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

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. 

(Statistics powered by Elite Prospects)