3 first-round talents the Blackhawks can steal in Round 2 of the NHL Draft

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Young organizations amidst a rebuilding project are the most interesting ones to watch in the NHL Draft, and the Chicago Blackhawks may top the list. One reason is that, unlike the San Jose Sharks, we don’t know what general manager Kyle Davidson wants to do with his plethora of first-, second-, and third-round picks.

He has so many in the second and third rounds that there is a realistic chance the Blackhawks can land all three of the following first-round-caliber talents should they be available on Day 2. Two of the three players listed below could even fall as late as the third round, even if someone could scoop them up as early as the late-first, giving them a wide range of where they could fall.

The first player listed, however, is one who shouldn’t make it past the middle of the second round if he’s not drafted in the first, and we will begin our odyssey with them. They were one of the most exciting forwards for the US National Development Team in 2023-24, and many fans in the Windy City and all over the world would like to see him in Chicago’s system.

Teddy Stiga, C/Boston College

My 32-team mock draft has Teddy Stiga falling to the No. 31 pick to the Anaheim Ducks, but it also doesn’t mean the Boston College product won’t freefall into the second round. If he does, the Blackhawks can easily scoop him up, and it wouldn’t be a bad decision in the slightest, as Stiga, per Elite Prospects, has a “two-way game” and “playmaking ability” listed under his “Player Type” category.

That’s a good start for the smallish center slash winger who put together a fine season in 2023-24 for the USNTDP Juniors and its U18 team, finishing the year with 117 points and 54 goals in 88 games. Stiga was also an alternate captain for the US U18 team at the World Juniors, showing us that even in a leadership role, he could still adequately perform with 11 points and six goals in seven games.

A major jump in production from 2022-23 - 33 points and 20 goals in 76 contests that year - should be enough to convince anyone to snag Stiga if he falls to the second round. But Stiga is also an all-around player whose contributions to defense and special teams give him even more steal potential should he drop out of the first round.

Harrison Brunicke, D/Kamloops Blazers

At 6’3, Harrison Brunicke already has the length, and now he just needs to add the muscle to match that length, even if 187 pounds isn’t incredibly far off from where he needs to be. Or at least that’s the case in terms of someone who just turned 18 in May. So it’s more appropriate to track how much muscle he will put on this season after he’s drafted either in the late-first or as late as the mid-second-round.

Following two full seasons in juniors, it’s becoming clear that Brunicke is more than just a solid player in the defensive zone, and I’m being rather conservative when I say “solid.” His 10 goals and 21 points in 49 contests foreshadow even more output in 2024-25, especially following a 2022-23 season when he had just 10 points and four goals in 73 games - regular and postseason.

One particular outlet, McKeen’s Hockey, has Brunicke clocked in at No. 22 overall, which is why I included him on this list. So we shouldn’t be surprised if he ends up going in the first round, but there’s also a chance he slips to the second or even the third round, as a couple of outlets have him ranked in the 70s.

As of Tuesday, June 25th, the Blackhawks still have two third-round picks. So if Brunicke fell out of the second round, he’s a first-round-caliber talent who could even be a steal if he’s available in the middle rounds.

Adam Jecho, C/Edmonton Oil Kings

At 6’5, 201 pounds, power forward potential is in store for Adam Jecho, and it’s one of three traits Elite Prospects listed as his player type. Like Harrison Brunicke, there is a chance this first-round-caliber talent could also freefall into the third round, but FC Hockey’s rankings have him clocked in at No. 39, and THN/Kennedy has him ranked 36th, so I wouldn’t rule out him going late in the first round if someone wanted to “reach” for the rangy center.

Having played overseas until this season, Jecho dominated with Tappara in 2022-23 in U18 SM-sarja, with 47 points and 21 goals in 37 regular season contests, and he parlayed that into a successful rookie year in North America for the Edmonton Oil Kings.

This past season, Jecho had a respectable 47 points and 23 goals in 54 contests, and it’s a solid foundation for what should be an even more improved 2024-25 season should he stick around in the WHL instead of returning to Europe.

Jesse Courville-Lynch of The Hockey News hints that Jecho’s forte isn’t in the top-six. But having seen his ability to produce well during his first year in the WHL, I can see him stepping onto NHL ice in a few seasons after his time in juniors is up, and following some pro hockey experience in the AHL as a depth scorer, top-six or not.

For a team like the Blackhawks that is already building a young top-six around Connor Bedard and Philipp Kurashev, someone like Adam Jecho would nevertheless be more than valuable on the checking line. His presence would keep players like Bedard and Kurashev from doing all the heavy lifting in the offensive zone, and a few more players like Jecho would make the Blackhawks a well-rounded young hockey team.

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(Statistics powered by Elite Prospects)

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Teddy Stiga, C/Boston College

Harrison Brunicke, D/Kamloops Blazers

Adam Jecho, C/Edmonton Oil Kings

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