The Blackhawks still have 27 games left in the 2024-25 season, but it’s no secret that the team isn’t exactly headed for the playoffs. With two months until the campaign is over, many fans have already peeked ahead to the offseason. Chicago is once again expected to pick inside the top five – the Blackhawks currently have the second-lowest points in the league behind San Jose. If that holds, they’d be guaranteed to pick inside the top four, and they’d have to win a lot of games to finish out the season outside the top five.
While GM Kyle Davidson has been openly noncommittal to making the pick and will likely explore a trade, another top-five pick would be the cherry on top of a rebuild for Chicago that seems to be reaching its end. The Blackhawks will have plenty of options with their top-five pick, and it doesn’t seem like they can go wrong.
Michael Misa
Perhaps the most likely name to be called if the Blackhawks stay at No. 2 and don’t have the opportunity to draft LHD Matthew Schaefer, Misa is putting on a show in the OHL. He’s somehow outproducing fellow OHLer Nick Lardis, who has 55 goals and 90 points of his own. In 50 games this season, Misa has 50 goals and 106 points, leading the OHL in scoring. Sunday is his 18th birthday, but he could be in the NHL pretty quickly – the Blackhawks could use his scoring ability on their top line. He’s a proven goal scorer, a leader (wearing the “C” for the Saginaw Spirit) and would be a popular pick among Chicago’s fans.
James Hagens
Once the most highly coveted prospect in the 2025 draft class, Hagens’ draft stock has dipped just a bit, but he’s still a likely top-three pick and future top-line NHL forward. He has all the playmaking ability in the world, but has struggled to finish at times at Boston College – though he does have 31 points in 29 games this season. Last year, he dominated with the USNTDP, putting up 102 points in 58 contests. It never hurts to have another skater with outstanding playmaking and hockey IQ, and Hagens certainly wouldn’t be a bad option.
Porter Martone
Martone is one of the names that has been tied to the Blackhawks all year, and for good reason. While Davidson has prioritized drafting small, fast forwards while building his roster, there has to be a balance to be successful, and Martone would provide just that. His 6-foot-3 frame is a bit different from what Chicago is used to, but that’s a good thing. He certainly doesn’t lack skill at his size, as he’s logged 80 points in 43 games as the captain of the OHL’s Brampton Steelheads. Martone would be a perfect candidate for the Blackhawks to branch out from their typical archetype and help them build a well-rounded roster.
