Blackhawks: How Stan Bowman created a successful retool
Lady Luck was on Chicago’s side in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft Lottery, gifting the Blackhawks the 3rd overall selection.
Kirby Dach. 3. player. 94. Forward. WHL. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
When the Blackhawks announced that they had selected Kirby Dach with the third overall selection in the NHL Draft, many fans were taken by surprise and even disappointed. Being that the Blackhawks already had two high-level centers in Jonathan Toews and Dylan Strome, the expectation was that a defenseman would be taken. Being drafted after two truly elite talents in Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko, Dach has to be feeling immense pressure to contribute.
However, Dach has quickly earned the respect of the city of Chicago and the NHL community, posting similar numbers to both Hughes and Kakko in his short NHL career. At only 18 years of age, the Canadian forward is already contributing to wins, including a shootout game-winner against Hughes and the New Jersey Devils. Dach has 10 points in 23 games so far this season, which is certainly a great mark for and 18-year-old.
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Although taking a third-line center with the third pick in the draft did not make much sense at the time, Dach’s success at the NHL level is extremely promising, thus nullifying the positional concern. Once again, Stan Bowman displayed an example of him knowing something that the common fan does not.
43. player. 94. Alex Vlasic. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Defenseman. Boston
Although a bold statement, Alex Vlasic could be an Alex DeBrincat-type find for the Blackhawks in the second round. Projected to be a first round pick by the majority of analysts, the Illinois native slipped into the second round and was selected with the Hawks’ second pick in the draft.
Vlasic is a defensive-minded blueliner who is not a stat-stuffer, but can do all of the things that do not show up on a score sheet on a very high level. Vlasic projects to be a phenomenal partner to one of the offensive-minded defensive prospects in the Chicago system such as Adam Boqvist and Nicolas Beaudin. Although he is unlikely to hit the United Center ice for some time, he is yet another defensive prospect to be excited about.