Team-by-team NHL Mock Draft has high-impact winger falling to the Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Blackhawks have two picks in the first round, so with this team-by-team NHL mock draft, we’re giving you an overview from the No. 1 pick to who general manager Kyle Davidson should take at No. 18 - courtesy of FC Hockey’s mock draft builder.

Like my previous mock drafts, I’ll be taking the role of Kyle Davidson, but the exception is that I’m only simulating the first round and giving you a team-by-team look at the picks preceding those at No. 2 (and you probably have a good idea of who that pick is) and No. 18.

So, let’s get started and discuss who I decided Kyle Davidson should take with the second pick and why that is before I give you my honest opinions on Picks No. 3 through No. 17 and who I ultimately took with that 18th selection.

San Jose Sharks: Macklin Celebrini, C/Boston University

I could simulate the 2024 NHL Mock Draft 2,024 times, and it still wouldn’t matter - Macklin Celebrini is and should be the top pick here. Expect the same thing on draft day unless someone trades the Sharks about three potential star players for the pick, which isn’t going to happen.

Chicago Blackhawks: Artyom Levshunov, D/Michigan State

My logic here was similar to what I shared in Mock Draft 1.0 if you remember it. Artyom Levshunov should be a superstar for many years for whoever takes him on draft day, and since he’s a defenseman, it makes sense for Kyle Davidson to snag him one year after adding Connor Bedard.

Anaheim Ducks: Sam Dickinson, D/London Knights

It only took three picks to land a surprise, as I was certain the simulator would put either Cayden Lindstrom or Ivan Demidov here. But just because it was a surprise pick, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good one, and if I were a Ducks fan, I would be more than happy with Sam Dickinson joining the organization.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Berkly Catton, C/Spokane Chiefs

Once again, I was thinking Cayden Lindstrom or Ivan Demidov here, but the Columbus Blue Jackets couldn’t go wrong with Berkly Catton. In fact, if I were to take a prospect who could reinvigorate the fans, Catton may be my choice.

Montreal Canadiens: Cole Eiserman, LW/USNTDP

I understand the hype surrounding Cole Eiserman, but I’d rather go with a safer pick. Could you imagine Ivan Demidov or Cayden Lindstrom lining up with Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, Alex Newhook, and Cole Caufield? And we haven’t even gotten to the many defensemen in the system. While Eiserman wouldn’t be a bad choice here, I can’t help but think that there are better options.

Utah Hockey Club: Anton Silayev, D/Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod

With the first pick in Utah HC’s history, the simulator went with an interesting choice that I just don’t see happening. Hey, Anton Silayev is going to be a great player and a nightmare for teams to play against, but if Ivan Demidov and Cayden Lindstrom (I feel like I’m repeating myself) are there, that’s who Utah HC is taking in real life.

Ottawa Senators: Zeev Buium, D/Denver

You know what? I’m finished mentioning Lindstrom and Demidov, but two teams are going to get a pair of sensational talents. If his simulation holds true, it won’t be the Ottawa Senators, but I wouldn’t be too upset with Zeev Buium, even if it meant passing on a pair of potential top-four picks who are dropping in this mock.

Seattle Kraken: Cayden Lindstrom, C/Medicine Hat Tigers

Okay, finally, Cayden Lindstrom’s slide has ended in this exercise. While this probably isn’t happening on June 28th, there isn’t a single Seattle Kraken fan who wouldn’t be okay with this one. Cayden Lindstrom should catch on quickly, and if Shane Wright also keeps increasing his stock, the Kraken will have a pair of incredible young forwards.

Calgary Flames: Ivan Demidov, RW/SKA St. Petersburg

And Ivan Demidov is also now officially off, and wow, talk about going to a team in this scenario that has sold a lot of talent over the past two seasons and will probably keep doing so in the summer. If I’m a Calgary Flames fan, I’d be more than happy with this pickup, even if it means more restructuring in the near future.

New Jersey Devils: Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW/Mora IK

There are more enticing prospects out there, but Michael Brandsegg-Nygard has that “I’m just going to help you win games” mentality. With the current young starpower the New Jersey Devils already have in their current lineup, bringing someone like Brandsegg-Nygard into their system would be a good idea.

Buffalo Sabres: Konsta Helenius, C/Jurkurit

Sabres fans should like this one if it happens on June 28th, with one of Liiga’s better young professional hockey players entering the system in this scenario. As with Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, a few more exciting prospects will go after Konsta Helenius, but he’s another pick where you can safely say it’s a foregone conclusion he will eventually become a solid NHLer.

Philadelphia Flyers: Zayne Parekh, D/Saginaw Spirit

Like I said, there is a flurry of exciting prospects coming in between picks No. 12 and 18, and you can take that latter number as a foreshadowing. If Philadelphia Flyers fans want an interesting prospect to follow, Zayne Parekh is it, and one I was hoping to see fall to the Hawks in this exercise - and in real life.

Minnesota Wild: Tij Iginla, C/Kelowna Rockets

The fact that Tij Iginla is the son of a Hockey Hall of Famer is all some fans need to know, but regardless, he would be a sensational pickup here. Iginla could go earlier because of his productivity on the ice and NHL-ready size, but it would be tough to see him falling much further than 13th overall.

San Jose Sharks: Adam Jiricek, D/HC Plzen

This pick makes sense as the Sharks would land a franchise forward in Macklin Celebrini and a defenseman who can be part of a future top pairing. He will need time to grow, but this puck-mover should enjoy some substantial improvement in Czechia this season.

Detroit Red Wings: Beckett Sennecke, RW/Oshawa Generals

Beckett Sennecke just makes an outstanding prospects pool even more impressive and one whose steady output should continue into 2024-25. The only dilemma here is that, with so many exceptional prospects in the pool already, would there be room for Sennecke in the Red Wings lineup when he’s eventually NHL-ready? And you can say the same for quite a few organizations Sennecke may find himself in.

St. Louis Blues: Carter Yakemchuk, D/Calgary Hitmen

I honestly wouldn’t mind seeing the St. Louis Blues land Carter Yakemchuk, and you can even argue he would be the ideal prospect here as they need nothing more at the moment in their prospects pool than a dynamic blueliner.

Washington Capitals: Emil Hemmerling, RW/TPS

This was one I didn’t see coming, but since the simulation was running this one, I penciled Emil Hemmerling in at 17th overall. That said, Hemmerling wouldn’t be too bad of a pick here, as he has the size and quite a few games of pro hockey experience over in Finland.

Chicago Blackhawks: Liam Greentree, RW/Windsor Spitfires

Talk about a mock draft simulation full of surprises: Liam Greentree was not somebody I thought would be there at No. 18, even if places like Tankathon’s Mock Draft had him going at No. 21 to the Los Angeles Kings. Either way, if he falls to the Blackhawks at No. 18, there should be little hesitation here for them to take Greentree.

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Team-by-team NHL Mock Draft has a high-impact winger falling to the Chicago Blackhawks