NHL insider reveals silver lining in Blackhawks drafting third overall
Context:
The Chicago Blackhawks, despite having the second-best odds for the NHL Draft Lottery, secured the third overall pick, which some suggest might be more beneficial for them. Mark Lazerus from The Athletic argues that the Blackhawks should avoid drafting another defenseman and instead draft a player like Misa to support their team. By not getting the second pick, the Blackhawks can bypass debates over adding to their already strong defensive lineup. General Manager Kyle Davidson expresses optimism about the pick, emphasizing the excitement of upcoming strategy meetings and the diversity of opinions that make the draft process thrilling. The first round of the NHL Draft is scheduled for June 27, where the Blackhawks are expected to make a significant selection based on their internal rankings and evaluations.
Dive Deeper:
The Blackhawks, despite falling to the third overall pick in the NHL Draft Lottery, are in a favorable position to select a top-three ranked player, avoiding the dilemma of whether to draft another defenseman.
Mark Lazerus suggests that picking at third overall allows the Blackhawks to focus on acquiring a much-needed forward like Misa instead of adding to their already strong defensive core.
General Manager Kyle Davidson is enthusiastic about the draft process, indicating that the team will engage in strategic meetings to determine their draft board and solidify their choices.
Davidson highlights the excitement and diversity of opinions during the draft, noting that different teams and analysts have varying perspectives on player rankings and potential success.
The first round of the NHL Draft, taking place on June 27, is anticipated to be an important event for the Blackhawks as they look to add a key player to their roster, based on their evaluations.
The Blackhawks' draft strategy emphasizes the importance of internal assessments and the unique insights of their staff in shaping their selection and rankings for the draft.
The decision to draft a forward over a defenseman reflects a strategic move to balance the team's lineup and provide support for existing star players like Bedard.
Everyone wants to win the NHL Draft Lottery, but ultimately only one team can.
The Blackhawks fell from the second-best odds to the third spot overall in the NHL Draft, earning the chance to draft a top-three ranked player to join their team.
Mark Lazerus of The Athletic revealed why he thinks the Blackhawks not winning the draft lottery might have realistically been in their favor.
“I really believe the No. 2 pick is the Blackhawks' best-case scenario. Avoid the whole conversation about picking another defenseman (they shouldn't!) and take Misa, the guy they most need. BPA makes sense in theory, but we're past that point. Get Bedard some help.” Lazerus said via X formerly known as Twitter.
They didn’t get the second pick, but will be able to avoid any question of whether they should draft a defenseman to join their already loaded defensive core.
“Third overall, we’re going to get a great player,” General Manager Kyle Davidson said to Scott Powers of The Athletic. “I’m excited to head into meetings next week with our amateur group and start the process of nailing down where we want to line up the board and what it looks like. I think we stayed in a good range where I think we’re going to be really excited with what we end up with.”
The first round of the NHL Draft is held on June 27.
“The thing about the draft is there’s always a lot of public discourse and then I feel like there’s always those people who suggest their surprise picks,” Davidson said. “That’s just people seeing the board differently. That’s what makes the draft exciting. Everyone has different opinions, different thoughts on what makes players successful. And so, I think ours versus against any other team’s is going to be different and is going to be different from public. It’s exciting to get behind the curtain and really hammer away at what those tiers are, as you call it, or the rankings are for the Blackhawks and what our staff believes and how we see things lining up. Excited to do that, but we’re not quite at that point yet.”