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

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.