Blackhawks snag FOUR first-round-caliber talents in NHL Mock Draft Simulation 3.0

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In Mock Drafts 1.0 and 2.0, I went the conventional route, taking Artyom Levshunov and Ivan Demidov as the respective top picks for the Blackhawks. This time, using FC Hockey’s Mock Draft Simulator, I rolled with someone completely different, albeit a player we shouldn’t count out as the potential second-overall pick.

This prospect would make the Blackhawks deep at center if they drafted him, but he’s also someone I can see putting on a wing, and his playmaking skills match well with what Connor Bedard already possesses. In fact, we would be looking at Patrick Kane-Jonathan Toews 2.0 should this player enter Chicago’s system, and no, I’m not exaggerating when I say that.

But this player was just one of four first-round talents selected, all of whom could be with the Blackhawks big club within the next season or two. We got a fast riser heading to the Hawks at 18th overall before a pair of two-way blueliners who are among the best scorers at the position heading into the system in the second round.

Blackhawks draft class will be stacked if Mock Draft 3.0 becomes a reality

So, who did I select for Chicago while playing the role of general manager Kyle Davidson? Keep reading, as not only are the top four prospects in this class more than capable of further pumping up a fanbase whose team has been among the NHL’s most downtrodden over the past two seasons, but I was also able to snag a lot of sleeper talents in the later rounds.

The netminder taken with the final pick could be my overall favorite, and if he landed in the Hawks system, he’s more than worth keeping an eye on. Anyway, enough talking; let’s reveal who I landed for the Blackhawks in NHL Mock Draft 3.0.

2nd Overall: Berkly Catton, C/Spokane Chiefs

In the past two mock drafts, I rolled with Artyom Levshunov and Ivan Demidov, but you can argue that Berkly Catton has more playmaking ability than the rest of them. Imagine seeing him either on the same line as Connor Bedard at wing or heading up another line at center, and there’s also Philipp Kurashev, which will make the Blackhawks a DEEP team a couple of years from now.

18th Overall: Beckett Sennecke, RW/Oshawa Generals

I wanted to take a blueliner at 18th overall before Beckett Sennecke’s presence convinced me to shift gears. Sennecke carries more size than Catton, and he also possesses identical playmaking ability. And yeah, let’s picture a group of forwards with Bedard, Kurashev, Catton, and Sennecke in the top-six in the not-so-distant future - something like that would excite any Blackhawks fan.

34th Overall: Cole Hutson, D/Boston University

If Cole Hutson isn’t the most entertaining blueliner in the 2024 NHL Draft, I don’t know who else is. Sure, you can argue he’s undersized, but he possesses a sound skill set defensively to go with Quinn Hughes-like potential as a scorer.

50th Overall: Henry Mews, D/Ottawa 67’s

I nearly picked someone else, but it wasn’t because I was hesitant to take Henry Mews 50th overall. Instead, I didn’t see his name listed until the last possible second before I shifted gears to draft the high-scoring blueliner from the Ottawa 67’s.

67th Overall: Luke Misa, C/Mississauga Steelheads

Though a smaller player, Luke Misa has improved steadily since he debuted for the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads in 2021-22. He finished the regular season with a whopping 55 assists, implying he’s a creative, pass-first player. Add in the fact that he’s a good puck driver who has a knack for finding an open teammate, and you can expect his number of assists to threaten at least 65 if not more, this upcoming season.

72nd Overall: Alexander Zetterberg, C/Orebro HK J18

At 5’8, 159 lbs, Alexander Zetterberg’s size will take him off the draft boards of many teams, but the Blackhawks can’t let this happen. Zetterberg, who dominated this past season with 21 goals and 58 points across 45 regular season games in J20 Nationell and also put up 1.54 points per game in international play, will kickstart his North American career in 2024-25 at Boston University, giving him a head start with learning the game’s style.

138th Overall: Jesse Heslop, RW/Everett Silvertips

A smaller player with okay numbers, Jesse Heslop can use another two seasons in the WHL to further develop his game, but he also improved from putting up 0.621 points per in 2022-23 to 0.885 in 2023-24. That’s significant, and if he reaches the point-per-game level within the next two seasons, he could be a sneaky good add for Chicago’s system.

163rd Overall: Ivan Yunin, G/Omskie Yastreby

At 6’2, 196 pounds, Ivan Yunin boasts decent size for a netminder, and while he had limited time in the MHL this past season, his preliminary numbers look promising. Yunin finished with a 0.909 save percentage and a 2.31 GAA following a U18 stint for the Yastreby Omsk that saw him earn five shutouts, a 1.31 GAA, and a 0.952 save percentage.

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