When the 2025 NHL Draft is held this June, anything can happen. For the Chicago Blackhawks, this year's draft will mark the seventh time drafting third overall, and with the high pick comes plenty of options for who the team could pick.
Blackhawks fans have plenty of prospects to get familiar with going into the 2025 NHL Draft.
After the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery determined this year's order, early mock drafts have led to a handful of different names for the Hawks with the third overall pick. Early consensus sees defenseman Matthew Schaefer going first overall followed by center Michael Misa going second.
Seeing Misa potentially go to San Jose is a bit of a tough pill to swallow for Hawks fans. With the Hawks blue line filled with young stars in the making, the forward group is in need of a boost. Misa would have been a good fit for Chicago down the middle, if for some reason he is available when Chicago drafts expect the team to add him.
The play really opens up after Schaefer and Misa, so let's just list some options for third to start. Centers James Hagens, Anton Frondell, Jake O'Brien, Brady Martin and Caleb Desnoyers are all options, as is winger Porter Martone.
Kyle Davidson has been general manager of the Blackhawks for long enough to start to question one basic ideology. Are the Blackhawks drafting the best available player or the best fit for the organization?
With players like Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar and Artyom Levshunov already making an impact in the NHL, I think it is time for the Hawks to start drafting with the best fit in mind. James Hagens might be one of the top players in the draft, but with a height under 6 feet, can Chicago afford to have another undersized speedy forward?
Someone like Martone could be the best compliment for the Hawks roster. A power forward with a height of 6-foot-3, Martone's physical presence would be a boost on a line with Bedard.
In the coming weeks, Blackhawks fans will be zoning in looking at all of these young prospects' stats, player comparables and hearing from scouts from around the league. The Blackhawks front office will be doing similarly, with Davidson deciding in the coming weeks who could be the best fit for the team. Settle in everybody, it's going to be a long month and a half!
