Blackhawks could get shocking draft help nobody saw coming

It’s hard to believe June’s draft is only five weeks away and it’s even harder to believe the Blackhawks own yet another top-three pick. I’ll say this: It’ll be a miracle when the Hawks are no longer picking in the top three unless they’re projected to have a lower pick and “luck out” in the lottery, much like the New York Islanders. Better drafting may have saved them…

That’s a different case entirely, and the Isles should consider themselves lucky that there’s not one, but two players they could draft at No. 1, and nobody would bat an eye. Matthew Schaefer and Michael Mia look like done deals to go No. 1 and No. 2 in the 2025 Draft, but I can’t help but go back to 2023 when Leo Carlsson went No. 2 to the Anaheim Ducks over Adam Fantilli. 

I thought for sure that Fantilli would go second overall in that draft, and yet he dropped to the Columbus Blue Jackets, a team that’s suddenly surging. Both Carlsson and Fantilli look like solid players, but the Ducks gave the Blue Jackets the easiest choice ever when they passed on the latter.

Blackhawks may as well turn in the draft card in two seconds if…

Should Matthew Schaefer or Michael Misa be available third overall, general manager Kyle Davidson’s job just got a lot easier if he makes the sensible pick here. Putting Matthew Schaefer into a defensive rotation that includes Artyom Levshunov and Alex Vlasic is enticing enough, as they’ll get a playmaker who will constantly get pucks to the net. 

But what about Michael Misa, who they could put on the same line as Connor Bedard? If you’re not having visions of Bedard putting up Nathan MacKinnon or Connor McDavid numbers by Year 4 at the latest should Misa drop one slot to the Hawks, I’m telling you right now, feel free to get as optimistic as you’d like. 

Yeah, the Sharks probably see the same thing with Misa, and adding him to the same line as Macklin Celebrini makes too much sense. But still, maybe one of those two organizations will surprise the league and hand Kyle Davidson a gift on draft day. 

The consolation prizes still aren’t bad options and should be treated as such

More likely, James Hagens or Porter Martone will be ready to hear the Hawks call out their names. I’d rather go with Martone because of his overall production and NHL-ready size, but I wouldn’t rule out Hagens. Hagens is a player with almost unlimited upside, so even if he’s not in Chicago next season, should the Hawks draft him, he’ll eventually be a great member of the supporting cast. 

Still, it’s more than fine to dream big if you’re a Blackhawks fan, especially since Bedard’s production saw an uptick the further we moved into the season. That’s an encouraging sign if you were in the contingent of fans thinking the Blackhawks picked the “wrong” generational talent. Give him someone like Schaefer on the blue line or Misa alongside him, and it’s game over, but in a good way.

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