Who The Experts Think The Blackhawks Will Draft
The NHL formally announced the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The Chicago Blackhawks, by virtue of their earning a playoff appearance, own the 17th overall selection in the first round.
So what will the Blackhawks do at 17?
We’ll offer our own breakdown of prospects who might be on the Blackhawks’ radar in the coming weeks and, ultimately, make our prediction. As a reminder, last year we were the only outlet to predict the Blackhawks selecting Kirby Dach third overall.
Making a prediction at third overall is significantly easier than 17. There can (and likely will) be trades that impact the top 16 picks, and there are so many variables heading into the coming offseason that have never been in play before because of the COVID-19 pandemic that we are heading for an offseason unlike any in history.
But in the interim it’s worth looking around to see what the experts think the Blackhawks will do.
With the focus of most of the hockey world still on the Stanley Cup Final, mock drafts haven’t been as frequent as they are in most years within a couple weeks of the actual event. Indeed, TSN and Sportsnet haven’t offered their predictions yet. We have plenty of rankings, but very few notable, complete first round mock drafts.
Here are a few updated mock drafts’ picks for the Blackhawks:
- Draftsite.com – Dylan Holloway, LW, Wisconsin
- MyNHLDraft.com – Dylan Holloway, LW, Wisconsin
- TheSportsBank.net – Yaroslav Askarov, G, MHL
Corey Pronman – The Athletic (Aug. 10)
Dawson Mercer, C, Chicoutimi-QMJHL
6-0, 179
Shoots: Right
DOB: Oct. 27, 2001
“Chicago tends to target skill and hockey sense in its draft picks, attributes that Mercer has in bunches. I think fellow Canadian centers Connor Zary or Seth Jarvis, if he gets to No. 17, also make sense for those reasons. Russian winger Rodion Amirov had a strong summer tournament for Russia’s U20 team and some scouts think he moved his way into the mix in the teens, which would also make sense for Chicago and the kind of player they like.”
Scott Powers comments (Sept. 21):
“Rodion Amirov may have the highest ceiling of the remaining players, but I’m not sure the Blackhawks are willing to be that patient for this draft pick’s NHL arrival. There’s a lot to like about Mercer anyway. He has elite hands and vision. He’s going to carry the puck into the zone and create offensive opportunities. He’s also solid enough defensively and possesses enough size. He can be ready in a few years to be in the Blackhawks’ lineup, likely as a winger, and complement the skilled forwards they already have in place.”
Chris Peters – ESPN (Aug. 31)
Lukas Reichel, LW, Eisbaren Berlin (Germany)
6-0, 172
Shoots: Left
DOB: May 17, 2002
“The Blackhawks have needs throughout their system, though they look pretty loaded on the blue line at the moment. In this range, there remains a number of quality skill players, and Reichel provides a particularly high reward. He has raw skill, and as he tacks on some muscle, he has legitimate top-six upside. There are safer picks, but based on how our board has shaken out so far, among the available prospects, ceilings aren’t much higher than Reichel’s. He shows great hands and offensive sense.”
1. Dylan Holloway
2. Seth Jarvis
3. Yaroslav Askarov
4. Dawson Mercer
5. Jacob Perreault
6. Lucas Reichel
7. Mavrik Bourque
8. Connor Zary
9. Braden Schneider
10. Justin Barron
My top 10 favorite Pick for the Hawks
I think it’s safe to say that Jarvis and Askarov will be gone. In terms of talent, Perrault is amazing when he shows up. Too many scouts comment on his attitude problems to make him anything other than a gamble.
If I were the Hawks I would grab Schneider or Mercer. Both great players.
It will be interesting to see how the first round plays out..after the first 8 picks or so, the next 15 could be ranked differently by just about every nhl team..I will say this in the interest of ”glass half full”..since the Hawks have so many defensemen in the pipeline and Dach on the roster, they have the luxury of not having to reach for a center or a defenseman like I think some of the teams picking ahead of them will..meaning, if a couple teams reach for a defenseman, an upside center could slide..and vice versa, if there is a run on centers from picks 10-15, maybe a defenseman slides to the Hawks..since I’m assuming Jarvis or Lundell is a pipedream at 17, I’m still hoping for Holloway or Zary at 17..and I think if those two are available, the Hawks go with Holloway..you just don’t find that many six foot one, 205 pounders who can skate like him but are also physical….and even though he probably doesn’t have a massive offensive ceiling, he’s the type of player who can help you win playoff games…so that’s my pick..we’ll see who Tab goes with later this month..
jan mysak
Askarov after with his hot start in Khl has everybody saying he is going early now. Main thing is they get a gem for the future, like the look of Holloway though.
