(670 The Score) Jonathan Toews. Cam Barker. Eddie Olczyk. Denis Savard.
Those are the four players the Blackhawks have drafted when they have held the No. 3 overall pick. Wasn't it Meatloaf who said, "Three out of four ain't bad"? Something like that, anyway.
On Tuesday, the hockey world was caught off guard when the Blackhawks unexpectedly landed the No. 3 pick again in the upcoming draft despite holding the 12th-best odds.
Needless to say, it's a huge game changer in the Blackhawks' "rebuild on the fly" and virtually guarantees them an impact player at that spot. General manager Stan Bowman, who said he had a premonition a while back that the Blackhawks would be picking third, was happy as could be.
"To be standing in this spot is pretty unique," Bowman told reporters. "We're pretty excited.
"At the early part of the season, it looked like we were going to be picking in that spot, so we have a pretty good handle on that spot."
If there's any downside in landing the No. 3 pick, it's that this is considered a two-player draft. Unless the Devils at No. 1 and the Rangers at No. 2 lose their minds, American center Jack Hughes will be the top pick and Finnish winger Kaapo Kakko will second. That leaves more intrigue and less certainty in the Blackhawks' slot at No. 3.
Let's take a look at some of the early options.
Bowen Byram, defenseman, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Byram is the top defenseman available in this draft. While the Blackhawks have a huge logjam on defense, it's unclear whether they have a true No. 1 on the blue line. Byram projects to be a true No. 1. A tremendous skater and offensive defenseman, Byram is also a plus defender who logged huge minutes as a 17-year-old. He's the most NHL-ready, a scouting source told me, and is arguably the best available of the players who will likely be there at No. 3 for the Blackhawks.
"Defensive prospects are like pitchers -- you can never have too many of them," the source said.
Dylan Cozens, center, Lethbridge (WHL)
If early Twitter conversation is to be believed, these are the prospects whom most fans and analysts like for the Blackhawks. At 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, Cozens already has an NHL body and could provide the power forward play the Blackhawks have lacked since Bryan Bickell had those really excellent few months.
For a player of his size, Cozens has tremendous speed and hands. He's versatile enough to play wing, and while he may not project to a star, he could be an ideal second-line center. He's a high-character player, which can often make the difference when deciding between similar players.
Vasili Podkolzin, right wing, SKA (KHL)
Everything equal, Podkolzin would be the player I'd like the Blackhawks to select. The trouble is he's under contract with SKA for two more seasons and likely won't make the move to the NHL until then at the earliest.
The Blackhawks need help as soon as possible and likely won't be willing to wait for Podkolzin. That said, whenever he does arrive in the NHL, he will be an elite scorer. Without talents like Hughes and Kakko at the top, Podkolzin could be a No. 1 overall pick, a scouting source said. Like several Russian wingers before him, Podkolzin is hugely skilled.
Corey Pronman, the head NHL prospects writer at The Athletic, believes Podkolzin would be the Blackhawks' best prospect in 10 years. Aside from his offensive ability, he's a tremendous competitor. I'd stop short of comparing him to Alex Ovechkin, but the scouting reports can't help but remind you of the future Hall of Famer.
Alex Turcotte, center, USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USHL)
When it comes to Turcotte, think Red Wings center Dylan Larkin -- fast and skilled with two-way play. Turcotte is the total package.
There's some concern after he suffered a major hip injury early last season, but when he returned, he looked better than ever, average 2.13 points per game. He probably isn't worthy of the third overall pick, but we've seen Bowman reach down for a player he really likes (Adam Boqvist), even when players whom the consensus considered better were available. Turcotte is a local kid from Island Lake and an alum of the Chicago Mission. He's committed to Wisconsin for next season, so he wouldn't make an immediate jump to the NHL.
If the draft was today, I'd learn toward Byram. Podkolzin is tempting, but the uncertainty of his NHL jump makes me stay away. With Byram, adding a potential No. 1 defenseman at an entry-level contract solves a lot of problems for Chicago. Brent Seabrook's deal doesn't hurt as bad in such a situation, as you don't need the money to add his replacement. Also, the Hawks woudn't need Henri Jokiharju to stand alone as their sole two-way defenseman.
The NHL Draft will be held in Vancouver on June 21. Be sure to check out 670theScore.com and the Madhouse Chicago Hockey Podcast for more coverage as we approach this historic day in Blackhawks history.
Jay Zawaski is the executive producer of the Bernstein & McKnight Show on 670 middays from 9 a.m. to noon and a columnist for 670 The Score. He's also the co-host of the Madhouse Chicago Hockey Podcast, which is available on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify or your preferred podcast app. Follow him on Twitter @JayZawaski670.
