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3-round Chicago Blackhawks mock draft ahead of the NHL Entry Draft

The Chicago Blackhawks have six picks in the NHL Entry Draft's first 75 selections.

By Todd Welter |
/ SOPA Images/GettyImages
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The Chicago Blackhawks have an opportunity to add more talent to their rebuild in the NHL Entry Draft on Friday. The Hawks have the No. 2 overall pick in the draft along with five more picks in the draft's first 75 selections.

The first three rounds are usually where a team is going to get players capable of contributing on the top nine or as a first or second-pairing defenseman.

Sure, the Hawks might find a player in the fifth or sixth round who can contribute at the NHL level, but usually those picks are how teams fill out the AHL rosters.

That is why this mock draft will go through the team's first three rounds.

For this exercise, the FC Hockey mock draft simulator was used with the consensus board, not FC Hockey's board, to rank the prospects to choose from.

The Blackhawks value four traits in their prospects and that is speed, hockey intelligence, competitiveness, and character. Some of the selections made in this mock did take into account that the Hawks could use some size and they do need to add some more prospects to their blue line.

Here are the two players the Blackhawks could draft in the first round...

No. 2 overall, Ivan Demidov, Forward, SKA St. Petersburg, KHL

The Hawks could go safe and take Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov. That would not be a bad thing as he is very good blueline player.

Demidov provides a higher ceiling and the chance to be a star on the same level as Connor Bedard. Plus, Demidov has confirmed he is coming over to the NHL once his KHL contract expires after next season.

He is TSN's Bob McKenzie's second-best draft prospect in the draft.

No. 18 overall, Liam Greentree, Forward, Windsor Spitfires, OHL

Some would love for the Hawks to go defense here, but the board did not shake out where the Hawks would not be reaching. Greentree was the best available player and he is six feet, two inches tall and 194lbs.

He had 36 goals in the WHL and is a high-character guy.

NHL Central Scouting has him ranked as the 14th North American skater. Eliteprospects.com ranks him 15th, McKenzie lists him at 18, and Craig Button thinks he is the 23rd-best skater.

He needs to improve his skating and his overall game, but the Hawks could use his length and size, especially since a lot of the forward prospects in the Hawks are on the smaller side.

Here is who the Blackhawks could take with the two second-round selections...

No. 34 overall pick, Cole Beaudoin, Center, Barrie Colts, OHL

It would be great to see the Hawks go defense here since in this mock they have selected two forwards. Once again, the board was shaking out to where forwards were the better prospects.

Beaudoin is another prospect that brings some size and strength to the Hawks' center position. He is considered the strongest and the fittest player in the draft.

He can find the back of the net too.

He can use his size to stay in the front of the net to get deflection goals or move toward the goal as he blocks out defenders to get an easier shot.

It sounds like he would be a good character fit too. McKenzie ranks him as high as the 23rd-best prospect however most have him ranked lower among the top 30.

No. 50 overall, Matvei Shuravin, Left-Handed Defenseman, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva, MHL

Finally, the board matches up correctly to get a defenseman. He has good size at six feet, four inches and the Hawks like bigger defensemen.

His offensive game needs work, but he is very solid at doing the main job objective and that is playing defense.

He was playing against men in the KHL this season at 17 before an injury sent him back to the MHL. The scouting report has him meeting the skating and hockey intelligence traits the Blackhawks love in their prospects.

Button really likes him as he is his 30th-ranked prospect. McKenzie ranks him 40th. Some folks want to avoid taking Russians because you never know if they will actually come over.

The Blackhawks like to be patient with their blueliners' development, so he can play a few more years in the MHL or KHL and then come over and be a cheap addition when the Hawks are paying Kevin Korchinski more money.

Here are the two players the Blackhawks could pick in the third round...

No. 67 overall, Harrison Brunicke, Right-Handed Defenseman, Kamloops Blazers, WHL

Another prospect to add to the thin blue-line prospect group the Blackhawks have. His tape is pretty solid.

Supporting the offensive attack is more of his game, so the Hawks can balance the previous made in this mock with Brunicke.

Elite Prospects is very high on him as they ranked him the 21st-best prospect. He did have an injury that limited how many games he played in the WHL. He does have the ability to help out on the defensive side.

Brunicke has solid size too.

No 72 overall pick, Ben Danford, Right-Handed Defenseman, Oshawa Generals, OHL

Danford is on the smaller side of being a defenseman at just six feet, 176 lbs. He is still an outstanding blueline player who is very good at the defensive side of the job.

He has a high character who also skates well and is very smart. So he meets a lot of the traits the Blackhawks like in their prospects. He still needs to work on helping out the offensive side of the ice.

He does have the skills to start a rush and get the puck out of the defensive side of the zone.

He might take some time to develop to be ready to help at the NHL level, but again, the Hawks are very patient with the development of their defensemen.

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