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

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.