The Blackhawks Lost Their 1st Round Pick, Is It Really A Loss?

The Chicago Blackhawks gave up a top-2 protected first round pick in the package to acquire former Columbus Bluejacket Seth Jones. Since the Blackhawks drew number 6 in the 2022 draft lottery, they are left without a first-round pick in this year's draft. While not having a first-round pick in the first year of a rebuild is not ideal, it may be a blessing in disguise.

The overall consensus is that the overall depth of the 2022 draft class is a weaker one compared to the classes over the last few seasons. The best available prospects in the draft, outside of Shane Wright, that were projected to be available for the Blackhawks to take with the 6th pick are all defensemen, which the Blackhawks seemingly have an abundance of. The two best defensive prospects in the upcoming draft are Pavel Mintyukov and Kevin Korchinski. Mintyukov (19 years old) is fresh off a career season for the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL, posting 62 points (17 goals, 45 assists) in 67 games played. Mintyukov only posted 3 points in 33 games played a season ago playing for Moscow, so it is difficult to tell if his breakout was a fluke or a strong beginning to a young career.

Korchinski (18 years old) is also coming off a career season tallying 65 points (4 goals, 61 assists) in 67 games played for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. Although both young defensemen have shown tons of offensive potential, there has been some concern with both Mintyukov and Korchinski's defensive skills. The defensive prospects in the Blackhawks' pipeline have posted similar stats prior to being drafted. Ian Mitchell posted 89 points in 116 games played in his collegiate career at Denver University, Alec Regula posted 124 points in 189 games for the London Knights, and Alex Vlasic posted 20 points in 82 games for Boston University before being drafted. While Vlasic's offensive numbers are much lower than Mitchell and Regula's, he is the best defender of the top three in the system and could play some big minutes on the penalty kill and defensive zone draws. Given the offensive and defensive skillset of the defensemen currently on the Blackhawks' roster and some of the prospects in the pipeline, it wouldn't make sense to take these players even if the Blackhawks still had their first-round pick.

It is no secret that the Blackhawks will not be contending this season. The Blackhawks will most likely be at the bottom of the central division and will be a favorite to win the draft lottery for 2023. The 2023 draft is already projected to be miles ahead of this year's class in terms of overall depth and value of the prospects. Early projections show that the 2023 draft class is loaded with forward depth and prospects who have the ability to make an almost immediate impact at the NHL level, which is desperately what the Blackhawks could use. The Blackhawks have two 1st round picks and 2 2nd round picks in the 2023 draft, which will undoubtedly help the rebuild and add much needed forward depth to the pipeline. Although the Blackhawks do not have a 1st round pick this year, given the lack of quality in the 2022 draft, it appears to be a blessing in disguise.