Second Round Gold: Blackhawks Draft History
Until trades change the 2015 NHL Draft order, which will inevitably happen soon, the Blackhawks don’t have a pick in this week’s Draft until the 54th overall selection because of trades they’ve already made. Chicago sent their first round pick to Arizona for Antoine Vermette and their own second round pick to Philadelphia for Kimmo Timonen.
As it stands now, the Hawks’ first pick will be the 54th overall selection – a number that has special significance in the organization’s history – because Kevin Hayes decided to sign with the Rangers last summer.
However, as history shows us, the second round has been very good to these Chicago Blackhawks.
Here are a few of the players from the 2010, 2013 and 2015 Stanley Cup Champions who were selected in the second round.
2002 – 54th overall – Duncan Keith
2003 – 52nd overall – Corey Crawford
2004 – 32nd overall – Dave Bolland
2004 – 41st overall – Bryan Bickell
2011 – 43rd overall – Brandon Saad
And another second round pick might be ready to join the mix at the United Center this fall.
2010 – 60th overall – Stephen Johns
For a complete list of Blackhawks draft picks since 1991, click here.
I would imagine Stan picks up at least 1 maybe 2 second rounders via trades. Teams like buffalo, Columbus, Arizona, have multiple first rounders and those are good as gold.
But after Friday night when teams like buffalo have their guy in Eichel and another blue chipper later in the first, i really think they start looking for NHL roster players to trade for.
Should be fun watching the wheeling and dealing on the floor of the draft.
This years draft, even as deep as it is supposed to be, does not worry me much. SB has signed some young prospects as free agents. If the Hawks can sign Reilly, that would complete the year. Any draft picks that pan out after that would be gravy.
Pretty solid group of 2nd rounders.
Even with the supposed depth of the 2015 draft, the 54th pick is probably well past a sure thing type of player, but obviously, as this thread shows, there are some gems to be found in the top-60 players.
But even if #54 doesn’t turn out to be a solid NHL player, the fact that Panarin signed with the Hawks is about the same as picking a player in the top-20 of this draft … so all is good.
And, if the Hawks should be so fortunate as to sign Reilly, that would be like picking up another player in the top-30/40 of the draft.
Oh, and there’s also Baun and Kero, two more players signed as undrafted free agents who may develop into NHL players somewhere down the line.
In other words, the Hawks have already made a nice haul and the draft hasn’t even begun.
Isn’t this just more evidence that the draft is a total crap-shoot? Three of the prime contributors to the 2013 and 2015 champs (2, 20, 50) were all second rounders and basically overlooked. For all the teeth-gnashing over the picks SB gave up to get Vermette and Timonen, it is clear that the draft is much less of a value proposition and more of a lottery ticket and even that is no guarantee (looking in your direction Buffalo).
Here’s the 2002 entry draft history. Is there one guy picked through selection 53 who would go before Keith in hindsight?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_NHL_Entry_Draft
Here’s the 2011 draft. There are maybe 4 guys who you would consider picking ahead of Saad today – Nugent-Hopkins, Landeskog (maybe), Huberdeau and Dougie Hamilton. That’s it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_NHL_Entry_Draft
The Hawks have struck gold several times in round 2, hopefully it continues but there are no guarantees. I say good on SB for making the moves to win the cup now.
…..Danault…MacNiel….Kyle Beach….all First rounders….and still in the system…it doesnt always pan out or takes too much time…Hawk scouts are the best!….
I am curious to see what SB can get for Sharp… 1st rounder + ?
Also, can he find a taker and get a pick for Bickell?
Hopefully cuz that frees up around $10 million in cap space. We will need it!
I’m pretty sure Kyle Beach is not in the Hawks system anymore. Last report I saw of him was he was playing in Europe somewhere.
The Cap is set….$71.4 max…..$52.8 min
SB can get a lot for Sharp but Sharp is only obligated to allow a trade to 10 teams. I believe Sharp has given those teams to management or will do so soon. That ties SB’s hands a little as some of those teams are bound to have Cap issues as well. However, I am confident that SB, Sharpie and Chicago will part in good terms.
Bickell, not so much. $4mm is a big sum for what turned into a role player for much of this year. What scares me is no deal for him before the draft and really scared if we get to free agency and he is not traded. If SB is forced into a fire sale with Bicks….we will get nothin.
Someone like Buffalo or Arizona will take Bickell. Teams have to reach the cap floor too…
that said… i wouldn’t expect more than a 4th.
here’s to hoping for a 3rd, expecting a 4th, and realistically being ok with a 5th.
IMO a couple of the Canadian teams would agree to Bickel, Ottawa being one, they could use some help from a guy with playoff performance history.
How the money would work out is another story, as well as the return, but there will be a few teams interested. He’s from the Ottawa area too so there’s that.
$71.4 cap. Gotta get busy …
Hof-
I’ll give you the Ottawa vicinity, but he grew up in Orono-about half an hour from T.O.
(I lived in the Ottawa Valley until leaving for school and as you know Ottawa and Toronto are rivals).
That said I like the Senators idea. A childhood friend and teammate is their President (Cyril Leeder) and I will see him in a few weeks-will ask him if they had any consideration of getting him-if they don’t
After the 2015/16 Cap was announced, a collective sigh of relief could be heard in certain NHL cities, Chicago being one of them. The key was whether or not the players would elect to use the escalator and the fact they voted “yes” means the Cap is $71.4M instead of ~$68M. That $3.4M is probably the difference between the Hawks being strong enough to defend their crown next season and struggling to get out of the first round. That’s the difference between a Johnny Oduya re-signing and a rookie in the top-4, or having to trade Crawford, or maybe not being able to match an offer sheet on Saad.
HUGE.
Everyone take a breath now.
Noons, my mistake, I think Bicks played for the 67’s did he not?
I don’t think they used their escalator, if the cap was going to be around 69 mil they would have but 71.4 was about what was expected, don’t forget thou the salary cap will see a big jump after the 16-17 season because of the World Cup of hockey
Bickell has some sort of modified NTC in his contract. Further, whoever picks him up has to pay him $9mm over 2 years (not $8mm).
Bickell’s contract paid him $3mm and 4mm over the last 2 years and he is due $4.5mm per year over the next 2 years……A $4mm AAV or Cap hit. Question: Can the Hawks pay the half million that is over the Cap hit without effecting the teams’ overall Cap????
No Mike whatever amount the Hawks pay comes out of the salary cap
And Chris, the NHLPA did vote for the 5% escalator which is indeed huge for the Hawks
Hof-
Yes he did, a think for a few years so he may love that area. (and going to Hull underage)
He played there pretty much 4 full yrs.