Blackhawks land SIX first and second-round talents in NHL Mock Draft 2.0

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Sometimes, everything falls right to you, and they work out for the best. This was the case in my second NHL Mock Draft simulation for the Chicago Blackhawks. Mock Draft 1.0 didn’t even come close to what became not four, but SIX PLAYERS ranked in the Top 64 falling to the Hawks, per FC Hockey’s rankings in their mock draft simulator.

Unfortunately, the simulator was not updated to reflect the recent trade between the Hawks and New York Islanders, so I had to discard a third pick in the second round, which was traded to the Isles last week. But still, if that’s what it takes to give the Blackhawks what should be six future NHLers at some point toward the latter half of the decade, so be it.

Whether this reflects real life or not, we’ll know in just over a month, but if it does, I can see at least the second-overall pick playing in the Windy City next season, or in 2026-27 at the latest. As for my second pick in the first round, I’m also targeting a 2026-27 start date in which they will at least get a trial.

NHL Mock Draft Simulation 2.0 was very kind to the Blackhawks

As with the previous mock draft, I took on the role of general manager Kyle Davidson, meaning I could pick only for the Hawks. Therefore, the simulation selected for the other 31 teams, leaving me to roll with the prospects who were left over. It was more than a pleasant surprise to see just how many of those players I managed to snag as late as the third round who were ranked higher, yet still free-falling.

How do I know they were first and second-round talents? Paying attention to FC Hockey, the draft pick labeled 3B clocked in with a 63rd overall ranking. So, with 32 NHL teams multiplied by two, you’ll get 64, which reflects each pick in the first two rounds.

Who was that player, and who did I manage to snag in the picks that preceded them? Keep reading for a complete rundown and a description of each prospect who could very well be standing on stage in a Blackhawks sweater next month.

1A: Ivan Demidov, RW.SKA St. Petersburg (No. 2 ranking)

My previous pick here was Artyom Levshunov, so I mixed things up and rolled with a forward this time, and one who could be every bit as effective as the consensus No. 1 overall pick, Macklin Celebrini. We would all like to see Demidov come over to the States right now, but staying in Russia for at least a season should still allow him to play in the KHL, put on some size, and turn some of his few weaknesses into strengths before he comes over.

1B: Tij Iginla, C/Kelowna Rockets (No. 23 ranking)

Per FC Hockey, this was a reach as there were still players available ranked as highly as 14th overall, but someone with a later birthday with respectable size and elite goal-scoring capability caught my eye. Therefore, I rolled with Tij Iginla, whom I believe would be a steal if he dropped this far - something that Tankathon would probably agree with, considering where he landed in their mock.

2A: Jesse Pulkkinen, D/JYP U20 (No. 24 ranking)

After drafting a pair of high-octane forwards with the first two picks, I wanted to snag some blueliners in the second round, and Jesse Pulkkinen was there for the taking. There won’t be too many blueliners as physically imposing as Pulkkinen, who at 19 is already 6’6, 216 lbs. This is the kind of player you would assume is an old-school, stay-at-home type of defenseman, but believe it or not, he logged 28 points and 11 goals in just 18 regular season contests this past season in U20 SM-sarja.

2B: Veeti Vaisanen, D/KooKoo U20 (No. 40 ranking)

Veeti Vaisanen doesn’t carry Jesse Pulkkinen’s size or productivity, but he’s also over a year younger. That said, Vaisanen was good enough to play 50 regular season games in Liiga, where he produced a respectable 10 points and two goals, along with a seven-game regular season and an eight-game postseason stint with KooKoo’s U20 SM-sarja team, finishing the year with eight points and four goals.

3A: Marek Vanacker, C/Brantford Bulldogs (62nd ranking)

Marek Vanacker was yet another player I was surprised to have seen fall so far after what was a breakout season for the Brantford Bulldog. He went from playing in just 55 regular season games in 2022-23 to 68 this season, and his overall regular season points total also increased from just 16 and four goals to 82 and 36 goals. Vanacker, like some prospects I snagged in the mid-to-late rounds, must put on more size, but the productivity, at least, is already there.

3B: Will Zellers, LW/North Dakota (63rd ranking)

Another slightly built prospect at the moment with the potential to take advantage of four seasons in college to put on between 25 and 30 lbs of muscle, Will Zellers dominated at multiple levels last season. Now, it’s time to see how he fares against the top collegiate competition in the nation, and where he stands come the 2028-29 season. It may seem like a long time, but don’t worry - it’ll be here faster than you think.

5: Noa Vali, G/TPS (No ranking)

My fifth and sixth-round picks didn’t have a true ranking attached to them, nor did I suspect that would be the case. But as in most of my mock draft simulations, I mandated myself to pick at least one goaltender, the agile Noah Vali was still on the board. He’s someone who will dominate at the lower levels, so I’m curious to see what he would bring this season if he manages to handle a full-time slate in Liiga.

6: Erik Pahlsson, C/Minnesota (No ranking)

I ended this draft with an older prospect who, despite his age, will be heading to the University of Minnesota in 2024-25 to begin his collegiate career. One reason for his later arrival is that Erik Pahlsson spent most of the previous season playing in his native Sweden, where he starred at the J20 Nationell level before more than replicating his elite play in the USHL.

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(Statistics provided by Elite Prospects)

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