Drafting Porter Martone would boost the Chicago Blackhawks for the next decade

The Chicago Blackhawks have a franchise-changing decision to make. After another disappointing season and dropping to the third overall pick in the draft, the Hawks are in a position to add another talented young player to build around. Someone they can pair with Connor Bedard and help the team become competitive and get back to the playoffs.

This is a pick the Blackhawks have to get right.

If they miss, it could set the franchise back years and cause other young talent to leave. The player that makes the most sense for the Blackhawks is Porter Martone. He is precisely who the Blackhawks need to help take them to the next level.

Why Porter Martone is the smart pick for the Blackhawks at third overall

Martone has spent the last three seasons in the OHL bouncing between the Sarnia Sting and the Mississauga/Brampton Steelheads. Over his 178 career games, he's registered 89 points and 115 points for 204 points. He also appeared in 17 playoff games, tallying seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points. However, his best season came this past year when he registered 37 goals and 61 assists for 98 points.

While these numbers show he has high offensive upside, his claim to fame is his physicality. He's 6'3", 207 pounds, and uses it to his advantage when he's on the ice. Martone is great when it comes to forechecking, laying big hits, and creating turnovers that lead to his team scoring. Many are quick to compare him to the Tkachuk brothers, two of the most physical forwards in the NHL.

He's also exactly what the Blackhawks need right now.

The Hawks have historically focused on players who are really good when it comes to skating. Guys like Bedard, Artyom Levshunov, Frank Nazar, and Kevin Korchinski were all praised for their skating ability during the draft process, and all ended up being taken in the first round by Chicago. Many scouts have criticized Martone's skating, saying that he needs to add more speed and agility.

However, in the modern NHL, having a team full of speedy players is beneficial for the regular season, but it does not necessarily translate to success in the playoffs. Teams need to have a little bit of grit and physicality to survive the grind of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Look at the Panthers, the team that has gone to three straight finals, due to the physicality they bring. Martone can bring that physical edge the Blackhawks are missing.

Martone also brings leadership and has a winning mentality. He's someone that can be the vocal leader in the locker room and bring the intensity the team needs. While he does not fit the typical model of a Blackhawks draft pick, he can be a player that changes the entire trajectory of the franchise.