Malcom Spence is a prospect that be worth the Chicago Blackhawks trading up to draft

Between now and the NHL draft, most of the discussion around the Chicago Blackhawks will be about which player they will take with their third-overall selection.

The Blackhawks once again have multiple picks in the first round, and there will be plenty of options still on the board to add to the team's prospect pool.

Kyle Davidson has never been shy about trying to trade up in the draft in order to get a prospect he feels strongly about.

Last year saw him trade up to select Marek Vanacker and in 2022 he moved up back into the first round to select Sam Rinzel. This year could see a similar pattern given the amount of draft picks the Blackhawks have stocked up and there being more urgency to progress in the rebuild.

One player who is currently mocked in the mid-twenties by Scott Wheeler (subscription required) is Erie Otters (OHL) forward Malcom Spence.

The young winger may not have game-breaking abilities like those at the top of the draft, but could be the perfect complimentary piece going forward for the Blackhawks.

Spence is a 6-foot-2 winger who plays a well-rounded game where he utilizes his size and speed at both ends of the ice. He tallied 73 points in 65 games for the Otters this season and shows traits of being a reliable top-nine winger in the NHL.

While Spence may not be the most offensively gifted forward in the draft, he is a hard worker who is no slouch when it comes to creating chances in the offensive zone. He is more of a defense-first winger who plays with a physical edge and has seen his goal scoring numbers increase throughout his time in the OHL.

The Blackhawks' prospect pool features an array of smaller, skilled forwards, and a player of Spence's caliber could fit right in as someone who can play up-and-down the lineup in various roles. His work ethic aligns well with the draft philosophy the Blackhawks have when it comes to their forwards, and Spence's combination of a high motor with size and speed makes him an intriguing option in the second half of the first round.

Last season saw the Blackhawks select Sacha Boisvert with their second pick in the first round as a physical center who plays a responsible game that can add more grit and scoring ability to a future lineup compressed mainly of smaller forwards. Drafting a player like Spence would give the Blackhawks another player of that caliber to add depth and versatility to their prospect pool.

The Blackhawks still have a plethora of later-round draft picks at their disposal and could very well use those assets to move up seeing this draft is not as deep as in years past. If they decide to trade up in the first round, Malcom Spence could be a player who makes a lot of sense for the team going forward.