Who should the Chicago Blackhawks select 2nd overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft?

[hawksrule]

I liked Vlasic more than most, but still didn't think he’d be more than a solid third pairing. The leaps and bounds he grew this year was awesome, and also pretty shocking. Whatever coaches he was working with in the organization the previous year, lock them up long-term.

 

[TheFridge]

Congrats that you were more intuitive then most and experts like Pronman a year ago. I'll stand by my orginal point that started this whole tangent of who saw what & when in Vlasic which was that the development curve for D is typically much longer then forwards and getting the future D pipeline has advantages in getting the D into the pipeline sooner as forwards can and do contribute in the NHL a year if not 2 sooner than D in general. This is a draft where the concensus is that it is an above average year for D and adding one (or even 2) of those D prospects would not be terrible in some ways. Start the development clock in case it takes those D picks 4 post draft seasons before they in their 5th year blossom into Vlasic or hopefully better at the NHL level. Load up on F next draft where the top end (at this point) is viewed to be a little deeper. Demidov may turn out to be a star, or he may end up being reaching (like like Reinbacher and Simashev were in a F heavy year) in a D heavy draft (where again, in time both those Reinbacher/Simashev may end up real good so who knows).

Bud. My contention with your post was that Vlasic "floundered" for years after being drafted. That was never the case. Then you went on a tangent about me nor anyone else being able to discern NHL potential out of the kid.

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

IMO if they're dead set on picking a defenseman at 2, take one of Buium or Dickinson. Who cares which way they shoot. Take a RHD somewhere else in the draft or try to sign one via free agency or trade.

KK has top 4 potential. EDM/Allen are 4-6 range guys and seem to be more defensively-sound types.

I'm still on the Demidov train. The team has GOT to show improvement over the past two seasons for crying out loud. Bedard can't be expected to do it all and it's asking for too much even though he's an extremely talented player.

Just my opinion.

As part of the bolded, when you say "improvement" do you me the on-ice product next year? Because no one the Hawks are drafting should be included in that. (Demidov - under contract 1 more year in Russia, and none of the other 2024 draft players are ready IMO.) I do agree the Hawks need to get CB more immediate help, but that's outside this draft.

 

[Wally1112pac]

New mock draft done by our friends at The Athletic.

Here is what they said about 2 and 18.

2. Chicago Blackhawks: Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State (NCAA (BIG10))​

I believe the Blackhawks are largely deciding between Levshunov and Ivan Demidov. This could change in the next month, but as of today, I think they’d select Levshunov. Since taking over as general manager, Kyle Davidson has prioritized building a defense. It’s what crumbled first under the last regime and held the Blackhawks back from extending their Cup window. Although the Blackhawks have a lot of promising defensemen in the pipeline, what Levshunov brings would likely bolster and complete the group. Davidson could then turn his focus to bolstering the offense around Connor Bedard. — Scott Powers

18. Chicago Blackhawks: Michael Hage, C, Chicago (USHL)​

The Blackhawks moved up two spots in the first round with their recent trade with the Islanders, so you would think that means they envision having a better shot at a player they’re targeting being at 18 rather than 20. There haven’t many surprises in the previous picks, and Hage feels like one of the few players still on the board who could go at any point now and might be worth that type of aggressive trade if you’re really sold on his potential. He certainly looked as if he had a huge ceiling with the way he played late in the USHL season. He was dominant and carried the Steel into a playoff spot over the last month or so. He had 12 goals and 19 assists over his final 16 games. He has a lot of attributes the Blackhawks have liked in their draft picks the last few years, plus a bit more size. Just like Frank Nazar, the Blackhawks can let Hage develop at Michigan and in college hockey for a few years and then add him to their growing list of young NHL players. — Scott Powers

 

[ChiHawks10]

Not gonna lie, it's looking like they're going to end up going with Lev, and I'll be pretty f***ing disappointed if that's the case.

 

[Larmer83]

New mock draft done by our friends at The Athletic.

Here is what they said about 2 and 18.

2. Chicago Blackhawks: Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State (NCAA (BIG10))​

I believe the Blackhawks are largely deciding between Levshunov and Ivan Demidov. This could change in the next month, but as of today, I think they’d select Levshunov. Since taking over as general manager, Kyle Davidson has prioritized building a defense. It’s what crumbled first under the last regime and held the Blackhawks back from extending their Cup window. Although the Blackhawks have a lot of promising defensemen in the pipeline, what Levshunov brings would likely bolster and complete the group. Davidson could then turn his focus to bolstering the offense around Connor Bedard. — Scott Powers

18. Chicago Blackhawks: Michael Hage, C, Chicago (USHL)​

The Blackhawks moved up two spots in the first round with their recent trade with the Islanders, so you would think that means they envision having a better shot at a player they’re targeting being at 18 rather than 20. There haven’t many surprises in the previous picks, and Hage feels like one of the few players still on the board who could go at any point now and might be worth that type of aggressive trade if you’re really sold on his potential. He certainly looked as if he had a huge ceiling with the way he played late in the USHL season. He was dominant and carried the Steel into a playoff spot over the last month or so. He had 12 goals and 19 assists over his final 16 games. He has a lot of attributes the Blackhawks have liked in their draft picks the last few years, plus a bit more size. Just like Frank Nazar, the Blackhawks can let Hage develop at Michigan and in college hockey for a few years and then add him to their growing list of young NHL players. — Scott Powers

That would make for some really interesting Hawks prospect watching in the Big 10.

 

[BHawk21]

Levshunov ends up as Seabrook are you happy?

 

[TLEH]

Levshunov ends up as Seabrook are you happy?

would be just fine. Not amazing, not bad. Seabrook at 5-10 sounds a lot better than him at 2.

