3 needs the Chicago Blackhawks must address in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft

Potential Game-Breaking Forwards

This category may sound a little obvious, but it is worth discussing since the Blackhawks will be in a position to draft a high-caliber player. Last season saw the team draft a true game-breaker in Connor Bedard, who was labeled the best prospect since Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid.

Bedard became the face of the Blackhawks before he even stepped on the ice for the team and is the probable front-runner to win the NHL's Calder Trophy for Rookie of the Year.

Aside from Bedard, the Blackhawks have some highly skilled forwards in their system who look as though they'll become top-six talents at the NHL level. Frank Nazar and Oliver Moore headline that group as the top forward prospects in the system. However, the Blackhawks will have the chance to draft a potential elite talent with their second consecutive top-five pick to be another franchise pillar alongside Connor Bedard.

With the assumption of the Blackhawks not picking first overall, a player like Ivan Demidov stands out as a lethal player with possible sky-high potential. Creator of Hockey Prospecting Byron Bader's draft model has Demidov's projection as very comparable to that of previous elite NHL talents. Other forwards who could be on the Blackhawks' radar include Berkly Catton (WHL), Cayden Lindstrom (WHL), and Cole Eiserman (US NTDP).

Drafting a potential game-breaker can give the Blackhawks a one-two-punch alongside Connor Bedard for the foreseeable future, which will likely give Hawks fans flashbacks of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.