The Chicago Blackhawks are likely to Draft a Defenseman in the 2024 Draft

When looking at this year's results on the ice it's easy to want to quickly transition to draft discussion. That is the exciting part of any rebuild afterall, the hope that comes with each draft pick and in particular any player selected high in the 1st round. Connor Bedard, Oliver Moore, Kevin Korchinski, Sam Rinzel, and Frank Nazar are all showing great early returns in Kyle Davidson's short tenure as a shrewd drafting general manager.

One thing has been a constant thus far though with Davidson, that he is going to likely draft the best player on the board when he selects. Whether that means getting the player that has unexpectedly fallen (Oliver Moore, Frank Nazar), the player that represents the highest upside on the board (Kevin Korchinski, Sam Rinzel) or the obvious pick (Connor Bedard). This leads to the next draft and how we can all use this history in trying to see which direction the Blackhawks may go in the 2024 NHL Draft.

Before diving into said 2024 draft class though it's important to look ahead at 2025 and 2026. With 14 picks in the top 2 rounds over all 3 of these drafts, the Hawks will have no shortage of opportunities to add impact players to the organization.

What do the 2025 / 2026 Drafts offer that the 2024 class does not?

Let's get one thing out of the way, if the Chicago Blackhawks get the #1 pick in 2024 they will select Macklin Celebrini. Outside of the outstanding center though, there is a pretty incomplete list of forwards available. 2025 however houses an unbelievable contingent of potential franchise level players from the forward (LW-C-RW) positions.

James Hagens, Anton Frondell, Porter Martone, Roger McQueen, and Michael Misa are just 5 of the many players already staking claim over becoming future top 10 selections. These 5 in particular though should give GMs across the league notice that perhaps they won't be selecting a defenseman if drafting high in the 2025 draft class.

Even further out is the 2026 class and yet again the forwards seem to have the edge, led by likely #1 pick (and cousin to Connor Bedard) Gavin McKenna. Canadian center Ryan Roobroeck is already producing in the OHL at the age 16 while looking like his frame will be that of a plus (already 6-2 185lbs) at the NHL level. Swedish born scoring dynamo Viggo Bjorck, while just 15, is putting up eye popping numbers (92 points in 33 games) though at a lower level of hockey than McKenna or Roobroeck.

So with this knowledge already in hand, where might the Blackhawks look in the 2024 Draft?

Simply put, outside of Macklin Celebrini going #1 overall the group of forwards in the draft class represent equal amounts of promise as they do risk. The likes of Ivan Demidov, Cayden Lindstrom, Berkly Catton, Liam Greentree, and Konsta Helenius are all talented, however when compared to what is in the next 2 drafts (from Blackhawk Up's perspective) it may be wise to look at the defensive players this go around.

That group, when taking into consideration the Blackhawks have two 1st round picks (their own and Tampa Bay's 1st round selection) may afford Chicago an opportunity to not only take one of the top 3 defenders, but perhaps 2 in the top 6 of said projected defenseman. There in lays the outline though, this 2024 draft class is shaping up to have upwards of 6 blue line talents that grade out inside the top 10-12 picks. With some teams likely opting for forwards, it could push one of the players closer to 15-20 and in the range of where the Blackhawks could maneuver (TBL currently hold the 21st selection slot).

Of those 6 players eluded to, half are right shot and half are left shot. As the Blackhawks have a heavy contingent of left handed defenders in the NHL or in the prospect pool, let's first look at the right handed prospects from a defensive point of view.

3 RD that the Blackhawks could take in the 2024 draft:

1. Artyom Levshunov. A big and mature (older for the draft class, turned 18 last October) RD that has exceeded expectations over the past 2 seasons in North America. Currently the odds on favorite to be the first defender off the board and likely in the top 4 picks.

2. Zayne Parekh. Exciting is the word when thinking about Parekh. This is as gifted of a skater, with an equally adept offensive IQ, that the draft has produced in some time. Will some physcial limitations keep him off of some teams boards perhaps, but make no mistake Zayne Parekh will be drafted in the 5-15 range depending on how the draft plays out.

3. Carter Yakemchuk. A RD that sports tremendous size (6-3, 194) and an expanding repertoire of offensive skill traits that has seen him rise up many pundits draft boards of late. Yakemchuk is a player, like Kevin Korchinski was 2 drafts prior, that could hear his name called earlier than many expect. Still, the WHL standout is a likely selection in the 9-18 range depending on team movement in that span of picks.

Note; In Carter Yakemchuk's link this is an article from exactly 100 days ago that predicted the draft and it's players. Yakemchuk was a tier 5 (or up to pick #21) prospect at that time in which now we would move him up to tier 4 (early teens).

Would the Blackhawks select one of these LD in the 1st round?