from what I have seen Dach doesn't have the same nasty edge Getzlaf has which makes the Getzlaf comparison not a good one. I see Dach closer to Dylan Strome than Getzlaf - great vision, pass first, with good size but not great skating. For as much as we Hawks fans were thrilled with how well Strome played for us last season - I want more from the coveted #3 spot. Yeah, Strome was selected #3 also, but Marner was selected #4 and Rantenen a few picks later. I want this years Marner/Rantenen - not this years Strome.

I am not knocking Getzlaf. He is a great player. I would not mind having him on the Hawks. In hindsight you can say he should have been drafted higher. But my point is that players that do not do much scoring in juniors are not often drafted with the 3rd overall pick. I would not take Dach with the 3rd overall pick. If he is still available he could be a very good pick at #10 by Vancouver.
- -Doh-

Mark Schiefele 22 goals year drafted.
Ryan Johansen 25 goals year drafted.

Dach 25 goals this season.

They may not be drafted with the 3oa pick but GM's are looking pretty stupid for not doing it.

I haven't seen enough of Dach to know for sure - but from what I have seen Dach doesn't have the same nasty edge Getzlaf has which makes the Getzlaf comparison not a good one. I see Dach closer to Dylan Strome than Getzlaf - great vision, pass first, with good size but not great skating. For as much as we Hawks fans were thrilled with how well Strome played for us last season - I want more from the coveted #3 spot. Yeah, Strome was selected #3 also, but Marner was selected #4 and Rantenen a few picks later. I want this years Marner/Rantenen - not this years Strome.
- EbonyRaptor

Absolutely nothing wrong with Dach's skating. It's just stupid people that believe if you aren't Mackinnon or McDavid you're too slow for the league.

Great write up TC. I agree with you that while Dach has a lot going for him, there is at least one other center who, based on all I have read, rates higher. Not to steal your thunder when you get to him but an article in the Hockey News by Ken Campbell comparing Dach to Cozens across eight categories had Cozens edging out Dach in 5 of the 8 areas. For my money I would take Cozens over Dach.

My thoughts are it better not be him or we gaffed again at #3.

Great write up TC. I agree with you that while Dach has a lot going for him, there is at least one other center who, based on all I have read, rates higher. Not to steal your thunder when you get to him but an article in the Hockey News by Ken Campbell comparing Dach to Cozens across eight categories had Cozens edging out Dach in 5 of the 8 areas. For my money I would take Cozens over Dach.
- FourOrr

You have never ever seen a highlight package of either of them playing though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnsOIh8_HWU&t=5s

Just take a look at this nice highlight package of Cozens by Andy Lehoux. Notice how many times he looses the puck to a defender. Can't beat his defender, gets the puck knocked off his stick. Andy says he's pass reception is average at best.

I don't listen to Andy's rating on the players because he give just about every 1st round pick either 4 or 5

I don't see much for hockey IQ when you pick up the puck skate forward as fast as you can and then loose the puck.

Mark Schiefele 22 goals year drafted.
Ryan Johansen 25 goals year drafted.

Dach 25 goals this season.

They may not be drafted with the 3oa pick but GM's are looking pretty stupid for not doing it.
- manvanfan

In a way you are supporting my point and it is a good caution for Hawk fans who expect the #3 pick in the draft to make a significant contribution to the team next year.
Getzlaf drafted #19 took 4 years to score 50+ points in an NHL season
Scheifele drafted #7 took 5 years to score 50+ points in an NHL season
Johansen drafted #4 took 4 years to score 50+ points in an NHL season.

GM's all look both stupid for passing on good players with early picks and genius for finding gems in later rounds. That is the nature of their position.

Absolutely nothing wrong with Dach's skating. It's just stupid people that believe if you aren't Mackinnon or McDavid you're too slow for the league.
- manvanfan

Whether or not I'm stupid is fair debate, but I never said nor believe Dach is too slow to play in the NHL. In using Strome in comparison I said I was thrilled to have him on the Hawks and I think it's fair to say Dach isn't quite as slow/lumbering as Strome.

But, when looking at the other choices available to the Hawks at #3 - Dach is the 3rd or 4th center I would select and the main reason I would prefer Turcotte, Cozens and possibly Zegras above Dach is he is not a great skater.

In a way you are supporting my point and it is a good caution for Hawk fans who expect the #3 pick in the draft to make a significant contribution to the team next year.
Getzlaf drafted #19 took 4 years to score 50+ points in an NHL season
Scheifele drafted #7 took 5 years to score 50+ points in an NHL season
Johansen drafted #4 took 4 years to score 50+ points in an NHL season.

GM's all look both stupid for passing on good players with early picks and genius for finding gems in later rounds. That is the nature of their position.
- -Doh-

Benning has stated before you are drafting a player for what you think they will turn out to be in 3-4 years not next season.

Nail Yakupov never scored 40 points and he had 31 goals.

You have never ever seen a highlight package of either of them playing though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnsOIh8_HWU&t=5s

Just take a look at this nice highlight package of Cozens by Andy Lehoux. Notice how many times he looses the puck to a defender. Can't beat his defender, gets the puck knocked off his stick. Andy says he's pass reception is average at best.

I don't listen to Andy's rating on the players because he give just about every 1st round pick either 4 or 5

I don't see much for hockey IQ when you pick up the puck skate forward as fast as you can and then loose the puck.
- manvanfan

Highlight videos in hockey are like sound bites in politics. Not worth much. The GM's and scouting staffs are watching tons of games live and watching a large number of hours of film on each player. The average fan (even hockey crazy fans) can only compose opinions from compiling scouting reports on the web from supposed "experts" and watching videos.

Whether or not I'm stupid is fair debate, but I never said nor believe Dach is too slow to play in the NHL. In using Strome in comparison I said I was thrilled to have him on the Hawks and I think it's fair to say Dach isn't quite as slow/lumbering as Strome.

But, when looking at the other choices available to the Hawks at #3 - Dach is the 3rd or 4th center I would select and the main reason I would prefer Turcotte, Cozens and possibly Zegras above Dach is he is not a great skater.
- EbonyRaptor

Take it from a Canucks fan who gets to watch Virtanen and Pettersson. Hockey IQ trumps being faster.

Benning has stated before you are drafting a player for what you think they will turn out to be in 3-4 years not next season.

Nail Yakupov never scored 40 points and he had 31 goals.
- manvanfan

Yep. A great deal of uncertainty. Great successes and epic failures.

Highlight videos in hockey are like sound bites in politics. Not worth much. The GM's and scouting staffs are watching tons of games live and watching a large number of hours of film on each player. The average fan (even hockey crazy fans) can only compose opinions from compiling scouting reports on the web from supposed "experts" and watching videos.
- -Doh-

Shall see.

Take it from a Canucks fan who gets to watch Virtanen and Pettersson. Hockey IQ trumps being faster.
- manvanfan

Fans of the Blackhawks should know this very well after watching Alexandre Fortin in action during the early part of last season. A speed demon with no idea how to play the NHL game.

Mark Schiefele 22 goals year drafted.
Ryan Johansen 25 goals year drafted.

Dach 25 goals this season.

They may not be drafted with the 3oa pick but GM's are looking pretty stupid for not doing it.
- manvanfan

When the Jets took Schiefele at the strong request of their head scout, the GM said to the scout "you just better be right about this."

There is much more than scoring statistics that go into a draft selection.

Fans of the Blackhawks should know this very well after watching Alexandre Fortin in action during the early part of last season. A speed demon with no idea how to play the NHL game.
- RickJ

Victor Stalberg.