Does Your Team Suck At Sucking? Well Here Are 2019 NHL Draft Prospects Not Named Jack Hughes Or Kakko
The Blackhawks are playing in New Jersey tonight so I wanted to do a little something for my Devils fam. Brothers in suck this year, but not bad enough to realistically be in the Hughes/Kakko range(I know the Blackhawks have played more games than Philly/OTT/LA…they’re not playing like a bottom 2 team and likely won’t end up down there). I want to inform the people out there who’s team will likely be drafting in the 3-10 range that there are other players to be excited about. Now, I’m not a scout, but I do talk to scouts and have access to the Avalanche scouting service website. These three guys are at the top of my wishlist as a Blackhawks fan. Get familiar with them so when your team innevitably loses the lottery you don’t need to be a little whiny bitch because you didn’t get Jack Hughes. Only rule for this blog: No Russians. Sorry.
1) Dylan Cozens, Center, Lethbridge
Look at this scouting report
Difference making power centre-wing with great wheels, powerful wide base and stride, motor, powerful shot and ability to use his hands to quickly take possessions and make plays. A big power player who will play in traffic every shift and do with some nasty. His veracity in puck battles along the boards makes it necessary to “double cover’ him. Very strong on his skates and shows added explosion on the attack, while being able to pass the biscuit with precision and touch. Point per game WHL rookie last season who is committed as a 200 foot player armed with deadly shot selections. This man child isn’t through filling in or building his muscle. Makes everyone around him better. Will cause problems in front, or from the perimeters. Fluid non-stop player who plays hockey smart and would fly through a wall to help his team win. Can project as a big centre as well as a big wing. The sky’s the limit.
Try not to get hard. I hate to make this comparison because he’s the worst, but this sounds EXACTLY like Ryan Kesler. Just a mean sonofabitch with a lethal shot. Can’t knock him off the puck. Great speed. He sounds like the PERFECT #1 center to build around. Captain type material who will help you win in every situation. Every team could use a guy like that.
2) Kirby Dach, Center/RW, Saskatoon
Sooooo fucking silky. Look at the first highlight again
Crazy hands, good shot, competes hard, and produces at a high level in a good league. He doesn’t have high high end skating ability but he’s able to create space and lanes in tight areas with good agility. Honestly he sounds a little like our boy Dylan Strome. Imagine having your 3 centers going Toews, Strome, Dach? Pretty good. Lot of skill. Lot of options to play with 88. Love the idea of a right-shot center playing with Kane. Dach is pronounced as “Doc” and as a t-shirt guy and a nickname guy I am already fantasizing about what we can do with #77 if he were to get drafted here.
3) Ryan Suzuki, Center/Wing, London OHL
In terms of pure offensive ability and entertainment value, Suzuki is that dude. Speed, skill, and true boom or bust type kid. He is the modern NHL forward. A little on the skinny side, but he can absolutely light it up against his peers. He’s a point per game guy for London in the OHL and will be a lock for Team Canada in the 2020 WJC. He too is projected to go anywhere from 5th to like 12th. I would bet someone inside the top 10 looking for some real offensive punch will roll the dice with him. If LA is picking in that range he’d be a nice complimentary player for them as they rebuild.
I am going to do a few more of these as the season goes along to give people hope. I started with the forwards because, well, if the Blackhawks take another defensemen high in the draft I am going to jump in the river. Not just threaten to like WSD. I will dive in.
PS: I am not sold on Hughes being this generational type guy. People comparing him to Kane or even Johnny Hockey need to chill a bit. He’s so frail and was very…whatever in the WJC. It wouldn’t shock me if he didn’t go #1 overall and I don’t think he’s a lock to play in the NHL next year.