FINAL Mock Draft Roundup: Four More Experts’ Picks for the Blackhawks

This is going to be my final wrap of a few mock drafts from reputable outlets before the 2024 NHL Draft begins. It will also be our 11th wrap of other people’s thoughts on what the Chicago Blackhawks will do with their first two (sometimes four/five) picks in the first round (or two) of the 2024 NHL Draft.

Some of our roundups came before the Blackhawks-Islanders trade that moved Chicago up from 20 to 18 overall. But the players in that range have stayed pretty consistent from our first mock draft roundup in early May to today, just two sleeps away from the start of the 2024 NHL Draft.

Mock Draft Roundup No. 1

Mock Draft Roundup No. 2

Mock Draft Roundup No. 3

Mock Draft Roundup No. 4

Mock Draft Roundup No. 5

Mock Draft Roundup No. 6

Mock Draft Roundup No. 7

Mock Draft Roundup No. 8

Mock Draft Roundup No. 9

Mock Draft Roundup No. 10

Let’s look at a few late mock draft collections of picks for the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Athletic — Scott Wheeler (June 23)

Wheeler did us a solid and dropped a full two-round mock draft on Sunday morning. Love to see it!

2. Artyom Levshunov, RHD

Wheeler’s Comments: “I’ve seen some others include Cayden Lindstrom and Anton Silayev in this conversation, and while I believe the Blackhawks like each, I think it has primarily been Levshunov versus Demidov here for a while and I think that’s exactly the right place to land. Ultimately, as impressive as Demidov is, I’d wager the rangy, talented, free-spirited stud defenseman will win out. The Blackhawks have prioritized speed up front and size on the back end, and Levshunov would give a strong group that already has Kevin Korchinski, Alex Vlasic, Sam Rinzel, Ethan Del Mastro, Nolan Allan and others the piece it’s missing in a potential first-pairing stud.“

18. Jett Luchanko, C

Wheeler’s Comments: “Luchanko’s one of the most well-liked players in the draft and fits with the speed, work-ethic combo the Blackhawks have targeted in the past. The consensus is — after his play in Guelph, his play with Canada at U18s and his performance at the combine (he’s a tremendous athlete and smart player whom teams view as a winner) — that Luchanko’s going to be a top-20 pick. If a Solberg or a Jiricek is here, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Blackhawks double down on D and then use their early second on a forward.“

My First-Round Thoughts: Wheeler’s mock draft mirrors that of Chris Peters from late last week (see my Roundup No. 10) with Luchanko being the pick at 18, which is interesting. The fact that this feels like an “everyone views him as a top-20 guy and this is where he might make the most sense” pick versus a “this guy is a Blackhawks target” selection gives me pause, though. I am fascinated that Wheeler also says the Blackhawks could double-down on defense in the first round if the right prospects is still on the board at 18.

34. Marek Vanacker, LW

Wheeler’s Comments: “Vanacker completes a strong haul for the Blackhawks as they add a D, a center and a wing with their first three picks, each of which fits their DNA. Vanacker’s also a teammate of 2023 Blackhawks pick Nick Lardis, so they’d have had eyes on him. I think there’s a chance he goes late-first but I wonder if his recent shoulder surgery gives teams just enough pause for him to linger until early on Day 2.“

50. John Mustard, C

Wheeler’s Comments: “The Blackhawks have prioritized speed and work ethic when drafting forwards and Mustard’s one of the fastest players in the draft. If he’s available, I’d guess they’d have interest. If they go D here, some of the guys with length like a Kleber, a Brunicke or a Fischer would also check some of the boxes they’ve targeted.“

My Second-Round Thoughts: I had Mustard to the Blackhawks at No. 34 if my most recent mock draft, so that pick lines up with my thinking. He also mentions some defensemen, including my favorite target at 50 (Adam Kleber), so that works as well. Vanacker is an intriguing name to consider because of the Lardis-teammate-factor and he was very productive in his pre-draft season (36 goals in 68 games).

