Chicago selected Connor Bedard first overall in 2023 and Artyom Levshunov second in 2024. Another draft lottery level prospect isn’t required for the team’s rebuild says its general manager.
The Chicago Blackhawks won the draft lottery in 2023 and took “generational talent” Connor Bedard with the No. 1 overall pick. Bedard went on to lead rookie scorers as an 18-year-old on a thin team and win the Calder Trophy.
Chicago pulled the second selection in 2024 and chose big, fast and skilled defenseman Artyom Levshunov. Already 6-foot-2 and 210-pounds, he signed a pro contract on July 6 and has the potential to be a team’s top defenseman, according to Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson.
Sure another “top-top” draft pick would be nice for rebuilding Chicago as it tries to climb in the NHL standings from a 31st place finish last season. But one isn’t necessary, according to Davidson, the youngest GM in the NHL at age 36.
The Blackhawks have beefed up their roster by signing eight free agents — including Tyler Bertuzzi, Teuvo Teravainen, T.J. Brodie, Alex Martinez and Laurent Brossoit – on July 1. Former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall should be back strong from knee surgery, likely on Bedard’s wing. Throw in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks for Ilya Mikheyev, a forward with possible upside.
Then plenty of prospects are knocking on the door.
No, the Blackhawks really don’t expect to be in position for a draft lottery slot in 2025, even if they currently have two first-round and two second-round picks next June. The plan is to allow the upgraded group of veterans lift the team to immediate respectability and competitiveness. Then the kids will grow up and form a core that takes the team to the next level.
“I’m not concerned if we don’t get another top-top pick,” Davidson said. “I’m really comfortable with where we’re at. I think we’ve got some really exciting players in the pipeline right now.” See following video.
“Obviously Connor (Bedard) was here last year, but your Ryan Greenes, your (Oliver) Moores, your Frank Nazars, there’s lot of upside to them as well. And that’s just the prospect pool, that’s only one way to really improve the team.
“There’s always free agency, trades and other ways as well, but specifically with the prospect pool, I’m extremely happy with where it’s at. If we don’t add someone above those guys in the drafts to come, we’re in a really good spot. We’re in a spot we can be excited about moving forward.”
Davidson won’t project how many wins or points he anticipates from his team in 2024-25. But Chicago’s depth chart is much fuller than last season when it was thin to begin with, then decimated by injuries.
Forwards who were best suited for bottom-6 roles were pushed into top-6 spots. Bedard ended up clicking with winger Philipp Kurashev, but at times was skating with honest grinders and muckers who should slip back into more suitable assignments next year.
Davidson did say, however, he expects the Blackhawks to be able “to impose” themselves on opponents more often in 2024-25, rather than playing rope-a-dope or trying to hang on for a goaltending win behind Petr Mrazek, and now Brossoit. See following video.
The entire depth charts for the Blackhawks and all 32 NHL teams are included in The Hockey News 2024-25 Yearbook, set to go on sale at newsstands and soon available at: https://thehockeynews.store/.
