NEWSLETTER
We’re now days — for some, hours — away from the 2024 NHL Draft. The Blackhawks have six selections in the first three rounds, giving them the ability to add a lot of quality to a pipeline that’s taken dramatic steps forward since Kyle Davidson took over as the permanent general manager. This is an important draft for the rebuild of the Blackhawks.
With that in mind, here’s my big board for the Blackhawks heading to the draft. I’ve cut it down to two players in play at No. 2 overall, and offered some options at Nos. 18 and 34 before looking at some other targets later in the second round and some names to keep in mind for Chicago’s two picks in the third round.
Blackhawks Pick — No. 2
Ivan Demidov, RW
6-0.5, 192
Shoots: Left
When Demidov got his official sizes done last week and came it a haircut under 6-1 and at 192 pounds, it pushed him back to the top of my board. Demidov also arrived at his agent’s combine in Florida speaking English, and there were public assurances that he’ll come to North America after his KHL contract expires next summer. He’s a dynamic playmaker about whom we no longer has to answer questions about size. Do we need to wait one year for him to come over? Sure. Could it be worth it? Absolutely. Putting him with Connor Bedard for the next decade-plus would be marvelous.
Artyom Levshunov, RHD
6-1.75, 209
Shoots: Right
The Blackhawks have to great options at the top of their draft board: either a player who has been compared to Kirill Kaprisov and Nikita Kucherov, or a solid defenseman who many believe will eventually be a top-pair RHD for years to come. Levshunov should not be viewed as the “safer” pick or the “easy” pick. Defensemen still take time to develop, but he plays a strong game and is really, really good.
Blackhawks Pick — No. 18
6-1, 198
Shoots: Right
Brandsegg-Nygård is a guy I would love for the Blackhawks to get at No. 18 if he slides that far; some other players elevating their stock during the CHL playoffs may help Chicago get that to happen, though. He’s known as a physical player with a good work ethic and checks pretty much every box Chicago would want. From Scott Powers: “The Blackhawks don’t have a lot of players like Brandsegg-Nygård in their pipeline.“
6-0.75, 188
Shoots: Right
Hage is headed to Michigan this fall. From Corey Pronman: “He’s a dynamic player. He was one of the best players in the USHL this year. He really tore up the league in the second half onwards. He has high-end skill and can skate. He has some size and can play down the middle. Whether he’s actually going to be a top-two or three-line center in the NHL, given he’s not the most physical player, is going to be a question teams will debate with him.“
6-2, 183
Shoots: Left
Another center with decent size, Boisvert likely projects as a middle-six center. He plays with pace and can score. He’ll head to North Dakota this fall. From Powers: “The Blackhawks have a lot of centers coming, but Boisvert would give them something a bit different with his size and shot. The Blackhawks do possess a lot of potential NHL playmakers in the pipeline and they could use another player with a high-end shot and scoring ability.“
6-2.25, 205
Shoots: Left
A winger with good size, Greentree was the captain of the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL this past season and produced 90 points in 64 games. He’s a good package of size and scoring ability, both things the Blackhawks need. From Pronman: “The appeal of his game is that he’s a large winger with legit offensive skills. He makes difficult plays often with the puck as a handler and passer and possesses high-end creativity. He competes well enough and can use his size to get to the net although I don’t think he’s the type who is going to run people over. He can score at the net and is able to finish from the faceoff dots.“
6-3.25, 185
Shoots: Right
Let’s include one RHD here, and I think Emery could be a guy that could interest the Blackhawks at 18. He’s a big, physical defenseman who comes out of the US Development Program. Scott Wheeler ranked him as the second-best defensive defenseman in the class, which is a good plus for a RHD with his size. He skates well and can move the puck. He’s headed to North Dakota this fall.
5-11, 187
Shoots: Right
Luchanko is my final option for the Blackhawks at 18. Pronman has compared him to Frank Nazar from a skill/approach perspective, which is great — but also might make this pick feel redundant. With that being said, it’s notable that Luchanko has been picked for the Blackhawks in a number of recent mock drafts.
Blackhawks Pick — No. 34
6-7, 209
Shoots: Right
Yes, he’s enormous. But his game translates well. He’s headed to Boston College this fall after producing 127 points in only 56 games for St. Andrew’s College in Canada. From Scott Wheeler: “His skating, shot and puck control in tight to his body all leap out as unusual for a player his size. He’s fluid through his crossovers and comes out of them lighter than you might expect.“
6-1, 186
Shoots: Left
Mustard is the best skater in this year’s draft. Remember when the Blackhawks took the best skater in 2022 (Frank Nazar) and 2023 (Oliver Moore)? They could follow that trend and get a center with decent size early in the second round. He scored 29 games in the USHL this past season and is headed to Providence for college, something else the Blackhawks like.
6-1.5, 185
Shoots: Left
Like Hage, Gridin is headed to Michigan next season. He came over from Russia and played in the USHL this past season and was very productive. From Wheeler: “He’s got a desirable makeup as well, including a pro build, skill on the puck and a quick, NHL look to his release. He can play a north-south direct game and an east-west one with a little more poise. He regularly tries and pulls off difficult plays on the ice. He has shown he can snake his way out of trouble or play pucks through or past defenders, but he can also play off of his linemates as more of a quick-strike option.“
6-1.25, 183
Shoots: Right
O’Reilly was a really good, productive player for a loaded London Knights squad this past season. He was almost a point-per-game player for them in the playoffs (12 points in 15 games) and scored 20 goals in 68 regular-season games.
