Blackhawks: This mock draft lands Chicago a third first-rounder

The Chicago Blackhawks can do some damage in the second and third rounds.

After the mock trade with the New York Rangers to move back into the first round for pick 23, that leaves the Blackhawks with only two second-round picks instead of four.

Round Two

2 – 35: Lukas Dragicevic

The Chicago Blackhawks could seriously consider a defenseman in the early stages of the second round. If they were to select three high-end forwards in the first round, this seems like a smart way to go.

Lukas Dragicevic is one of the better defensemen in the entire draft. He plays in the WHL and will look to improve even further during the 2023-24 season.

2 – 51: Danny Nelson

The Chicago Blackhawks would love to add a forward like Danny Nelson in the draft. He is going to attend Notre Dame in 2023-24 which means he’ll be nice and close.

The cool thing about Nelson, up to this point, is that he can play all three forward positions. That might change once he reaches pro hockey but that is a long way away.

We will see how he does at Notre Dame next year. If he dominates, that will certainly make whoever takes him in the late third of the second round look smart.

Round Three

3 – 67: Quinton Burns

The Chicago Blackhawks would love to add a defenseman like Quinton Burns. Think of him as a defensive defenseman that will eventually become a great NHL penalty-killer as well as long as he reaches his potential.

Chicago’s system is already much deeper on the left side than the right but this type of move might still be worth it considering what Burns could become on a team’s middle or bottom pair.

3 – 93: Dylan MacKinnon

Speaking of right-defenseman, Dylan MacKinnon is someone that the Chicago Blackhawks could think about late in the third round with pick 93.

MacKinnon comes from the QMJHL where he needs to develop more but with Ian Mitchell and Alec Regula gone, the Hawks need to shore up the depth at this spot in the organization.