Chicago Blackhawks: Dylan Cozens might be the right choice at no. 3
The Chicago Blackhawks are going to make the third overall pick barring a trade and it is very important for their future to get it right.
It has been made very clear that the Chicago Blackhawks have a few very interesting options at third overall in the 2019 NHL Draft. The most likely might be Dylan Cozens. If the Blackhawks were to decide on a forward, he would be their best guess as he has been one of the highest touted forward prospects for the entire 2018-19 season.
Cozens played his junior hockey for the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League. He had a very impressive career there and he has earned his stock in the draft. If it weren’t for a few potential superstars at the top of his class, he would be even more sought after. In 68 games for the Hurricanes, he had 34 goals and 58 assists for 84 points. Those are very impressive numbers for the WHL or any level for that matter.
He plays center and right wing so the versatility would be something that the Blackhawks could really use. He could start at wing and as he gets used to the NHL he could eventually transition to the center position if that is how the Blackhawks wanted to approach it. If the Blackhawks were to draft Cozens, it is not a guarantee that he would play for them right away.
If Cozens came to the Blackhawks, it is almost certain that he would start off as a wing. They have Jonathan Toews and Dylan Strome down the middle and they would probably want to get Cozens sometime in the top six forward group as he gets his feet wet in the NHL. That would mean playing wing with one of those centers. Kane and Toews could be a pair again this season and Strome could be paired with Alex DeBrincat again. Cozens could be the third member of either of those lines.
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No matter what the selection is, the Blackhawks are going to get a great player. With that said, there is a really good chance that Cozens is the guy they ultimately go with. It is an important offseason for Chicago, so hopefully, this ultimately works itself out.