NHL.com — Adam Kimelman & Mike G. Morreale (June 21)

The two senior draft writers at NHL.com dropped their updated individual picks for the first round. They agree at No. 2 overall but differ when we get to No. 18 later in the first round of their mock draft.

2. Artyom Levshunov, RHD

Morreale Comments: “The Belarus-born right-handed shot was the third-youngest player in men’s college hockey and ranked second among NCAA freshman defensemen and tied for 10th among all defensemen in scoring. The Blackhawks need a future pillar on defense and Levshunov fits that bill.“

Kimelman Comments: “After selecting a franchise-altering center in Connor Bedard with the No. 1 pick of the 2023 NHL Draft, the Blackhawks now can focus on finding a game-changer on defense. After Celebrini, Levshunov might be the most NHL-ready player in the 2024 draft with the size (6-2, 205) and skill set that helped him have 35 points (nine goals, 26 assists) in 38 games as a college freshman.“

18. Sacha Boisvert, C (Kimelman)

Kimelman Comments: “Scouts like the way the 18-year-old improved his skating as the season went on, further improving his 200-foot game. With Bedard, Oliver Moore (2023, No. 19) and Frank Nazar (2022, No. 13) the Blackhawks have stockpiled high-skill centers. Boisvert (6-2, 183) brings a bit more size and a 200-foot game to go along with the skill that saw him total 68 points (36 goals, 32 assists) in 61 games this season.“

My Thoughts: Again, a center with some size who can score the puck is something I’ll happily sign up for at this spot in the draft. He hasn’t been consistently linked to the Blackhawks, but centers have and this is around where Boisvert is coming off the board frequently.

18. Igor Chernyshov, LW (Morreale)

Morreale Comments: “Chernyshov (6-2, 192) had four points (three goals, one assist) in 34 KHL games, and 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists) in 22 games with Dynamo in Russia’s junior league. The 18-year-old right-handed shot, who thrives on his off wing, has the look of a playmaking wing or center with power-forward potential at the next level.“

My Thoughts: I like the player and I’m intrigued by the fit, but might go other directions here if there are other forwards with comparable size available. I do like the idea of the Blackhawks looking for a power forward in the middle of the first round.

The Hockey News — Tony Ferrari (June 25)

We got a late addition from THN on Tuesday morning. Tony Ferrari took us thru his first round predictions. It’s worth noting that this is the first mock I read after the Bruins-Sens trade that sent pick No. 25 back to Boston.

2. Ivan Demidov, RW

Ferreri Comments: “When you have the chance to pair Connor Bedard with Demidov and replicate the Toews-Kane model that brought them three Cups, you do it. The Hawks successfully keep their cards close to their vest as everyone assumes they snag Artyom Levshunov. The Bedard-Demidov pairing could be one of the most entertaining in the NHL.“

18. Adam Jiricek, RHD

Ferrari Comments: “If the Hawks already have Demidov in the fold, taking a swing on a player like Jiricek, who was considered one of the top defenders prior to his injury, would make a ton of sense. Jiricek plays a translatable defensive game that blends mobility and physicality while having plenty of offensive potential. There is a legitimate chance he ends up as one of the two or three best blueliners in the NHL draft class.“

My Thoughts: I haven’t seen many mock drafts recently that have Jiricek still on the board at 18 when the Blackhawks are on the clock. There was talk that he would be the top defenseman off the board at this time last year, but injuries slowed his season to the point that he’s fallen out of the top six conversation on the blue line. Interestingly, he didn’t do the height-weight in Buffalo at the Scouting Combine, so we’re going with 6-2 and 168 pounds. I wouldn’t be angry if the Hawks went this direction, but there’s an Adam Boqvist vibe with the injuries impacting his stock as much as they have. Of course the Blackhawks aren’t reaching at 18 like they did when they drafted Boqvist at No. 8 in 2018.