Even without a first-round selection, the Chicago Blackhawks left the NHL draft smiling.
After trading away the fourth overall pick for Bowen Byram, fans were left uninterested in this year’s draft. Even so, the Blackhawks capitalized on what they had left.
Kyle Davidson did not reserve himself, either. He traded around to pick up his guys and took some big swings. It’s worth mentioning that as the draft goes deeper, the selections get less controversial. Take an ‘A’ or an ‘F’ grade in the back few rounds with less weight than in the front few.
Grades are given based on the player’s quality, the pick’s value, and the fit. Player comparisons are entirely based on playstyle – not projections.
2nd Round – 34th overall: Xavier Villeneuve (LHD)
18 years old | 5’11” | 163 lbs || 37 GP (Blaineville-Boisbriand / QMJHL) | 6G | 32A | 38P
It seems as though NHL teams let the undersized, skilled defenseman slip again. This time around, it’s with the Laval native out of the QMJHL. Villeneuve had no business falling out of the first round. Mocked at #16 via The Lead, size and physical limitations prevailed as he fell into the Blackhawks’ lap with the second selection of the second round.
There’s a strong argument that Villeneuve is the most skilled player in the draft. Not just defensemen – everybody. More realistically, he is certainly among the top. He clearly has the offensive traits, and his defense, although not nearly his strength, is nothing to scoff at. He’s committed to Boston University for next season. It’ll be interesting to monitor Villeneuve’s progress.
Professional Comparison: Lane Hutson
Grade: A+
2nd Round – 35th overall: Ryan Roobroeck (C/LW)
18 years old | 6’4″ | 216 lbs || 49 GP (Niagara / OHL) | 30G | 28A | 58P
The Blackhawks traded up to the very next pick and landed Roobroeck. Many mocked him in the late first round, so the value is there. In fact, around this time last year, he was seen as a lottery pick. Roobroeck is a catch-all forward, meaning he can play up the middle or along the walls. He provides some versatility among the forward group, which will come in handy as more is learned about the current prospect pool. However, he’ll more than likely land on the wing.
Some questions remain about his motor. It’s interesting because, to this point, Davidson and the crew valued draftees’ competitive inclination. If they can get Roobroeck playing his tail off each night, they might have found themselves a gem. His shot is wicked, the production is there, the Blackhawks just need it to translate. Roobroeck could also benefit from using his size a bit more.
Professional Comparison: Jason Robertson
Grade: A-
3rd Round – 65th overall: Samu Alalauri (RHD)
18 years old | 6’2″ | 220 lbs || 40 GP (Pelicans / U20 SM-sarja) | 6G | 19A | 25P
Alalauri is a responsible, stay-at-home defenseman who can contribute on offense. He was projected in the 40-55 range, so the value is certainly there. The Blackhawks now have so many promising defensemen that it’s tough to keep track. Only time will tell where Alalauri will fit in.
Something interesting about Alalauri is his size. He has already filled out quite a bit, which very well could speed up his timeline. Next year, he is committed to the University of Massachusetts. Vaclav Nestrasil, one of three Blackhawks 2025 first-round selections, just wrapped up an excellent freshman season at UMass. If Nestrasil stays another season, these two would have an opportunity to form a bond before making the jump to the pros.
Professional Comparison: Matt Roy
Grade: B+
7th Round – 194th overall: Alexander Ivanov (LHD)
18 years old | 6’2″ | 181 lbs || 36 GP (Bars Kazan / VHL) | 0G | 3A | 3P
It took a while, but the Blackhawks eventually made their next pick in the seventh round. Another defenseman, and this one is a little puzzling. It’s hard to know who they would have picked otherwise, but they go with another defenseman. Regardless, they valued the player much higher than his draft position. Ivanov is super raw, and there could be something in there. It’s likely Ivanov will spend most of his time in the KHL this season.
Ivanov fits the Blackhawks’ scouting mold for defensemen and has two years remaining on his KHL contract. He even knows English fairly well and has expressed interest in making the jump to the NHL.
These are the opposite of the qualities that usually contribute to the “Russian Factor,” an umbrella term used to justify Russian prospects slipping past their projections. The Blackhawks don’t have to worry about that with Ivanov. Even still, it’s hard to fully understand this pick given the underwhelming numbers.
Professional Comparison: Mario Ferraro
Grade: C-
7th Round – 200th overall: William Sörbrand (C)
18 years old | 6’4″ | 209 lbs || 28 GP (Timrå IK / U20 Nationell) | 10G | 8A | 18P
Sörbrand projects to be the caliber of player that teams want but won’t bend over backward to land. The production is pretty solid, all things considered. His game is heavy, hard and intense. He could very well play along the walls on a fourth line for the Blackhawks in the future. If he really hits, he could even center a line in the bottom six.
Some rankings actually had Sörbrand much higher than his position. Dobber Prospects, for example, had him at 105. It’s possible there’s something in there for the Blackhawks. He’s expected to make the jump to the SHL sooner rather than later. How the professional game treats him overseas will give a little bit more insight into whether he’ll be a contributor at the NHL level.
Professional Comparison: Jordan Greenway
Grade: C+
Overall Draft Grade: A-
The Blackhawks went defense-heavy. This may be a shock to many, and there’s certainly reason to criticize that. But prior to Saturday, the Blackhawks had only a few true defensive prospects, and their top prospects were mostly forwards. All of their promising young blueliners have already made the NHL roster. Bolstering that group could serve them well.
Ultimately, these grades and player comparisons are entirely arbitrary until games are played and careers are had. For the time being, it’s fun to look into what could be for all of these prospects. Some big swings were taken by Davidson on day 2 of the draft. It’ll be interesting to see if any of them leave the park.
Leave a comment