Kubalik named to all rookie team, congrats. Final.overage be 1.1m, option to defer half to next season available.
Too bad they will miss out on that kid as it sure seems he is going to be a special goalie down the line.
I wish they would consider moving up and taking a more impactful player. Think of a couple drafts ago, when we took Boqvist at 8, Vancouver got Hughes at 7. Maybe they never would have moved off that pick, but the difference between those two guys is enormous, and they play basically the same role on your team. Kane played with Hughes in the World Championships just before that draft and the kid loved playing with Kane, and vice versa.
I guess my point is sometimes the difference between getting ‘your guy’ and whoever falls to you in the draft can be pretty enormous.
Would love askarov, but can’t imagine him sliding all the way to us. If not big fan of Mercer
Another 2 weeks before the draft and many team will make move or huge move ,Hawks might trade their no 17 pick and can also trade to get a higher pick(that’s what I think will happen to move up a few place )
How many teams will make trade and move in the first round …prediction…minimum 6 .but would not be surprise to see a lot more.
It will be a very interesting and unique first round
Mike wonder how far up they would have move to land Askarov. Would Canes pick do it or have to get to the Devils/Sabres area now. What would it take to make it happen, 9 or 10 spots likely need quite a bit.
Finding a future young goalie in a trade and landing a top 6 forward be good too. If a defensman who they believe is a top pair D guy of the future and best available then be good too. If flat cap dictates keeping purse strings tight next year or 2, this is the time to structure their bottom 6 forward group into what they want it to be. An area where big contracts aren’t in demand and lots of options on roster, plus in system to develop also. Develop, find defenseman and top 6 players you want long term from what they have or accruing and in 2 or 3 years when purse strings looser and cap space available be in a spot to make needed adds to put finishing touches on the roster.
not Mike, but @Ian, I don’t think the Hawks should trade any assets to move up..the top eight look pretty set and I don’t think Minn, Winn, Nash, or Florida especially are looking goalie..so the Canes at 13 is who you’d have to trade with and given that they are widely known to be looking goalie, I don’t think anything short of a king’s ransom moves them off 13..I’d keep our pick at 17..the draft is wide open in the first rd after pick 8 and I really think a top 11-12 player could easily slide to the Hawks since there’s no consensus for the next 12-13 picks after pick 8..Hawks are still in good position to get a difference maker at 17 whether it’s a center(fingers crossed) or a dman..and who knows..maybe the Devils at pick 18 really have their eye on someone and we could trade back one spot..especially since they pick at 20 again so they may be interested in moving up one spot if someone they really like slides..I’m sure they have specific names in mind that they’d like to collectively draft since they have 3 picks in the first..might be able to grab an extra 4th or 5th rounder from them depending on who falls during the first rd..someone always does..
If anyone would have said a yr ago when we were going for 6/7/8 seed we Would have Dach and Holloway or a couple of Walstrom and Veleno. We would take who we got 100 times out of 100 times and say thank you sir may I have another.
Hereis, yes I been saying move up from 17 if theres a player there then do it.
Trading Saad at during the yr for a 1st which is prob 15-25 thats where I trade down for 4 picks from 2 picks.
Thing is is this yrs 17th better then next yrs 15-25. This draft is deeper right so we should take the better player when we have the pick.
Look at 3 to 5 years down the road. In top 6 fwds. Dach and Kane for sure, Toews too but role could be different. Cat, Kibalik and Saad next 3 today, top 6 players if they stay. Players to be drafted could factor in, hopefuls that high skill guys like Nylander and Kurashev develop into top 6, plus hopeful top 6 power fwds in Teply and Morrisson develop too. Also fas from Europe and Ncaa, trades with Nhl top 6 fas an optiin at that point.
Defense we listed 8 or 9 current hopefuls that need to be ready to take most of the spots and add what needed how and when they can.
Obviously Crawford at this point is a band aid in the big picture and the answer for 3 to 5 year range needs to be found and backup developed too. As stated above bottom 6 fwds. can be developed, resigned, acquired to know who most of the pieces will be at that point in next couple of years. See what answers we get in off season.
Didn’t mention Strome because i see his role if he stays as 3rd C who can play top 6 C in a pinch without hurting your offense too much. Suter is part of the yet unknown but potential is there too.
Any thoughts on how the guys who have never experienced the playoffs use that experience to better themselves next year and beyond? That was the narrative going into the playoffs, that the experience will benefit those who have not been there. So how does this experience make Boqvist, Nylander, Strome, DeBrincat, Dach, Kubalik, Murphy (anyone else I am missing?) better players next year? That was the flip side to picking later in the draft, that the kids would benefit from a taste of the playoffs right? Whomever the Hawks pick is likely not going to make an impact to the NHL roster for a few years and definitely not next season.
