Blackhawks: How Stan Bowman created a successful retool
The 2018 NHL Entry Draft was a massive success for Stan Bowman and the Blackhawks, as three of their top prospects are from this pool.
Pick Analysis. Adam Boqvist. 94. Scouting Report. Defenseman. Sweden. 8. player
Adam Boqvist was the first top-ten selection that the Chicago Blackhawks have had since drafting Patrick Kane in 2007. Currently, Boqvist is the second ranked prospect in the Blackhawks system and projects to be the future top defenseman in the Blackhawks core. He is an offensive talent who can move, handle, and shoot the puck at an elite level. His hockey IQ is also one of the best in the AHL.
His play on the defensive end will need some work before he becomes an elite NHL defenseman, but Boqvist has all of the tools to do so. He should be a full-time NHL player by next season at the latest, but we could see him up for a postseason push if the Blackhawks are in the position to do so.
QMJHL. 27. player. Pick Analysis. Defenseman. Nicolas Beaudin. 94. Scouting Report
Nicolas Beaudin was selected with the 27th pick in the 2018 draft. This pick originally belonged to the Nashville Predators, but the pick was moved to Chicago as the centerpiece of the Ryan Hartman deal. Beaudin, now 20, is an undersized yet wickedly skilled defenseman who does just about everything right on the offensive end.
His physicality and scaring could use some work, but his defense has shown some improvement since being drafted back in 2019. Beaudin is perhaps the best passing defenseman in the Blackhawks system, as he projects to be one of the top defensemen going forward for the club.
120. player. Scouting Report. Switzerland. Pilipp Kurashev. Pick Analysis. Forward. 94
As a throw-in in the Ryan Hartman trade, the Blackhawks received a 2018 4th round pick. Stan Bowman ended up absolutely nailing this selection by drafting Philipp Kurashev, a Swiss forward. Kurashev is a pure scorer who is arguably a top-five Blackhawks prospect and rising.
With the mass of centers on the Blackhawks, Kurashev will either serve as depth behind Toews, Dylan Strome, and Kirby Dach or be moved in an eventual trade to address another position. Nonetheless, Kurashev should find himself in the NHL next season.