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What position should the Chicago Blackhawks address with the 18th overall pick in the NHL Draft?

Whatever position group they draft from at No. 2 should dictate what they will do at No. 18

By Ethan Gawronski |
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The 2024 NHL Draft is one week away and there are still plenty of questions regarding where each player will get selected. The Chicago Blackhawks have arguably the toughest decision in the draft at second overall with the choices narrowing down between Michigan State (NCAA) defenseman Artyom Levshunov and SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL) forward Ivan Demidov.

Until just a couple of days ago, the consensus was that the Blackhawks were leaning toward taking Levshunov after his impressive media showcase. His playful and genuine off-ice personality made him stand out during interviews as someone an NHL team would love to add to their organization.

However, the decision became less wide open after Ivan Demidov made his way to Florida for a showcase hosted by his agent Dan Milstein of Gold Star.

The showcase allowed teams to meet with Demidov for the first time, and he was nothing short of impressive. He did not skate due to the forward still recovering from an ankle injury, the reason why he did not participate in the NHL Draft Combine.

Many had their doubts about Demidov before the showcase such as his height, and most noteably his expected arrival in the NHL. Demidov is signed for another season in Russia, leading to teams being worried that he would extend his deal overseas.

Initially, Demidov was projected to be around 5-feet 10-inces tall. But, the mini-combine showed that the forward is listed just above 6-feet tall and weighing in at 192 pounds, showing that he has more pro-ready size than what was believed.

Demidov also showed strong English speaking, rarely needing to use a translator for his interviews. It also became much more known that he fully intends on playing in the NHL, and could make the jump to North America as early as next season when his KHL contract expires.

This makes the Blackhawks decision even tougher for their second-overall pick. But, the Blackhawks also have the 18th selection which will all depend on who they inevitably select second.

The school of thought is that if the Blackhawks take Demidov, they'll take a defenseman at 18, and visa-versa if they choose Levshunov. Which ever position they prioritize with their first pick will ultimately give them the chance to select the other with their 18th pick.

Let's look at two possible round-one scenarios for the Chicago Blackhawks heading into the 2024 Draft.

Select Levshunov at 2 and then take a forward at 18...

If the Blackhawks decide to pick Levshunov, he'll be the foundational piece to round out their future blueline. Most of the young defenders in the system are all left-handed, and Levshunov would give them a blue-chip prospect for their right side.

Levshunov's 35 points in 38 NCAA games surpassed the draft-year numbers of NHL defenders Quinn Hughes and Owen Power, though Levshunov is not quite the elite skater that Hughes is. However, that is not a knock against his skating, as his footwork and overall game continues to take strides since coming over to North America from Belarus.

With Alex Vlasic and Kevin Korchinski looking to take the next step as part of the Blackhawks core defenders of the future, Levshunov could give them a dependable option on their top pair for years to come.

This gives the Blackhawks flexibility to take a forward with the 18th pick, and Corey Pronnman's recent seven-round mock draft (subscription required) has the same scenario play out. Here at BlackhawkUp, we agree that this player would be the forward the Blackhawks select at 18.

With the 18th overall pick, the Chicago Blackhawks select from MoraIK (HockeyAllsvenskan), Michael Brandsegg-Nygard

Brandsegg-Nygard checks a lot of the Blackhawks boxes when looking at their recent draft picks. He is a strong skating and high-intensity player who could be ready for professional hockey sooner than most in this first round.

Posting 18 points in 41 games for Mora IK in the Allsvenskan league, Brandsegg-Nygard became a high-riser in this draft for his play during league playoffs and the world juniors. His 10 points in 12 playoff games and 5 points in 5 world junior games showed his ability to rise up to the occasion in big moments.

At 6-foot-one inch and 196 pounds, the Norwegian forward looks the part of a strong middle-six contributor who can play in all scenarios. His vision and hockey sense are strength of his which tie in well with his tenacity away from the puck.

The potential of Brandsegg-Nygard could make him a top-six forward if developed right, though he has one of the highest floors amongst forwards in the draft.

If Levshunov is the pick at 2, the Blackhawks would be ecstatic over taking the tenacious Norwegian forward with their next pick in the draft.

Take Demidov at 2 then select a defenseman at 18...

Ivan Demidov could be the piece the Blackhawks are looking for with their second pick. The Russian winger would give them the chance to draft a potential game breaking forward to be the one-two-punch with Connor Bedard for the next decade.

His shiftiness and playmaking ability give him arguably the highest ceiling in the draft, and it's likely the Blackhawks won't get the opportunity to draft a player of his caliber again in the coming seasons.

Away from the puck, Demidov needs some rounding out. But, he shows the willingness to compete at both ends of the ice and always keeps his feet moving. He has the potential to be a lethal offensive weapon with an above average defensive game as well.

With Demidov likely coming to North America at the end of his KHL season, many believe he'll be able to step in right away as a contributor in the NHL. His draft season saw him dominate in the MHL, but his sights are set on being a mainstay in the KHL all of next season.

This will lead the Blackhawks to take a defenseman at 18, and our pick will see a jump of seven spots from Pronnman's mock draft.

With the 18th overall pick, the Chicago Blackhawks select from the U.S. National U18 Team, EJ Emery.

EJ Emery, no relation to the late great Ray Emery, would be the perfect defenseman the Blackhawks are looking for at 18, initially slotted 25th overall on Pronnman's mock draft.

The 6-foot-3 inch defender shows some of the most sound defensive games in the draft, making him another possible high-rise from his initial draft ranking. He skates really well and uses that ability when defending off the rush and in his own zone.

His season at the U.S. National U18 Team saw him tally 16 points in 61 games, though his trademark skills are his skating and defense rather than his offense.

Emery's game could be reminiscent of Alex Vlasic, a big defender with strong skating who is full of raw potential. As a mobile defender with shutdown capabilities, he could be a minute-logging blueliner on Chicago's right side for years to come.

Next season, Emery is committed to play at North Dakota in the NCAA and will likely spend a couple of seasons there. But, if the Blackhawks take a chance on him at 18, he could be an important fixture on their future defense core.

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