Who did the playoffs help the most? Did the experience hurt anyone? If the Hawks essentially stand pat, how much better do the young guys become and how much of that is attributable to the playoff experience?
With lots of younger players playing/experience and guys like 5 that should make them way better for seeing what its like and then slows down the 82 games season for them. Going to have lots of upside no matter what. So there is both going on here. Also like you said it showed who whas the “Stals’ of the players and who was the ‘Bocks’ cant go by only 2 rounds of playoffs/sample size still showed though.
Since we have to wait 3 yrs until were deep again for a few reasons theres no need to rush people out though young wavers will be ready each yr here so thats going to happen anyways. Take our time somewhat and make good deals/or just get the deals and were on our way.
Only thing thats bad about the better for the players/experience is we have a better record/not as high pick. Although without Crow were looking good for top 5 skill draft player.
Miroslav that is how young players develop with experience. The good ones will learn, grow and stay around. Veterans can tell them all day about how great playoffs are and what it takes to win but getting a taste of it and seeing for themselves should help the ones who stick around a few years better for having gone through it. Dach’s progression was unmistakeable, Debrincat and Kubalik seemed to gain confidence.As much as he struggled, Boqvist may have gained the most and that could be huge. Time will tell, stay tuned.
Miro – competing in the intensity of the playoffs will benefit young players in numerous ways
1) as a player your shortcomings are magnified in the playoffs so you quickly find out what you need to work on not only in your game but in your mental approach
2) on the flip side you also find out what you’re doing that works and that builds confidence which is a huge part of achieving max performance
3) physically the playoffs are a grind – it’s a test of durability and endurance and you learn where you need to improve physically whether it be strength or mobility or flexibility or stamina
4) it’s like the first time at anything else there’s an aha moment when you realize this is what it’s all about and you can settle into quickly it the next time having already had that first experience
I firmly believe the playoff experience will make all the young guys better for next year (Nylander being a possible exception because he never really fully engaged emotionally IMO) and the Hawks will still have the ability to draft a difference maker at 17 if they identify the right player to select because it’s a deep draft
As someone else posted there ‘s a reasonably good chance that someone rated higher falls to the Hawks at 17 – if not there is still a lot of good players that will be available at 17
A lot of solid options at 17.If they grab a quality Center I think we will have our answer on their plans for Strome.I believe Strome is done here and for the Hawks future that is a good thing.A restructuring of our bottom 6 is an absolute must.
We are lucky that were going to get a normal 8-12th pick kind of player at 17 deep draft. Also for getting 2 rounds of playoff experience when we were the 12 seed. Even though every team basically 9 seed to 13 seed were within 1 or 2 points.
Want to see a player like Suter and draft pcik be good centers so we have too many. So players like Kurachev donot have to play center and we have 8 centers instead of 4 that can play.
Rockford IceHogs sign D Cody Franson.
Played in the khl the last few years after his season with hawks/Hogs:
Vet leadership, probably captain.
Looks like
Pittsburgh trades Patrick hornqvist to Florida for Mike Matheson
Askarov will likely be gone. However great year for Centers : Holloway, Zary, Mercer even Hendrix Lapierre ( who is healthy again and playing in the Q). would be solid.
Mark Kelley is quoted as saying he knows the Hawks will get a really good player at 17 and that trading up will be too expensive.
To me : if the Hawks can get one more really really good prospect in this draft at #43 or a high ranked player who falls to the 3rd round, then the draft is a success.
Who have we got in 2nd thats exceptional players. Since dynasty roster was created/draft and other we got Dunks Crow Bicks Bolly Pirri/is he still playing Saad Dahlstrom Debrincat Mitch Vlassic.
So wow many more then I thought when seeing the list. Not that there going to be like some of these that there are many good players in that 30-45 range when, we, draft.
I am high on Mitch Vlassic as being key players like Bolly Bicks were.
Get another type of player like Bolly/Danault with the 47th and a special player like Teravainen at 17th.
Good to see the best team since Blackhawks dynasty 2015 winning like they deserve to win this yr when they should have before and didnt.
DAL jumped on COL and VEG and TB in the first game ‘playing’ and then won 2 of next 3 to be ahead like that to best COL and VEG. Thought they needed to do the same and win 2 of next 3 to win. They didnt get lucky this time with that. Thought that if it was 2-2 its TB yr this yr.
Craig,that sounds great about this Draft being deep in Centers.We need a couple very badly.Saw a real negative review on Lundell today.Same scouting article was really high and positive on Holloway.I hope he is there at the 17th pick.
Any interest in Pesce or wait until summer of 22 and he is a ufa and get him for free.