2024 Mock Draft: Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks have had a dreadful season, but they have a chance to really improve their prospect pool and their future at the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft, as they have 2 first round picks, 3 second round picks and 2 third round picks. The Blackhawks also have Nashville’s 5th round pick and their own 6th round picks, but they don’t own a 4th or 7th round pick. Chicago has a total of 9 picks in the 2024 draft, 7 in the first 3 rounds of the draft, so they could potential add at least 7 high quality prospect in the draft. This Mock Draft is assuming they have the 2nd overall pick in the draft.

2. IVAN DEMIDOV, RW/LW, SKA-1946 St. Petersburg Jr. (MHL)

Ivan Demidov is the most creative, dynamic, and skillful puck handler we’ve seen since at least Jack Hughes. His seemingly innate escapability, versatile inside edges, and great mobility combine with his handling skill to consistently create scoring chances for himself and his linemates with tremendous flair. While there was little debate for us at #1, Demidov was our unanimous pick at #2, garnering support from all those who have watched him play. He breaks the mould (somewhat) of the typical skilled Russian winger, showing off an impressive motor, flashes of strong backchecking ability, and a ceaseless desire to create in all three zones. Demidov plays a high-octane brand of hockey that puts defenders in bad spots because he combines agility, vision and creative passing ability. Demidov’s ability to identify passing lanes and execute passes that most other players could only dream of can leave you in awe at times. With dazzling puckhandling ability, Demidov creates space for himself regularly. He can draw pressure and manipulate defenders into moving where he wants them before firing a perfectly timed pass through the emerging lane. Among players with at least 10 games played, Demidov’s 2.00 points per game are the best all-time for a draft-eligible in the MHL by a wide margin. Demidov may have the highest offensive upside of any player in the NHL draft class. Pairing Connor Bedard with a playing like Ivan Demidov would create a filthy dynamic duo down the road.

20. EMIL HEMMING, RW, TPS (Liiga)

Emil Hemming is a right-handed power forward who’s been playing in both the Liiga and the U20 SM-Sarja with TPS. Hemming’s biggest strength is his powerful shot and his ability to find soft ice in the offensive zone. He has good shooting mechanics and can beat goaltenders cleanly, even at the Liiga level. Despite playing a limited defensively responsible 4th line role, he’s been able to produce points in Liiga. In addition to his great shot, Hemming possesses some other interesting tools. He is a good, powerful skater, has some physicality in his game, and is quite good at handling the puck. The biggest question marks concerning his game are his decision-making and the variability in his level of play. When you think of Finnish forwards, especially of the non-star variety, you think of hard-working, smart players who just know what play to make next. Hemming exemplifies that perfectly. He forechecks hard, understands what routes to take in the offensive zone and doesn’t cheat his team in the defensive zone. He plays with an edge and throws his weight around whenever he can. He is at his best off-puck in the offensive zone, looking to sit in a pocket or bang in a rebound. Hemming isn’t a guy who projects to be a star, but he can be a capable, solid complementary contributor. Powerful scoring winger with detailed off-puck movement in the offensive zone. Needs to stay engaged and improve his decision-making, but has potential as a second-line sniper. While Emil Hemming isn’t a star player, he is exactly the type of player you need when you play in playoff games and if you are trying to build a contending team, this is the type of
player you need.

34 COLE BEAUDOIN, C, Barrie (OHL)

Beaudoin’s a big body power forward who leans goal scorer more than playmaker. He goes to the net to set screens and look for rebounds. He’s difficult to move off the play in the trenches and is a capable skater the full length of the ice. At 6-foot-2 and 209 pounds, Beaudoin loves to power threw guys to make things happen. He’s a good goal-scorer with an excellent shot, but he also plays various roles with the Colts. He can create offense in junior, but with a heavy skating stride, the debate is in how his game will translate to the pros. I’ve seen him get by enough defenders and think his compete is so good that his game will work in a potential third-line center role. Beaudoin is yet another prospect whose stock dropped as a result of others in his class elevating their game and standing out as of late, while his game remained relatively the same over the past few months. As a result, he drops 14 spots from 31st in November to 45th in February. Beaudoin not only has the size, but the technique, making him one of the best puck-protectors in the draft, as well as a solid defensive contributor. His strong and compact release makes him a solid off-puck threat, too. The ceiling is low with Beaudoin, but there isn’t much preventing him from making a third line as a power forward and cycle offense specialist. Beaudoin would be a reach to draft at the end of the first round but he would be a solid selection in the 2nd round for Chicago since they have three picks and they do need a center.