6-2.25, 190
Shoots: Right
Another forward with good size who produces, he comes out of the QMJHL with a more complete game that makes him an intriguing prospect all the way from the early-20s into the early second round. From Wheeler: “Massé possesses a natural and versatile shot and above-average skill across the board. But it’s the completeness of his game that really stands out for a player his age. He can penalty kill, he’ll go to the dirty areas and make plays around the net, he battles, and he’s just a well-rounded player who stays around it and goes to the right spots.”
Blackhawks Second-Round RHD Options
6-5, 210
Kleber is headed to Minnesota-Duluth, where the Blackhawks had Wyatt Kaiser and still have Dominic James. He has the ideal size the Blackhawks have been collecting (read: big) and could use a couple years in college to refine his game. He’s been rising recent rankings, so he might be gone before the Blackhawks are back on the clock later in the second round. From Pronman: “He’s 6-5, skates well for a big man and competes hard. He will be quite difficult for even NHL forwards to get by or try to gain footing around the net. Kleber’s offensive play is what has sold me on him.“
6-0, 176
Danford is a defensively superb defenseman who showed incredibly well in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in January. He might be more in the mold of Nolan Allan as a shut-down type defenseman. He isn’t as big as many of the Blackhawks’ other defense prospects, but his game fits what they need on the back end.
6-0.25, 190
Mews has been ranked anywhere from a late first-round pick to the fourth round because his play was up-and-down during his pre-draft season. He has shown flashes of being a good defensive defenseman and also been a PP QB for Canada. From Wheeler: “Mews is an athletic, right-handed shot who is capable (keyword) of consistently driving and tilting play from the back end. When he’s at his best, he dictates play by regularly looking to activate into the rush or off the line to use his skill and playmaking ability from the back end.“
Blackhawks Second-Round Forward Options
6-5, 201
Shoots: Right
His size and skill make him an intriguing prospect, and he’s played internationally for Czechia — including at the recent U18 Worlds. From Pronman: “He’s a huge winger who skates quite well for a guy his size even if he’s not a blazer. Jecho has good hands and can shoot the puck well from range.“
5-11, 170
Shoots: Right
Humphreys, a Michigan commit from the USNTDP who isn’t a big guy), showed fairly well for the US at the U18 Worlds recently as well. From Wheeler: “He’s an agile skater who side-steps close-outs nimbly. And he has quick hands and a great feel for the game as a playmaker, which blend with a heady disposition and good instincts on and around the puck to create an interesting offensive package.”
6-2, 207
Shoots: Left
A Swede with good size and uses it well. From Steven Ellis in March: “He’s got a 6-foot-3 frame, is big at 209 pounds and can muscle his way past anyone. That size has allowed him to adjust to SHL games with ease while also bullying around his own age group in U-20 action.“
5-10, 176
Shoots: Left
Stiga, a Boston College commit, isn’t the biggest guy in the draft but I’ve read rave reviews of his work ethic and the way he attacks the puck. From Wheeler: “He’s got a great feel for the game and on-ice awareness. He’s consistently noticeable. He’s competitive and engaged and will let opposing players know both of those things when challenged. His shifts always seem to be spent in the offensive zone. He’s a plus-level skater who keeps his feet moving on and off the puck.“
Blackhawks Third-Round Options
6-3, 187
Shoots: Right
Zether has good size for a center and was the captain for his Rögle BK J20 team this past season (read: leadership qualities). From Wheeler in March: “He has pro size to work with, an intelligent game built on plus-level vision, a head that’s always up and hands that control the puck smoothly at a little over 6-feet-2.“
6-5, 207
Shoots: Left
Walton is another enormous player who can place center or wing. He out-produced teammate Alex Pharand, who the Blackhawks selected in the fourth round last year.
6-2, 181
Shoots: Left
Moore will play with Blackhawks prospects Oliver Moore and Sam Rinzel at Minnesota this coming season, which makes watching him easy. He was a finalist for the prestigious Mr. Hockey award in Minnesota state high school hockey. He’s a good skater who has the size Chicago likes as well. A few years of college hockey and he could be ready for the professional ranks. 26 goals in 28 games is nice, too.
5-11, 181
Shoots: Left
Here’s your Alex DeBrincat comp (read: some give credit to his teammates for his production) who happens to have played with Bedard at Regina. Oh, he replaced Bedard as the captain of the Pats this past season, too. He isn’t big, but he put up good numbers even after Bedard left.
6-2.25, 177
Shoots: Right
Burrows is headed to the University of Denver this fall after playing games in high school and the USHL as a senior. I do love forwards with size going to elite NCAA programs.
6-3, 187
Good size and skating are attributes the Blackhawks love, and Brunicke has that. Born in South Africa, he showed well for Canada at the recent U18 World Championships.
6-4, 227
Ralph, a St. Cloud State commit, has the size we’ve seen the Blackhawks prefer on the back end. And he’s headed to a familiar program in the NCHC where Chicago had prospect Dominic Basse this past season. He’s also coming out of the storied Shattuck St. Mary’s program that’s produced a long line of great NHL players.
6-2, 172
Shuravin is signed in Russia thru the 2025-26 season, which is likely why he could still be available in the third round. He has good size and performed well in the MHL this past season.