 

[Darkstar]

Not gonna lie, it's looking like they're going to end up going with Lev, and I'll be pretty f***ing disappointed if that's the case.

If they pick Lev, I'll be a bit disappointed but I'll hope he proves me wrong about my doubts.

 

[clydesdale line]

Levshunov ends up as Seabrook are you happy?

I'd be over the moon. Prime Seabrook was damn good. And in a weak draft like this, you take it and run.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

It’s actually not unlike Seth Jones in 2013. You look at Jones career so far, and you might say you’d be disappointed in getting that at 4th overall. But looking at the rest of that draft, he still goes top 5. The high end talent just wasn’t there much like in this draft.

I can’t believe I’m agreeing with Musto, but Lev is probably the safe pick. Maybe never a true superstar, but likely a solid player for a long time.

Now I’m a Demidov guy. But it does excite me looking at the future of our Dcore if we do draft Lev. That’s a Dcore that can win championships.

 

[JaegerDice]

I'd be over the moon. Prime Seabrook was damn good. And in a weak draft like this, you take it and run.

Yeah, Seabrook may have fallen off a cliff at the end, but he was a top pair guy on any team in the league from 2009 to 2015.

If we get that out of our draft pick in a pretty weak class, we’re laughin

 

[MTU34]

Not gonna lie, it's looking like they're going to end up going with Lev, and I'll be pretty f***ing disappointed if that's the case.

I don’t think it’s worth getting upset regardless of what they do. There’s like 10 players you can make an argument for. Levshunov is one of them.

He definitely wouldn’t be my favorite choice but I can absolutely live with it. There’s just no real standouts beyond Celebrini this year

 

[ndgt10]

So why are the Hawks enamored with Lev but most fans aren't?

 

[ClydeLee]

So why are the Hawks enamored with Lev but most fans aren't?

Ducks board he leads their vote on who they want. It's just some views of others

 

[Hattrick Kane]

So why are the Hawks enamored with Lev but most fans aren't?

It’s just too long between the last games of the season and the draft, nearly two months. We’re bored.

It’s giving us way too much time to over analyze everything based on anything except actual games. Personally, I say go with your initial gut feeling is. Big braining this stuff usually gets you in trouble.

 

[Mrfenn92]

So why are the Hawks enamored with Lev but most fans aren't?

Think most of us want a guy to play with bedard on a elite level

 

[deytookerjaabs]

Blackhawks taking Lev?

 

[cassac]

Davidson has had two drafts at helm

2022
1st round, 7th overall = D Kevin Korchinski
1st round, 13th overall = C Frank Nazar
1st round, 25th overall = D Sam Rinzel
2nd round, 39th overall = C Paul Ludwinski
2nd round, 57th overall = C Ryan Greene
3rd round, 66th overall = RW Gavin Hayes
3rd round, 81st overall = LW Samuel Savoie
3rd round, 90th overall = C Aidan Thompson
6th round, 173rd overall = C Dominic James
6th round, 188th overall = LW Nils Juntorp
7th round, 199th overall = C Riku Tohila

2023
1st round, 1st overall = C Connor Bedard
1st round, 18th overall = C Oliver Moore
2nd round, 35th overall = G Adam Gajan
2nd round, 44th overall = RW Roman Kantserov
2nd round, 55th overall = C Martin Misiak
3rd round, 67th overall = LW Nick Lardis
3rd round, 93rd overall = C Jiri Felcman
4th round, 99th overall = RW Alex Pharand
5th round, 131st overall = LW Marcel Marcel
6th round, 167th overall = C Milton Oscarson
7th round, 195th overall = D Janne Peltonen

All our 1st rounders in that time look pretty damn good/promising and several 2nd rounders or beyond have been progressing well and receiving alot of attention/praise from experts since draft (Greene, Hayes, Kantserov, Lardis) and guys like Thompson and Ludwinski have also flashed solid pro potential (As bottom 6 guys)

Not sure how you can look at these two drafts and find our 1st round picks "Just okay" and not being thrilled with our returns past 1st round

I think this is the best (and most positive) post that I have ever seen you put in here.

 

[ello]

It’s just too long between the last games of the season and the draft, nearly two months. We’re bored.

It’s giving us way too much time to over analyze everything based on anything except actual games. Personally, I say go with your initial gut feeling is. Big braining this stuff usually gets you in trouble.

Doesn’t really make sense considering we’ve gotten higher on other prospects in the meantime
I will say that if I were a GM and my job hinged on this decision I’d probably lean towards Lev as well. Safe pick. Already looks like an NHLer today and probably plays a solid amount of games in the league

I still think he tops out as a second pair guy who bounces around the league a bit.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Think most of us want a guy to play with bedard on a elite level

That's the fun option, yeah.

 

[JaegerDice]

So why are the Hawks enamored with Lev but most fans aren't?

Ceiling vs floor.

Decent-to-good chance of a top-pair D

Vs

Crap shoot at an elite winger


Most people prefer to take the chance on elite talent with a top pick, cause its pretty much the only place you get it.

 

[Darkstar]

Lev and KK might eventually put up the type of points that Seebs and Keith did, but neither have the edge or toughness they had. We might have been a puck possession team but we weren't soft. I'd still rather trade down with Montreal or Ottawa and take a chance on Yakemchuk.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Lev and KK might eventually put up the type of points that Seebs and Keith did, but neither have the edge or toughness they had. We might have been a puck possession team but we weren't soft. I'd still rather trade down with Montreal or Ottawa and take a chance on Yakemchuk.

Yakemchuk definitely has edge. That guy will make it his mission to win.

 

[ChiHawks10]

Levshunov ends up as Seabrook are you happy?

I'd be fine with it, but I'd expect a bit more from a #2OA.