52 VEETI VAISANEN, D, KooKoo (Liiga)

Veeti Väisänen is a smooth-skating left-handed defenseman, who’s been logging regular Liiga minutes with KooKoo. He plays a reliable two-way game closing gaps effectively and positioning well. While he may not possess the flashiest tools, he utilizes them extremely effectively. Väisänen plays very mature hockey and rarely looks out of place when playing against professional competition. Despite not having the biggest frame (6’0″ & 163 lbs) he uses it quite well when closing in on the boards even against the Liiga competition. As the season has progressed, he’s seemed more comfortable playing in the Liiga and playing to his strengths. He’s a comfortable distributor, shooter (he’s got a hard shot) and handler with the puck, even if his skill level on offense isn’t dynamic. I have questioned his discipline and decision-making in control at times (he has been prone to coughing pucks up when playing against higher-end competition) but I think some of that is just a byproduct of his age and the advanced levels he has been asked to play at. He’s got a chance to be a No. 4-5 D. Vaisainen projects more like a defensive defenseman at the NHL level, as he doesn’t have the skill level to be a good point producer, but becuase he is a good skater, he can be used as a shutdown defenseman against top players. The Blackhawks could more reliable defenseman and this player fits that player mold.

60 Alexander Zetterberg, C, Örebro HK J20 (J20 Nationell)

Another offensive talent coming out of Sweden, Alexander Zetterberg is likely a second round option with first-round abilities. This season with Örebro HK in the J20 Nationell, Zetterberg put up 20 goals and 58 points in 45 games during the regular season and represented Sweden twice on the international stage with 16 points in 10 games, including at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He’s five-foot-eight and just under 160 pounds and while his possession game is a draw when it comes to his skill set, his strength on the puck is still an area that needs improvement. He’s a shifty player so that gives him an advantage with the puck. He can change direction quickly and deceive opposing players, but his game is primarily offensively driven. His quick turns and transition game are strong — and extremely reminiscent of the type of offensive game that William Nylander plays with for the Toronto Maple Leafs. His first step gives him an advantage on some opposing defenders and he can really drive the play with his puck-handling. Unfortunately, his defensive game is lackluster and his lack of strength, especially on the defensive side of the puck needs a ton of work. For this reason, even though he is one of the best offensive talents in the draft, he might fall all the way till the end of the 2nd round or even the third round. An offensive talent of his caliber is not to be passed over, especially if you surround him with the right talent and develop him properly.

66 KIM SAARAINEN, G, HPK (Finland U20)

Listed at 6’4, Kim Saarinen is currently the top rated European goalie by NHL Central Scouting, right above Eemil Vinni. What currently Saarinen the nod is his continued maturity and capability to showcase himself in the pros, playing well in 2 Liiga games for HPK. It’s still a close race, and I don’t think anyone will knock Saarinen/Vinni from 1/2 for me, Saarinen has closed the gap recently. Saarinen has done well in utilizing his size to be a highly efficient netminder while at the same having decent flexibility and puck tracking capabilities. At the U20 level, Saarinen has been a consistent goalie, having started 23 games, posting a 14-5 record, a 2.41 GAA and .917 SV% and 2 SO. There is a good chance he’s the first goalie off the board by mid-late R2, early R3 at worst. It is not a bad idea to pick the best ranked European Goalie Prospect with the first pick in the 3rd round because Chicago desperately needs goaltending and you can never have too much depth in the pipeline.

71 SAMUEL O’REILLY, C/W, London (OHL)

O’Reilly’s game flows through his processing. Offensively, he relies on his intelligence to find small pockets of space from which to operate, and often plays as F3 on forechecks to respond to sequences rather than lead them with a board battle win. Defensively, he identifies threats earlier than most, anticipates passes and picks them off, all while keeping a mental map of his surroundings. The puck skills won’t be a hallmark of his NHL game, but if the skating improves, the skill should translate. A Center/Wing hybrid, who also has experience playing defense, O’Reilly is not the fastest skater, but does possess strong edges and excellent stick handling. Playing as the second line center behind a first line destined to be top selections affected his offensive output, but it did not take away from his most important strength, which is willing to go into the tough areas and battle for pucks and has shown the ability to play a shutdown type role against top offensive players. Sam O’Reilly is an incredibly intelligent two-way center with solid playmaking tools; his skating needs work, but could develop into a third-line, penalty-killing specialist, which is exactly the type of player the Blackhawks should be adding at the end of the 2nd round.

Round 4-7

150. HEIKKI RUOHONEN, C, Kiekko-Espoo U20 (Finland U20)
162. TANNER HENDRICKS, D, Lincoln Stars (UHL)

Draft Recap

B+

Ivan Demidov (RW/LW)
Emil Hemming (RW)
Cole Beaudoin (C)
Veeti Vaisainen (D)
Samuel O’Reilly (C/W)
Kim Saarinen (G)
Alexander Zetterberg (G)
Heikki Ruohonen (C)
Tanner Hendricks (D)