Blackhawks message to No. 2 contenders

Trade rumors have been flying all month. And a few days before the 2024 NHL draft, these rumors will move into high gear. Teams such as the Detroit Red Wings and Carolina Hurricanes have found themselves in the rumor mill as of late. On Wednesday, the Chicago Blackhawks entered the fray.

According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, Chicago has received interest in the second overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. However, a trade involving this selection is unlikely. LeBrun reports the Blackhawks have told interested teams they are keeping the selection.

If the Blackhawks move the pick, it wouldn’t be their first move of the offseason. Chicago made a draft pick trade with the New York Islanders earlier in the offseason. On Wednesday, they added a few players. The Blackhawks traded for Ilya Mikheyev, Sam Lafferty and a 2025 second-round pick from the Vancouver Canucks.

Blackhawks have options with No. 2 pick

The San Jose Sharks own the first overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. And their choice is not really a well-kept secret. San Jose will likely host Boston University star Macklin Celebrini on Friday night. Celebrini is considered a legitimate franchise cornerstone and the consensus best player in the 2024 NHL Draft.

The Blackhawks will therefore have several options to choose from. There are also some very interesting options. Chicago is looking to add a forward this offseason, which makes Ivan Demidov a great choice. Demidov possesses legitimate game-breaking talent and has been compared to compatriot Matvei Michkov. Michkov was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in last year’s draft.

Defenseman Artyom Levshunov will also be a good fit for the Blackhawks. Chicago has an impressive group of young defensemen in Kevin Korchinski, Alex Vlasic and Wyatt Kaiser. Levshunov adds a potentially elite two-way game to this group. He showed off his offensive skills with the Michigan State Spartans last season. And his defense could certainly improve at the NHL level.

Another option is KHL defenseman Anton Silayev. Silayev played a major role for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod as an U18 player this season. Additionally, he combines elite defensive abilities with an imposing 6’7″ frame. The 2024 NHL Draft prospect is primarily a defensive defenseman, but regardless, the sky is certainly the limit for him.

The Blackhawks are certainly likely to make some moves between now and next season. However, the second overall pick will not be leaving the Windy City via trade this summer. Chicago will make its pick Friday and likely add another elite prospect to pair with Connor Bedard.