Bedard Honored Again, Draft Prep (and Memories), Michkov Interviewing, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

Tab Bamford Tab Bamford
Jun 19, 2023
Jun 19, 2023

We’re now nine (9) days away from the 2023 NHL Draft, which means it’s time to dig in and really overanalyze and talk ourselves into and out of every prospect in this draft (other than Connor Bedard). We’re also now less than two weeks away from free agency opening in the NHL, so the hockey treadmill is starting to pick up the pace a little. Fun times ahead, folks!

  • We opened Monday morning with some fun news: Bedard has been named the IIHF Male Player of the Year. This is the first time the IIHF is handing out the award, so it feels fitting that the record-breaking star from Canada’s World Junior teams will forever be the first player to win it. He’s got a really impressive trophy case at home already, and will add the No. 1 pick to his resume in nine days.

  • This week we’re going to go deep in draft prep. This morning I released our rankings of the Top 50 Defensemen in the 2023 NHL Draft. Yeah, I went 50 deep. Lots of names to consider with unique skills. Find a few names to circle and let me know who you want in a Blackhawks sweater by the end of next week.

  • Oh, by the way, the last time the NHL held its draft in Nashville, Chicago owned the 14th overall pick. The 2003 NHL Draft has been compared to this year’s draft for a while now because was loaded with future stars, likely Hall of Famers, Olympic medalists and Stanley Cup champions. The Blackhawks used that 14th pick on one of the best defensemen to ever wear their sweater. And they came back in the second round and grabbed a franchise goalie. Not bad. Not bad at all.

  • It feels like we have a pretty good idea that Bedard will go first overall to the Blackhawks and Anaheim will select Adam Fantilli second. After that, this year’s draft becomes a bit of a mess, because nobody knows where Russian prospect Matvei Michkov will land. Many scouts will tell you he’s the second-best talent in the draft; he’s been compared to Alex Ovechkin and Nikita Kucherov. But the fact teams haven’t seen him in international tournaments for the past 18 months (because politics) and he can’t sign with an NHL team for three years (because KHL) means he could realistically go anywhere between 3 and… TBD? He didn’t attend the draft combine in Buffalo, but Bob McKenzie is reporting his interviews with NHL teams have started to pick up in recent days.

  • As I mentioned, free agency is also right around the corner; hopefully Kyle Davidson’s cell phone(s) are charged. Ben Pope posed a good question on Twitter over the weekend regarding a name we’ve discussed as a potential reunion candidate this summer: Max Domi. He was terrific here in part of one season and chose to come to Chicago because of a) Luke Richardson, and b) the opportunity to prove himself again. He succeeded in proving himself, and Richardson is still here. I join Ben in wondering if, like Andreas Athanasiou, he likes the idea of coming back to Chicago enough to take a higher AAV on a shorter term deal.

  • On Monday morning, my buddies at The Fourth Period dropped their Summer Trade Watch List. There are 30 names ranked, none of whom played for the Blackhawks last season. That isn’t much of a surprise… the Hawks don’t have much left to think about trading. I was a bit surprised the Blackhawks weren’t listed as “interested” in anyone, but there are a lot of TBDs on players because this summer’s trade market looks to be shaping up as a salary dump season.

  • Yes, they had an epic parade down The Strip this weekend. And most of the players are probably still hung over this morning. But Vegas has some decisions to make on some important pending free agents soon. Anyone on these lists interest you from a Blackhawks’ perspective?

  • Finally, I love celebrating minor leaguers succeeding in any sport. And one of the Cubs’ farm teams has been outstanding this season. I’m headed to Myrtle Beach later this summer and might have to catch a game when I’m down there!

    • written by

    Tab Bamford has been writing about the Chicago Blackhawks for almost two decades. He joined Bleacher Nation as the lead Blackhawks writer in May 2022. Tab is a member of the and is the author of three books about the Blackhawks: (Triumph Books),"100 Things ▨Blackhawks ♔Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die" (Triumph Books) and "Chicago Blackhawks: An Illustrated Timeline" (Reedy Press, 2021). Find him on Twitter/X/In꧋st🍷agram/Threads at @The1Tab

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