Blackhawks bonanza

Chicago led all groups within the first spherical with three choices: Levshunov (No. 2), middle Sacha Broisvert (No. 18) of Muskegon in the US Hockey League and left wing Marek Vanacker (No. 27) of Brantford within the Ontario Hockey League.

They added a further decide (No. 27) in a commerce with the Carolina Hurricanes for 2 second-round picks (Nos. 34, 50). The Blackhawks have made eight first-round picks since 2022, the best complete over a three-year span for the reason that Canadiens from 1974-76 (10).

“It by no means ceases to amaze me,” Chicago director of novice scouting Mike Doneghey mentioned. “We begin the day with [no draft picks] in Montreal, two final 12 months, and solely two this 12 months, and [general manager Kyle Davidson] finds a option to get myself and our employees the gamers that we like, the gamers that we would like. That is what he did tonight.”

Davidson mentioned the Blackhawks tried to maneuver again into the primary spherical even earlier than arriving in Las Vegas.

“It’s totally cliché to say we focused all these guys that we wished, but it surely’s very a lot true,” he mentioned. “After 12 months one, I assumed, ‘OK, we will get all the fellows we wished.’ After which final 12 months, we bought all the fellows we wished. After which this 12 months, I assumed, ‘There is no means it’ll work out once more.’ And it simply did.”