Chicago Blackhawks: 3 Draft Choices That Make Sense

The Chicago Blackhawks have a few key needs when it comes to the 2020 NHL draft. As of right now, the Blackhawks would have the seventh pick in the draft.

1. Marco Rossi (F)

Marco Rossi is an Austrian-born Forward who is slotted to be a top 10 pick in the upcoming 2020 NHL draft. Rossi has played in 43 games for the Ottawa 67’s this season. In those games, Rossi has 30 goals and 64 assists.

Rossi has great hands, a high hockey IQ, and wins the majority of his faceoffs. Rossi has a hard shot for his size and he’s is hard to knock off the puck. He seems to be one step ahead of everyone else.

My early concern for Rossi is his size. He is 5-foot-9 and weighs 179 pounds. He’s around the same size as Alex DeBrincat. He has two inches on him though. DeBrincat started his Chicago Blackhawks‘ career as a center. Since then, he’s switched to being the left-winger, normally for Dylan Strome.

Rossi currently plays center right now. With his size, I’m not sure he can keep up against guys like Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby. As a center, Rossi would also have to play strictly two-ways. With his size, it would be smarter to make him a winger. As a left-hand shot, he’ll probably play on the right side.

Rossi will be 19 before the start of the 2020 NHL season. Since he has had a little bit more time playing juniors than many other prospects, he is one of the most NHL ready stars. The Blackhawks already have four solid centers. They need to add depth on the wings. Drafting Rossi would do exactly that for them.