Like any draft class, there will be a few hits and a lot of misses. Looking at the 4 draft classes from 2017 to 2020, the Hawks have had more success at selecting budding talent to mold into impact players.
Let's take a look:
2017
Henri Jokiharju Ian Mitchell Andrei Altybarmakian Evan Barratt Tim Soderlund Roope Laavainen Parker Foo Jakub Galvas Joshua Ess
* Of the 9 picks, one is an NHL regular (Jokiharju) while another 5 (Mitchell, Altybarmakian, Barratt, Soderlund, Galvas) have potential to be in the mix for a job whether with the Hawks or another team. * Mitchell has the greatest upside in this draft class as he could be on the Hawks 1st pair for years to come. * Altybarmakian, Barratt, and Soderlund have formed a fairly formidable line for the IceHogs at times this season putting on display their tenacity, aggressiveness, and grit. * Galvas should be inking his ELC this offseason to start his development in North America as a possible 3rd pair minute-munching defenseman who can play at both ends. * Laavainen, Foo, and Ess haven't moved the needle one iota since being drafted so it would be expected that the Hawks formally part ways with them at some point or other.
2018
Adam Boqvist Nicolas Beaudin Jake Wise Niklas Nordgren Philipp Kurashev Mikael Hakkarainen Alexis Gravel Josiah Slavin
* Of the 8 picks, 2 are NHL regulars (Boqvist and Kurashev) while another 2 (Beaudin and Slavin) have potential to be starting material. * Similar to Mitchell, Beaudin has the upside to be at least a top 4 defender if not push for a 1st pair role. * Slavin has burst out of the gate in his first 5 pro games with the Hogs demonstrating that he could be a power forward who can own the boards, win pucks, and provide secondary scoring. * The stock of Wise and Nordgren continue to depreciate over time due to their injury histories and inability to be reliable at their current levels of hockey whenever they are healthy. * Hakkarainen has graced the taxi squad a few times this season but hasn't been able to crack the Hogs lineup when he's back on the farm. * Gravel wasn't retained by the Hawks a year ago when his draft rights lapsed.
2019
Kirby Dach Alex Vlasic Michal Teply Antti Saarela Dominic Basse Cole Moberg
* Of the 6 picks, one is an NHL regular (Dach) while another 3 (Vlasic, Teply, Saarela) have potential to play meaningful roles in the big leagues. * Vlasic has committed to his junior year at Boston University after tremendous growth as a sophomore getting him poised to hopefully live up to his billing as a big shutdown defender who can skate and move the puck. * Although his calling card to the NHL will be as a goal scorer with underrated playmaking ability, Teply is a visual paradox on ice as he can look awkward yet somehow is effective at making plays in all zones. * Saarela likely tops out as a 4th liner in the NHL but has the makeup of a Marcus Kruger or David Kampf. * Basse started out of the gate strongly as a freshman goalie at Colorado College but struggled the rest of the season so expect him to play through his senior year then see where he's at. * As for Moberg, he's a no-frills defender who just takes care of his end and may be a tweener who is reliable in the AHL but perhaps not talented enough to hold down an NHL job beyond being a reserve.
2020
Lukas Reichel Drew Commesso Landon Slaggert Wyatt Kaiser Michael Krutil Isaak Phillips Chad Yetman Louis Crevier
* Of the 8 picks, none are in the NHL yet but 3 (Krutil, Phillips, Yetman) are already in the AHL while another 4 (Reichel, Commesso, Slaggert, Kaiser) have the highest potential to be future fixtures in Chicago. * Reichel is impressing as an 18-year-old top 6 forward in all situations in the German elite league to the point where he could be in a Blackhawks uniform as early as next season. * Commesso needs at least one more year in the NCAA but was drafted with the pedigree in mind to be a future #1 goalie. * Slaggert and Kaiser have been two of the quickest risers in the prospect pipeline with phenomenal first years at the University of Notre Dame and University of Minnesota Duluth. * Although he's on an AHL contract, Krutil is best served playing a few seasons in juniors (Kelowna Rockets) as he has been brutal as a pro. * Phillips is one of the biggest surprises in the franchise going from a 2020 5th rounder to tracking to be a 3rd pair blueliner for the Hawks down the road. * The issue with Yetman is that he simply blends in with the mediocre clutter in the AHL where he's not necessarily a liability but he doesn't stand out in any way either. * It seems that Crevier is the furthest away from the NHL as far as development timeline and skill set to thrive in the pros.
Final Thoughts
Even if half of those with potential don't amount to much, then that's still a fairly reasonable return from those draft classes. Also, there may not be enough spots in Chicago when prospects are ripe so some may be traded for other needed assets.
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Game Day
Game 44, April 15: Blackhawks @ Red Wings 6:30pm CST
Records: Blackhawks, 20-18-5, 45 Pts (5th) Red Wings, 15-23-6, 36 Pts (8th)
Season Series: 5-1-0
Goals For/Game: Blackhawks, 2.79 (17th) Red Wings, 2.23 (31st)
Goals Against/Game: Blackhawks, 3.09 (20th) Red Wings, 3.16 (24th)
Power Play: Blackhawks, 33-134, 24.6% (6th) Red Wings, 15-125, 12.0% (30th)
Penalty Kill: Blackhawks, 85-116, 73.3% (29th) Red Wings, 96-126, 76.2% (25th)
For Detroit, Tyler Bertuzzi and Robby Fabrri are on IR while Bobby Ryan is out for the remainder of the season.
Also, neither the Hawks nor the Wings have any players on the NHL COVID-19 Protocol List.
The Wings projected lineup (per DailyFaceoff.com):
Svechnikov - Larkin - Zadina Vrana - Rasmussen - Filppula Panik - Namestnikov - Gagner Helm - Glendening - Erne
Cholowski - Hronek Staal - Stecher DeKeyser - Lindstrom
Bernier Greiss
Also available: Mathias Brome (W), Frans Nielsen (C), Givani Smith (W), Alex Biega (D), Christian Djoos (D), Calvin Pickard (G).
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Roster Updates
PRACTICE UPDATES: Defensemen Nicolas Beaudin and Ian Mitchell and goaltender Matt Tomkins were re-assigned to the taxi squad.
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 14, 2021
Defensemen Adam Boqvist (concussion protocol) and Calvin de Haan (hip pointer) will not practice today. #Blackhawks https://t.co/AFAwsXD9hY
Keith - Mitchell Zadorov - Kalynuk Beaudin - Murphy Stillman
However, what's peculiar is Matt Tomkins joining the taxi squad without Collin Delia going to Rockford. Is Delia headed towards waivers soon? Is either Kevin Lankinen or Malcolm Subban injured or ill?
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See you on the boards!