As we continue to look forward to the offseason ahead for the Chicago Blackhawks, we’re keeping an eye on good mock draft scenarios that deserve some consideration and conversation. Since the Blackhawks and Islanders made their swap of picks, there haven’t been many updated mock drafts for us to discuss. Until today.
Mock Draft Roundup No. 1
Mock Draft Roundup No. 2
Mock Draft Roundup No. 3
Mock Draft Roundup No. 4
Scott Wheeler, Max Bultman and Corey Pronman at got together for an updated first-round mock draft, which is great because now we have three brains working instead of their usual Pronman-Wheeler combo. As we have been doing this offseason to date, we’re going to look at this mock and consider the picks they made for the Blackhawks, who now own Nos. 2 and 18 overall.
2. , RW
Bultman Comments: “I’d strongly consider Artyom Levshunov here and have flipped the two on my board throughout the year (Levshunov actually spent more time at No. 2 than Demidov). The draw of adding a stud two-way first-pairing type to Kevin Korchinski, Alex Vlasic, Sam Rinzel and company is real. But Demidov’s a game-breaker who could be Connor Bedard’s winger of the future and a second potential point-per-game producer up front. I’d bet on his skill level.“
My Thoughts: Ditto. (winks at the “Blazing Saddles” reference.) Bultman’s comments are precisely where I’m at with the second overall pick in my mock draft thoughts for the Blackhawks. There are a couple players who are very real, strong, rebuild-changing options for Chicago — which is awesome to be able to choose between the two. Like Bultman, I’m leaning on the game-breaking forward because I’m watching McDavid-Draisaitl and I want that.
18. , RW
Bultman Comments: “Chicago lands another skilled Russian winger here after their late-May trade-up with the Islanders. In Chernyshov, they get a winger with skill, scoring ability and the size to play a power game that will complement some of their speedy two-way centers and now Demidov as well. Jiricek could make sense, too, as a defenseman with great mobility, but Chernyshov gives them a little more size to an impressive young forward pool.“
My Thoughts — Part I: First, let me address the player. Bultman’s comment about the size (6-2, 196) is appropriate; the Blackhawks could use some more size up front. And the skill is there for this to be an intriguing option for the Blackhawks; he appeared in 34 regular-season games (and 10 postseason) in the KHL this past season. I’m additionally intrigued at the link to Chicago here because Pronman had Chernyshov going to Chicago in the last mock draft from The Athletic in which he and Wheeler projected two full rounds. So he’s definitely going to remain on my radar at No. 18 (though his size/skill combination have me thinking Washington). Like Demidov, he only has one year remaining on his KHL commitment — and they share an agent.
My Thoughts — Part II: Regarding this specific mock draft, the guys have the Blackhawks passing on a RHD (Adam Jiricek), a couple other forwards with size (Emil Hemming and Liam Greentree) and a few centers (Cole Beaudoin and Jett Luchanko). If all of those players are still on the board, I have some concerns about the Blackhawks using both of their first-round picks on players who are in the KHL. While I am confident that the Blackhawks’ conversation with their representation in Florida before the draft will inform their decision making process enough to confidently select player(s) in the coming draft, going to Russia twice — with Roman Kantserov and Ilya Safonov already in the KHL — is too many for my personal taste. There are other options I would probably consider here.
