Team: 2024-25 Chicago Blackhawks

Initial Creation Date: Feb. 1, 2024

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

2024 NHL BLACKHAWKS MOCK DRAFT SCENARIOS

First Overall (Macklin Celebrini C) - Elite Top Line Two-Way Player: Celebrini is the clear pick at number one. A great 2-way player with above-average skating, shooting, and hockey sense. He would make an amazing 1-2 punch with Bedard. Celebrini is having one of the best Freshman NCAA years in history at almost 2 ppg and was Canada's best player at the WJC. He isn't a generational player like Bedard, but he will for sure be elite.

Second Overall (Cayden Lindstrom C/LW) - Top Line Player: Lindstrom is a massive 6'5 Center/Winger who would be an amazing winger for Bedard. He's an incredible skater for his size and hands. I see him as a Malkin type of player who could be either center behind Bedard or be on the wing. The Hawks will prioritize him in the draft because of his size

Third Overall (Artyem Levshunov RD) - Number 1 Dman: Levshunov would be a great boost to the lackluster RD prospect pool. He could easily go 2nd overall but I think the Hawks should prioritize forwards. It'll be interesting to see if he is passed up on by the Hawks at 3

Fourth Overall (Cole Eiserman LW) -Top Line Scoring Winger: Eiserman has received a ton of criticism for his only shooting mentality, which is a good mentality until it means you're selfish and one-dimensional. His shot is elite and may be too good to pass up on. He has a very high ceiling but must round out his game if he wants to live up to the status he had last year.

Fifth Overall (Ivan Demidov RW) Top Line Play Making Winger: Demidov is an elite center who put up 17 pts in his last 5 games in the MHL. He will most likely be a winger in the NHL since he's an elite playmaker who plays like Mitch Marner. Taking another undersized player could be frowned upon by fans and the Russian factor could also play in, but imagine Demidov on Bedard's wing. It's too good to pass up on at number 5 and I wouldn't be disappointed.
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What if's:
If the Hawks select a forward in the top 5 then they take (Carter Yakumchuk RD) at pick number 16
If the Hawks select a d man in the top 5 then they take (Liam Green Tree LW/RW) at pick number 16
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NO PARTICULAR ORDER

Connor Bedard (Generational Center/Winger) - Bedard has clearly shown that he can dominate regardless of his size and the team that surrounds him. Almost a ppg on the worst team in the league is unbelievable and his play will only get better as he continues. I would like to see him get a bit better defensively and be stronger on pucks, but he has exceeded expectations

Alex Vlasic (Top 2 Defensive Dman) - Vlasic has had a big-time breakout season and I believe that this is just the start of what is to come. Think Nick Hjalmarsson, but with more offense. I expect Vlasic to have an even better season next year and produce more points on top of his shutdown role against top players. I've seen comparisons to Victor Hedman, but I don't think he'll be that good offensively. Still gonna be a top pairing d man though.

Kevin Korchinski (Number 1 Offensive Dman) - Although he hasn't produced points as we were hoping, the confidence is growing and Korchinski has been improving. I expect him to have a big year next year as he is still only 19 years old. Defensively he has for sure become more consistent and reliable. With a healthy lineup and some help, I believe he is on track with what the Hawks need him to be in the future.

Oliver Moore (Top 6 Center) - Moore has exploded offensively after the WJC. His speed is gonna be amazing regardless of whether he's a center or winger in the NHL. I project him to spend another year in Minnesota and dominate before making the Blackhawks roster.

Frank Nazar (Top 6 Playmaking Winger) - Nazar after the WJC also exploded offensively and looks like he will be a speedy player in the NHL. I don't think he'll be a center since Bedard is 1C and Nazar would be 2C and they're both 5'10. I like Nazar's speed on the wall anyway and I think he could see a few NHL games if the Michigan season ends early and I think he'll make the team next year.

Sam Rinzel (Top 4 Dman) - Rinzel also has been amazing since the WJC. He is almost a ppg and is the number 1 dman in Minnesota. He had a shaky WJC but that's because he wasn't playing his offensive role and needs to work on his defense if he's gonna make it to the next level. He's a long-term project, but I think one more year of Minnesota hockey before he joins the Hawks or Rockford seems right to me.

Ethan Del Mastro (Top 4-5 Dman) - Del Mastro has looked really good in Rockford as he's known to be a defensive-minded player with a bit of offense but has put up half a ppg in his first pro season. He needs a little touching up on his defensive instincts, but I think he could get a few games next year in the NHL if there are injuries. He could also be trade bait for a big trade due to LD depth but I doubt that.

Wyatt Kaiser (Number 4 Dman) - Kaiser had a rough go with the Hawks this season since he was being scratched, bottom pairing minutes, paired with Tinordi, and on RD some games. He looked amazing in the preseason and I still think he'll be good but he needs some touching up on his game if he's gonna be an every-game type of player.

Drew Commesso (Starting Goalie) - Commesso had an inconsistent Rockford season so far but he's still young. I think the Mrazek contract gives us a good timeline of when to expect him or Gajan to make the NHL jump.

Adam Gajan (Starting Goalie) - Gajan had another incredible WJC and is also having a great season. He'll be playing for Minnesota Duluth next season and the season after that, so it may be a while until he sees an NHL game but he's been a great pick so far.

Gavin Hayes (Top 9 Scoring Winger) - Hayes has an elite shot and is an absolute steal in the 3rd round. He has an interesting ceiling and needs to work on his skating. Since the trade in the OHL, Hayes has 15 points in 8 games, as he is lighting up the scoring and will be in Rockford next season. I think next season will give us a big clue about his future and if his play translates to pro hockey.

Colton Dach (Top 6 Power Forward) - Dach has had a great first pro season and preseason and is producing a ton of points in Rockford. The coaching staff wanted him to play with more physicality and he is for sure doing that while putting up dirty goals. He is a sleeper to be Bedard's future linemate at 6'4, but just like his brother Kirby, Colton has a history of concussions and staying healthy.

Ryan Greene (Middle 6 Center) Greene is a ppg at Boston right now playing on the second line behind Macklin Celebrini and has been amazing. A great 2nd round pick and could potentially end up playing winger. I believe he'll play in Rockford next season.

Paul Ludwinski (Bottom 6 Center) - Ludwinski has had a great bounce-back season in juniors, but I'm not super high on him. He just seems a little lost in the preseason and against NHL or AHL prospects. It's too early to judge, but we'll see how he turns out. He is expected to play in the AHL next season.

Nolan Allan (Bottom Pairing Dman) - Allan has been solid this season and will play next year in Rockford he's a good shutdown dman who could end up playing with Korchinski on his off side since they had a lot of success together in Seattle in juniors together.

Ilya Safonov (Bottom 6 Center) - Safonov has taken a step back in production this year in the KHL. He still has another year in his KHL deal and stated last year that he wants to play for the Blackhawks when it's up. He is a great defensive center who can win tons of face-offs he's also 6'6.