I'd like the opinion of an avs fan on this : wouldn't you prefer drafting Bowen Byram at #4 instead of Cozens, and have Byram - Makar , Girard - Barrie pairings?

Sounds pretty good to me!

It all depends on what their plan is with Barrie...if they know they are going to resign him after the playoffs (which I hope they do) then the D core is set for a while in EJ, Barrie, Makar, Giard, Cole, Zads...with Timmins, Meloche, Graves as the young guys fighting for roster spots.

Byram would be a smart safe pick regardless what they do with Barrie but guys like Boldy are becoming a tempting option as well since he is rising up the charts, wouldnt be shocked to see him in the 5-6 spot ranked by the time the draft weekend

Pretty low on big Z

Also think they go with Bynam

I would for sure, I think Barrie is going to leave, either via trade or UFA. I think it would be smart to replace him with someone who will come in later down the line. I get the argument that Makar will replace Barrie, but why not have both. Plus, the avs have two picks in a deep draft so they could grab another good forward with that pick, if they don't pick Knight.

Byram & Knight for me.

Zadorov will get more for longer IMHO.

Avs need for a quality C prospect is greater than their need for a D propect.
Avs have Girard (20), Makar (20), Timmins (20), Zadorov (24).
Who is the Avs future 2C? Jost? Kamanev? Compher? no thanks

Did Shane Bowers die?

May as well have, not the kind of core player of the future like cozens, zebras, or dach will be... why pick another dman when you have such a deep defense prospect pool to pull from, when the problem for the last 2 years has been depth scoring

oh just saying he was listing off all these Cs and didnt mention Bowers who projected to be a 2C if he hits all his potential. I dont think dach or cozens are core level talent, they are going to be valuable as a high end complimentary to the core players, Any C that is drafted at 4AO is not going to be able to step into the league for 2 seasons. By then Avs wll have that position figured out either internally from a Jost, Kerfoot, Compher, Kam, Bowers winning the job, or they fix it via a Barrie trade (I hope they resign him personally) or they dip into UFA for a Kevin Hayes

What has Shane Bowers done to prove hes a 2C? Bowers is not transforming to a full time 2C (not in the next 2 seasons at least)

and neither is any of the 4th pick guys. Bowers is projected to be a 2C if he hits all his potential. The same as any of the guys in this year draft...I just am just pointing out how you omitted him from the list of potential 2C solutions

Well we've seen that jost cant handle it, compher and kaut are wingers, kerfoot shows up once every 20 games. I would say at least attempt to look for a forward, dach, zebras, or cozens would be ready in a forward starved avs lineup 1 season after they're drafted, byram likely has to wait until Coles contract expires
The avs are so deep on defense that they are probably going to end up trading Barrie, to make room for all their guys

I woldnt say Jost cant handle it. He hasnt really been given that chance. When they did break up the top line and had Landy with Jost, that was his best and complete he has looked as a C, I am still in the belief that Jost with more experience wingers he is a 2nd line C in this league.

I am not writing that guy off yet, his complete level and hockey IQ, 2 traits you can carve out a good role in this league. Its take Best Player available, I just dont want the Avs to feel like they need to take a C bc there is some fear they are weak at the position now? Lots of scouting and movement in the rankings from 3-10 still to happen. Look at matthew boldy, he is getting crazy hype right now and climbing a lot of draft boards. Could he slide into teh top 5 by the time the draft comes along?

Bowers doesn’t become Avs 2C within the next 3-4 seasons. Nothing he has done to date demonstrates he has that ability. Fun facts for you:
1) Bowers regressed in his second year of NCAA
2) Bowers was planning on returning to NCAA next year but after the program lost all good players, he changed his mind and signed with Colorado

You can’t compare 2019 draft prospects to Bowers. Bowers has had 2 full seasons head start (since being drafted) and has yet to impress. Cozens 2 years after being drafted will have a better resume than Bowers has today.

dude did Bowers kick your dog or something. You completely glossed over the fact I said IF HE HITS ALL HIS POTENTIAL. Settle down man

I think he's just upset you are saying a Shane Bowers whos probable top is 3c, is better than the ranked 4th overall pick in the upcoming draft??

Nevers said that. I said Bowers has the potential to be a 2C. and I said that someone who is picked at 4th Overall wont be the 2C within the next 2 seasons. My message might have been skewed saying I don't think they will ever be a 2C just that you arent seeing a 2C out of the gate at 4OA, but you could have an outside shot with a guy like Bowers IF HE HITS ALL HIS POTENTIAL

Bowers safe bet is 3C bc it would be very rare for him to hit all his potential that he had when he was drafted. Thats all my point was, to list other Cs on the roster and just not even name the orgs best C prospect right now was odd to me.

2C going into next season will always be a subject of convo, but whoever you pick at 4th isnt solving that for next season, long term maybe, but wont be the solution for 2019-20

Big deep breathes man. Big deep breathes.

This guy gets it +1

so you are just going to ignore what I actually write or just go on a rant?

I usually respect your opinion on here man, but what your saying is ludicrous, an NCAA guy who went 28th overall 2 years ago and has actually declined in play since, magically hits his max potential now in the nhl... would be more use than a 4oa highly talented CHL c/rw... come on man, he wouldnt be the first 4oa guy to come in and make a difference right away

@coga16 this ^

Bowers has not done anything in the past 24 months to prove/demonstrate that he will be a #2C in this league.
Id gamble that the #4th OA pick this year, in 24 months time, will look more promising than Bowers does today.

Bowers regressed this NCAA year, went to the AHL for a few weeks and is centering line #4...

yes statline went done but what is the context of last year....the program was in complete shambles last year after Quinn left to be the Rangers HC and Tkachuk left. No one on that team was very good last year, so what did you expect? Discouraging that it wasnt a better offensive year for him but he did make WJC for Team Canada and I thought he was one of the btter well rounded fowards on that group who disappointed as well as a a team.

My point is that Bowers still has the potential and is ahead of the development game bc yes in fact he is 2 years older. Its is very very very rare for 18 year old to come into this league and be good at Centre. so to expect the 2C next year to be the 4OA pick...thats just very wishful thinking. You will have to wait an additional 2 more years at a min to see the 4AO player plug in to paly the position well. Thats all my point is. The 4th overall pick can make the team, absolutely, but to expect him to anchor the 2nd line, if people are annoyed at Jost at C, I think you will expect more the same if you put that guy in that position. Especially in our division, if you draft a C at 4 and they make the team, they will start off at Wing in the top 6 or a bottom 6 C and work their way up. Still doesnt answer the 2C roster question which is the whole point of this

Its not Bowers is better than this player, hell no hes not, just that you have a C who is suppose to max out as a 2C in this league, Its just wild that people are just saying hes trash now and disregarding him bc he didnt have as strong as a of year as last year but ignore the context of what was going on with his NCAA program

Bowers has played 6 games in the AHL...jesus man you are trying to skew some sort of narrative around him for no reason. What is he suppose to just jump into a top 6 spot right out of the gate for a team who were deep in a playoff hunt, stealing someone eles spot when they are trying to make the playoffs? Its shocking at how negative you are trying to spin things

Hasnt done anything in the past 24 months? So that means you are disregarding his first year at BU that you were comparing to his year too as a disappontment, and just omitting he made Canada WJC....as a NCAA player, you realize that doesnt happen often unless you a star name bc Hockey Canada awlays defaults to CHL guys? Who also played well at the WJC in his role.

Sorry but you are really going out of your way to hate and not even tryign to keep an open mind here, which is shocking. I dont get it