5 sleepers at forward the Blackhawks must consider in the 2024 NHL Draft

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The Chicago Blackhawks have so many picks in the 2024 NHL Draft, general manager Kyle Davidson is bound to land a sleeper. While that player could be a blueliner or a goaltender, let’s keep our focus at forward. Unlike those forwards Davidson can snag with his second first-round pick, the players listed in this slideshow aren’t expecting their names to be called in the first round and perhaps not even in the second.

As the headline and above paragraph suggest, we’re talking about sleepers, but each forward listed possesses high potential. The primary criteria for this one are that none of the players mentioned will sit lower than 50th overall per Tankathon’s rankings, meaning they, at best, are slated to be taken in the bottom half of the second round.

But that doesn’t mean these aren’t future top-six forwards, even if few, if any, are projecting such to be the case at the moment. Those listed have also produced well, so the likely culprit is a lack of size, a raw skill-set, or perhaps they’re just late-bloomers, or a combination.

2024 NHL Draft contains a few underrated forwards for the Blackhawks

That said, proper development, whether it’s to pack on more size, consistency, or learning to play the game beyond just natural talent, is what each of the following players may require. So, getting them into the system is the first step while they continue their careers either overseas, in college, or in the junior leagues.

While it would be great to land every potential sleeper on this list, Davidson would realistically draft just one or two of the following players tops. And that’s if he’s focusing on getting more forwards, especially wingers, into the system.

So, which five draft prospects should Davidson key on in the back half of Round 2 and beyond? Let’s check out these five names, starting with the 52nd-ranked prospect via Tankathon as of the morning of April 30th - note that these rankings DO update periodically.

Yegor Surin, C/RW/Loko Yaroslavl

Yegor Surin has the right size, at 6’1, 192 lbs, and his production is on point. He put up a promising season in 2022-23, with 31 points and 12 goals in 48 regular season games with Loko Yaroslavl and Loko-76 Yaroslavl, capping off a successful rookie year.

He made his KHL debut this season and appeared in three games at the highest level. Surin also made a respectable jump in productivity in the MHL, with 53 points in 43 games and 23 goals. He also had an outstanding 23 points and five goals in 19 playoff games, and there’s no reason to believe he won’t produce even greater numbers next season.

So why would Surin fall so far in the draft if his productivity is on point and he possesses ideal size for a 17-year-old? One issue is that he played for a phenomenal team, so it bodes the question: Is Yegor Surin that good, or was it Loko Yaroslavl?

It’s a valid question and one that could drive teams like the Blackhawks into overlooking him for another forward. But if Davidson is able to see beyond this team’s sheer talent and looks to the ultra-aggressive player besides just the points-producer that Surin is, taking the kid if the opportunity presents itself shouldn’t be a tough decision.

Teddy Stiga, LW/USDP

Teddy Stiga is another strong points-producer, having put up an outrageous 35 goals and 78 points in 58 contests with the National U18 Team. He also had 38 points and 18 goals in 27 matchups in the USHL, so much like Yegor Surin, Stiga’s productivity is on point.

At a listed height and weight of 5’10, 176 lbs, he’s slightly undersized, but not so much that it should knock him too far down the boards to 60th overall via Tankathon as of April 30th and slated to go around late in the second round in their most recent mock draft.

But Stiga has only enjoyed one good season, following a 21-point and seven-goal outing in 23 games in 2021-22 before his first year with the USNTDP, which was rather rocky during the 2022-23 campaign. He had just 12 goals and 21 points in 49 games, and his USHL outings culminated with just 12 points and eight goals in 27 contests.

For Stiga, he must show off consistency in 2024-25 when he heads off to Boston College. If he can turn into a scoring machine with the Eagles and keep it going year after year - not saying this must occur immediately - he will end up as a good value pick for someone, perhaps even the Blackhawks.

Justin Poirier, RW/Baie-Comeau

Speaking of scoring machines, Justin Poirier is it, and it’s something he’s managed consistently since the 2021-22 season. Poirier burst onto the junior hockey scene with the QMJHL’s Baie-Comeau Drakkar in 2022-23, putting up 48 points and 28 goals in 55 regular season games, plus an additional nine points and four goals throughout seven postseason appearances.

It was a strong start for Poirier, who saw action in 68 regular season matchups this past season, scoring a sensational 51 goals and 82 points. That trend continued in the playoffs, as Poirier put up another 24 points and 16 goals in 12 games.

Yet, Tankathon has him ranked 61st, and others - as shown on his Elite Prospects profile - have Poirier in the 80s. One reason stems from his lack of size, as Poirier is just 5’8 and 181 lbs. He’s also rather aggressive for his smaller size, but then again, Alex DeBrincat was also a smaller player with an edgy style, and he fell out of the first round, and the same is likely to happen with Poirier.

That said, his production has been beyond phenomenal, and despite his lack of size and late birthday, somebody is getting a dynamic scorer who can also set plays in motion for his linemates. If he lands in Chicago’s system, it will be a win for Kyle Davidson once Poirier is eligible to leave the CHL leagues.

Will Zellers, F/Shattuck-St. Mary’s

Will Zellers also carries a slight frame, so that’s one reason he could likely fall out of the first two rounds. Another reason is that he’s never seen much action in the USHL or the CHL leagues, playing in just one game for the Green Bay Gamblers, in which he scored a goal in that lone appearance.

That said, he’s been well over a point-per-game player since 2021-22 when he put up 79 in 61 games, plus 37 goals in 15U AAA. He also logged an incredible 111 points and 57 goals in 54 contests this past season in USHS Prep, plus an additional 22 points and 12 goals in 14 games in the PHC.

For Zellers, it’s all about growing into his frame, which is currently 5’11, 170 lbs. Luckily for him, he will have that opportunity at the University of North Dakota, where he can both put on muscle and show that adding lean body mass won’t affect his high-octane approach.

Of all the players listed, Zellers may boast more potential than anyone else, as he’s already proven to be not just one of the best scorers here but also one of the finest in the 2024 draft. Now, he must answer the question of whether he’s capable of repeating those results at a much higher level of play.

Mac Swanson, F/Fargo

Mac Swanson was the second-lowest-rated player on Tankathon’s board among their top forwards at the end of April, clocking in at 84th overall. Yet, much like the previous two players listed, Swanson is a threat to score time and again, but once more, the issue comes with his size.

At just 5’7 and 157 lbs, Swanson may be the smallest player in the 2024 draft class, and that will cost him spots even if he puts up two points and one goal per game. Either way, 77 points and 26 goals in 55 contests is still an epic number, and it was a substantial increase in production over the 55 points and 12 goals he put up in 57 regular season games last year for the USHL’s Fargo Force.

He was also an incredible scorer even before his USHL career, so we know Swanson can put up points, even when he factors in as one of the smallest players, regardless of whom he’s playing for. Thanks to his productivity, someone will take him in the third round, and if he keeps up this high-octane pace at the University of North Dakota, where he will have Will Zellers as a teammate, making it to the NHL in time is a realistic outcome.

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(Statistics provided by Elite Prospects as of May 1st)

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