The Blackhawks were absolutely horrible last season and I am sure most fans are eager to put it behind them. Honestly, I cannot blame them for feeling this way. It was a very long 82 game season, filled with injuries and underachievers. Luckily, since there are tons of holes to fill on the roster, it will be very hard for the Blackhawks to make the wrong choice with their draft picks. Chicago has eight picks total in the 2018 NHL Draft, including two picks in the 1st Round, 8th and 27th (via Nashville), and four picks in the first three rounds.
The #Blackhawks have a total of eight picks in the 2018 #NHLDraft, including two first rounders and two third-round selections: https://t.co/Sy8AaoVMyo pic.twitter.com/5cRxBgIuAZ
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 29, 2018
Plan of Attack in the 2018 NHL Draft
The Blackhawks have a couple different routes to go in regards to the 1st Round of the draft.
Plan A: Sticking with the 8th and 27th picks in the 1st Round and taking 2 top tier players is the Blackhawks’ safest bet. With the 8th pick, I believe the Blackhawks will take the best available player. The 2018 NHL Draft class is loaded with elite scorers and solid two-way defensemen, especially at the top of the draft. Any way you look at it, the team will be adding an instant upgrade to the roster. Drafting as many game changers and playmakers as you can is never frowned upon. It is the quickest way to rebuild a roster and the best way to save your team some cap space.
Plan B: Make a package deal to move up from 8th overall to draft a no-doubter type of superstar talent. A player in the likes of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, etc. In order to move up to acquire a player of this caliber, you would most likely have to include the 27th overall pick, a player, and possibly the 8th overall pick as well, depending on how high they move up. When deciding on who to throw into this deal, the Blackhawks have to weigh all options.
Money and years remaining on contracts will be huge factors in who would be included in the deal. Players like Artem Anisimov and Brent Seabrook would be prime candidates. They make the most sense and both have been linked to trade rumors this offseason.
Anisimov was nonexistent for the Blackhawks last season and does not seem to fit the team’s style of play anymore. Seabrook is nearing the end of his career and owed $6.875 million every season, until 2024, which puts a stranglehold on the Blackhawks’ salary cap. To further complicate things, he has a No Movement Clause through the 2022 season, and then, transitions into a Modified No Trade Clause. Seabrook would submit a list of 5 teams that he would like to be traded to, and then, it switches to a 10-team list in 2023.
My Top Target for the Blackhawks
Even though last season was a lost cause, the Blackhawks are actually in great shape for a rebound year in the 2018-19 season. There are a few franchise-changing players in this year’s draft class on offense and defense, and to be honest, the Blackhawks could use some help on both ends. For the sake of being practical, we will go with Plan A that I described above, stick with the 8th and 27th picks. Let’s start off with my top target.
Quinn Hughes (D) – Univ. of Michigan
Quinn Hughes is my favorite prospect at number 8 for the Blackhawks, and assuming that nobody falls too far, Hughes is the most logical pick here. The Blackhawks gave up 256 goals this season, which was the 8th worst rate in the 2017-18 season. They desperately need some help on defense.
Hughes is often praised for his skating and puckhandling abilities. In my opinion, the best thing about Quinn Hughes is his consistent two-way play. He can also create for his teammates in the offensive zone. The way Hughes moves with the puck is incredible. When he is in the offensive zone, Hughes reminds me of Patrick Kane with the way he can move the puck so effortlessly. His offensive awareness makes it easy to generate scoring chances for himself and his teammates. Hughes even has the trademark Kaner Spin-O-Rama in his repertoire (seen in video at 4:45-4:56).
Here is a little taste of what Quinn Hughes can do. Keep your eyes on number 6 for Team USA.
Other Targets That Make Sense for Blackhawks
Evan Bouchard (D) – London Knights (OHL)
Evan Bouchard is not a sexy player, but he is a smart player with great instincts and solid two-way play. He was the Captain of the London Knights last season and his poise is on another level. Bouchard always opts for the high percentage play and is seemingly always in the right spot. His passes are always placed perfectly and his shot is very deceptive, as he racked up 87 points (25G, 62A) in 67 games in the 2017-18 OHL season. Here, you can see the elite skills that Bouchard brings to the table. As you watch, make sure to keep your eyes on number 2.
Noah Dobson (D) – Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL)
Noah Dobson is another great choice for the Blackhawks. Dobson is a solid two-way defenseman. He is always in the right spot in the offensive zone and knows how to set up his teammates. He also has a slap shot that strikes fear into goalies everywhere. In my opinion, the thing that knocks Dobson down one peg below Hughes and Bouchard is the fact that he will need to work on his gap-closing abilities in the defensive zone. Nonetheless, he is a great player. Keep your eyes on number 53 in this video.
Oliver Wahlstrom (Wing) – U.S. National Development Team (USNDT)
Oliver Wahlstrom could quite possibly be the best pure scorer in the draft. If Wahlstrom falls to the Blackhawks at the number 8 spot, I would take this kid without hesitation. All he does is score and it is absolutely ridiculous. Wahlstrom put up 94 points (48G, 46A) in 62 games with the U.S. National U18 Team last season. Any time Wahlstrom is on the ice, he is a threat to score. If I were to compare Oliver Wahlstrom to someone, his shooting motion and accuracy reminds me of Alex Ovechkin. Check out this highlight reel and you will see just how unstoppable Wahlstrom is. Watch out for number 18!
Ty Smith (D) – Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Ty Smith could be a sneaky good pick right here for the Blackhawks because he displays great awareness on both ends of the ice and has great hands. Smith also has a quick release that often catches goalies off-guard. As far as defensemen go, Ty Smith’s upside is not far off from Quinn Hughes and Evan Bouchard. He definitely passes the eye test for me. See if number 24 passes yours.
Since this video was not as long as the others, here is Ty Smith’s career stats to show how good he really is.
2018 NHL Draft
The 2018 NHL Draft will be held June 22-23 in Dallas, Texas. The possibility of drafting an elite playmaker like Quinn Hughes, or any of the players mentioned above, should make Blackhawks fans buzz with excitement. It does not make up for the forgettable 2017-18 NHL season, but it is a huge step in the right direction.
