Blackhawks Draft Day 2 Roundup: Updated Prospect Watch with signature THN Depth

The hockey world expects No. 1 overall draft pick Connor Bedard to make an immediate impact with the Blackhawks, despite all of Bedard's humility.

For all his speed, forward Oliver Moore, Chicago's second first-round pick, 19th overall, will flash his wheels at the University of Minnesota next season. The Twin Cities area kid should shift up to pro hockey in a couple of years.

Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson selected a smörgåsbord -- including a 6-foot-6 Swedish center -- of nine additional prospects on Day 2 of the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville. 

Nine of Chicago's 11 overall draft pick in 2023 are forwards, plus one goalie and one defenseman.

Regardless of size, what mattered most was speed. Even the goalie, second-round pick Adam Gajan, is a good skater.

"It was the best player available and kind of how we did it throughout the draft," Davidson said. "Whoever was there was there. It just happened to be forwards this time."

"We have a trait (speed) we want to stick to," said Mike Doneghey, the Blackhawks director of amateur scouting. "The forward group we put together, they're good skaters. Some are bigger, some are shorter."

Eventually the Blackhawks want to become a relentless high-tempo team.

"It's hard to continuously defend speed shift after shift," Doneghey said.

Second Round (Chicago ended up with three picks in the round after entering the draft with four. The Blackhawks traded the 51st overall selection to Philadelphia for the Flyers sixth-round pick in 2023, 167th overall, and a second-round pick in 2024.)

35th overall. Adam Gajan. Goal. 6-foot-3, 180. From: SLOVAKIA. 2022-23 Team: Chippewa, NAHL.

The first goalie taken in this year's draft, Gajan has committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

That's just up the road from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin where Gajan played most of his first season in North America. He was 19-12-1 with a 2.75 goals-against average and .917 save percentage last season with the Tier II NAHL Chippewa Steel. 

Davidson said Gajan may return to Tier II junior hockey for a season and a big workload (55+ games) before moving up to Minnesota-Duluth. 

Gajan describes himself as "a very athletic goalie with good skating and good mobility" and he likes to play the puck.

Davidson said the Blackhawks love those attributes, while adding Gajan "is a big-game player and we really like his (development) path."

Gajan also tended nets for Slovakia's team in the World Junior Champioships, going 2-2-0 with a 2.40 GAA and .917 save percentage. He was named best goalie in the tournament, even if Bedard scored an overtime game-winning goal against him.

Gajan joked with  Bedard at the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo that they might end up being teammates. Now it might happen, but Gajan will first need several years of college and minor pro seasoning.

44th overall. Roman Kantserov.  Right wing.  5-foot-9, 176 From RUSSIA. 2022-23 Team: Magnitogorsk, Jr.

Kantserov is another small, quick, high-energy forward that Davidson and his staff gravitate toward. He's a skilled playmaker with good hands, quick shot and hockey sense, and netted 27 goals and 54 points in 45 games last season with Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk (MHL), Russian junior hockey. 

"He can flat out shoot it," Doneghey said. 

Kantserov also is strong for his size with huge upside, Davidson added.

When Kantserov is rolling, he's flashy, but some scouts outside the Blackhawks organization have called him moody and inconsistent.

55th overall. Martin Misiak. Right wing. 6-foot-2, 200. From Slovakia. 2022-23 Team: Youngstown, USJHL

Misiak was expected to be taken later by most scouts, who say he needs to work on his puck game and playmaking. But he's a big, powerful skater who plays a strong two-way game and is versatile, according to Davidson.

"He initiates contact and is in on board battles," Doneghey added. "He's almost like a Brandon Saad type player."

Misiak was adjusting to North American hockey in 2022-23 after coming to the USJHL from Slovakia in February. He finished with six goals and 17 points in 27 regular-season games with Youngstown, then made a bigger impact in the playoffs with two goals and 10 points in nine contests.

"It's never easy to make this kind of a choice, especially in the draft season," Misiak told reporters. "But I made the decision and I won a Cup with the (Youngstown) Phantoms."

After talking to his agent, Misiak made the midseason move to the USJHL for more ice time and exposure. He could return to the USJHL or move up to a Canadian major junior (CHL) team next season.

Misiak and Gajan were teammates at the 2023 WJC and have known each other since age 10.

Third Round (Chicago had two picks in the round)

67th overall. Nick Lardis. Left wing.  5-foot-11, 168. From CANADA. 2022-23 Team: Hamilton, OHL

The speedy Lardis came on strong with Hamilton with 25 goals and 46 points in 33 games after the OHL Peterborough Petes traded him to the Bulldogs. He had 37 goals and 65 points in 69 regular-season games combined between the teams.

"When he got there (Hamilton), he just flourished," Doneghey said. "He can fly. He met our speed element, but also has that scoring attribute."

Lardis, a GTA kid from Oakville, Ontario, is noted as a finisher with a great shot. He's  been compared to former Blackhawk Brandon Hagel.

93rd overall. Jiri Felcman. Center. 6-foot-4, 198.  From CZECHIA. 2022-23 Team: Langnau Jr. Swiss-Jr.

The lanky Felcman, had 10 goals and 31 points in 40 games with Langnau U20 in the Swiss-Jr. league, He also notched a goal and an assist in five games with Czechia at the IIHF World U18 Championship.

"He really improved this year," Doneghey said. "Those guys at 16 or 17 and 6-foot-4, they are kind of gangly and Bambi-ish, but for him things really came together this year."

Doneghey said Felcman projects as a third- or fourth-line center, but with size and a high hockey IQ.

Fourth Round (Chicago had one pick in the round)

99th overall. Alex Pharand. Center. 6-foot-2, 205. From CANADA. 2022-23 Team: Sudbury, OHL.  

Noted has a character kid as well as a strong skater, Pharand is from Davidson's hometown of Sudbury, Ontario. He already has good strength and size, and can finish. Pharand had 18 goals and 39 points in his second OHL season. 

Pharand projects a big, hard-nosed winger as a pro. "He's very competitive and looks out for his teammates," Doneghey said. 

Fifth Round (Chicago had one pick in the round)

131st overall. Marcel Marcel (not a typo). Left wing. 6-foot-4, 242, From CZECHIA. 2022-23 Team: Gatineau, QMJHL

The height and weight aren't typos either. This 19-year-old from Plzen (Pilsen) is big and strong. He had 14 goals and 32 points with the Gatineau Olympiques.

He also helped Team Czechia to a silver medal at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championships, recording two goals and six points in seven games.

"He's a a bigger guy, but he gets around the ice really well," Doneghey said. "So he fits our profile and brings some size to the table."

Marcel says his needs to work on "everything," but especially his first-step quickness.

Sixth Round (Chicago had one pick in the round)

167th overall. Milton Oscarson. Center. 6-foot-6, 216. From: SWEDEN. 2022-23 Team Örebro. Swedish Hockey League  

Oscarson had one goal and two assists in 45 games with full-grown men in his first year in the Swedish Hockey League. He played on Örebro with Leo Carlsson, the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2023 (Anaheim).

Oscarson added two goals with Sweden's team in the 2023 World Juniors. He's projected as a bottom-six, defensive forward.

Seventh Round (Chicago had one pick in the round)

195th overall. Janne Peltonen. Defense. 6-foot-3, 174. From: Finland. 2022-23 Team: Karpat, Jr. Finland-Jr.

Peltonen, from Oulu, Finland, was the only defenseman picked by Chicago in 2023. The left-handed shooter had three goals and nine points in 40 games last season.