Three Players the Chicago Blackhawks Should be Looking at for the 2025 NHL Draft
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The Chicago Blackhawks are currently sitting in second to last place with a 16-29-5 record with 37 points, one point ahead of the San Jose Sharks, who have 36.
In the draft lottery, a team can move up as high as ten places, but a team cannot drop lower than two. So, if the season ended today, the Blackhawks could pick no lower than fourth.
However, it's more than likely that the Blackhawks will be in the top three, if not stay at #2, and maybe even get lucky and win the lottery and have the first overall selection.
These are the top three guys Chicago should be looking at, with an honorable mention. The list is in no particular order.
Honorable Mention: Matthew Schaefer
Schaefer was having a good World Junior Championship, having a goal and an assist in the two games he played in. Matthew also has 22 points in 17 games on the Erie Otters of the OHL.
Schaefer in a game against Latvia lost his balanced and collided with the goal post and ended up breaking his clavicle and getting surgery, ruling him out for three months.
The 6-foot-2 defenseman and 17-year-old is still the best defenseman in this year's draft class. But the Blackhawks are so loaded with defenseman and just took Artyom Levshunov last year with the second overall pick. Plus, they need help on the forward core with Bedard, and that's where these next three players come in.
James Hagens
18-year-old and Hauppauge, New York product, James Hagens, is highly touted and the favorite to be the first pick in the draft.
Hagens had a really good showing at the World Junior Championship on Team USA and had five goals and nine points in seven games and helped lead USA to a gold. James is also playing well at Boston College of the NCAA so far and currently has 25 points in 23 games.
He'd be a good second line center or maybe even first line winger with Connor Bedard.
Michael Misa
Misa somehow didn't make Canada's World Junior team and was one of the many people snubbed of a spot, although, he's pretty much a lock for next year's tournament.
Misa currently plays for the Saginaw Sprit of the OHL. In the 2023-24 season with the Spirit, at just 16 years old, he had 75 points in 67 games. This season, he was promoted to the Alternate Captain and is on pace to have 132 points in 65 games by the time the season finishes.
For his potential role, it's the same as Hagens.
Porter Martone
Porter Martone, unlike Misa, made Canada's World Junior team, however, he was scratched from multiple games and only ended up playing three for some reason. In those three games, he had one point.
The 18-year-old is the captain of the Brampton Steelheads of the OHL and is projected to finish with 106 points in 59 games.
Martone doesn't play center; he's a true winger, and if drafted, will be on track to be Bedard's running mate on the wing and be one of the best duos in the league.
Overall, all these guys are phenomenal prospects, and you really can't go wrong with either one.
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