After a first round that Blackhawks fans were undoubtedly thrilled with, the festivities continue today at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville with rounds 2-7. Chicago was able to take two prospects in Connor Bedard and Oliver Moore that they’ll aim to build around for years to come, and today, they’ll hope to get the pieces to put around those players. All 192 picks will be made today in a marathon of action, and this is your one-stop-shop for instant analysis of each pick or trade. Chicago holds the third pick of the second round, and in total has four second-round picks, two third-rounders, and picks in the fourth, fifth, and seventh rounds, although they’re expected to possibly package a few of those together in a trade. Updates will be posted shortly after each selection or trade.
TRADE
Hawks Receive Josh Bailey, 2026 2nd-rounder
As the second round kicked off Thursday morning, the Blackhawks got the New York Islanders’ longest-tenured player along with a second-rounder in 2026 for future considerations. Bailey carries a cap hit of $5 million for the upcoming season, after which he’ll become an unrestricted free agent. At age 33, the forward’s best years may be behind him, but he’s a well-respected leader in the locker room, and is a great opportunity for the Blackhawks to weaponize some cap space while picking up a valuable pick a few years down the road.
Round 2, Pick 3 – G Adam Gajan
The Slovakian goaltender is the first at his position to come off the board. With prospects like Carson Bjarnason and Michael Hrabal still on the board, GM Kyle Davidson and his scouting department must have seen something out of him they liked. At the World Junior Championships for Slovakia, Gajan posted a .936 save percentage, and was named the tournament’s best goaltender. He’s committed to play at Minnesota-Duluth in the NCAA next season, and will hopefully eventually add to a high-upside group of young goaltenders in Chicago and Rockford.
Round 2, Pick 12 – F Roman Kantserov
The 18-year-old Russian forward was ranked between #40 and #60 by most scouts, so the 44th pick isn’t a reach by any means. Kantserov is smaller than Bedard, but makes up for it with his skating and puck handling. His left-handed shot is strong, but he specializes in utilizing his small size to squeeze through gaps and make plays. He’s a risky second-round pick coming out of Russia, but could pay off as a nice addition that fits Davidson and head coach Luke Richardson’s scheme well.
Round 2, Pick 23 – F Martin Misiak
Misiak is an 18-year-old Slovakian forward who is a smooth-striding, quick skater. Detecting a theme? His offensive game “has flare, but lacks consistency”, according to The Hockey Writers. Misiak is a big-bodied player who is strong on the defensive end. He’s ranked by most scouts in the #60-70 overall range.
Round 3, Pick 3 – F Nick Lardis
Lardis hasn’t hit his 18th birthday yet, and is already a proven scorer. He has a booming shot, and tallied 65 regular-season points between two OHL teams last season. He helped Team Canada to a bronze medal at the U18 level last season by knocking in four goals in seven games. Lardis was ranked by a few scouting organizations as an early 2nd-rounder, making him a nice get at the top of the 3rd.
UPDATE: Bailey Headed for Buyout
According to Frank Seravalli, new acquisition Josh Bailey is headed for a buyout, assuming he clears waivers. Bailey is older than 26, so the buyout will be worth 2/3 of his contract. Bailey’s leadership would have been a solid addition for a young Blackhawks team, but Davidson obviously had a plan for him, as he was only on the team around one hour.
Round 3, Pick 29 – F Jiri Felcman
Felcman, a Czech forward who played in the U20 Elit in Switzerland, is an extremely long, lean forward at 6’4″, 198 lbs. He’s just past his 18th birthday, and scored 31 points in 40 games last season while playing up with 20-year-olds. Nevertheless, he was projected as a very late-round pick, so this one seems like a bit of a reach. Obviously, it’s too early to tell.
Round 4, Pick 3 – F Alex Pharand
The Blackhawks keep the run of forwards going with Pharand, a 6’3″ center from the Sudbury Wolves in the OHL. He put up 39 points for the team last season, then played seven games on Canada’s U18 WJC team while logging one assist. He’s known for his good attitude and strong work ethic, and has great leadership skills. As a defensive-minded forward, he doesn’t have elite offensive talent, but has a decent shot and strong puck handling.
BREAKING – Blackhawks Acquiring Rights to Corey Perry
According to Charlie Roumeliotis, the Blackhawks are bringing in winger Corey Perry in exchange for a seventh-rounder next year. Perry is a UFA on Saturday, but Davidson seems confident he can get a deal done before then, similar to that of Nick Foligno earlier this week. The Blackhawks like his leadership and competitive drive, says Frank Seravalli. In 2022, Perry became the first player ever to lose three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals with three different teams. The 38-year-old was still a solid producer last year, putting up 25 points along with 5 in the playoffs. His most recent contract, which is set to expire, was a 35+ deal worth $1 million per year for two years. Despite the flurry of cap moves in the past few days, the Blackhawks can still clearly afford that, as he can offer numerous benefits both on the ice and off it this year, provided he’s signed soon.
Round 5, Pick 3 – F Marcel Marcel
Marcel is the third selection in what appears to be a growing trend for the Blackhawks – gigantic wingers who can score. His unique name isn’t his only distinctive quality – he’s 6’4″, 242 lbs. at 19 years old. Marcel was eligible to be drafted last year, but didn’t make the cut for any of the 32 teams. This year, he was still eligible, and was taken in the fifth round. He played for the Gatineau Olympiques in the QMJHL last season, where he tallied 32 points in 52 games, as well as eight points in 13 playoff matchups. His overwhelming size at the forward position allows for a cannon shot as well as a strong defensive presence.
Round 6, Pick 7 – F Milton Oscarson
The Blackhawks didn’t use the third of their four 2nd-round picks, instead sending it to Philadelphia in exchange for this pick and a 2nd-rounder next year.
With their newly acquired 6th-rounder, the Blackhawks took Milton Oscarson, a 20-year-old Swede who played 11 games on his nation’s U20 squad, scoring four points. He’s also played in the Orebro organization since 2017, when he was on the U16 team. Oscarson is yet another huge prospect, at 6’6″, 216 lbs. Playing on the same line as Leo Carlsson, he’s a physical force who hits extremely hard.
Round 7, Pick 3 – D Janne Peltonen
The first defenseman taken in the draft for Chicago, Peltonen recently had his 18th birthday, and comes in at 6’3″, 174 lbs. He comes from Finland’s U18 team as well as Karpat U20, where he put up nine points over 40 games. His lean frame could be built out more, and he has work to do to get to a high level, as he posted a -12 plus-minus in those 40 games. He’s the 64th ranked skater from the EU, and gives the Blackhawks at least some blue-line representation at the end of the 2023 Draft.
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