A rule put in place a couple of years ago due to the draft position of Hall's former team is the reason why the Blackhawks can't keep winning the draft lottery... even if they keep on losing

The Chicago Blackhawks are in the midst of a rebuild, but a rule that kicked in for the NHL Draft Lottery in 2022 might negatively impact them. 

This rule, resulting from what the Edmonton Oilers managed to pull off in the early-to-mid 2010s, limits one team from drafting first overall more than twice in a five-year span.

The Blackhawks won the lottery in 2023 and drafted Connor Bedard first overall, so if they were to win the lottery again in 2024, the team wouldn't be able to pick first overall again until 2028. The Blackhawks, who finished at 23-53-6 and in 31st place last season, hope to to become more competitive and not be in position for the top pick anyway before long.

But if the team around Bedard struggles to pick things up and doesn't compete for a couple more years, this may hurt the Blackhawks. They could miss out on someone like Gavin McKenna (Bedard's cousin) at first overall in 2026.

Oilers' Run Ended With Connor McDavid

This rule limiting a team's ability to pick first overall no more than twice in a five-year span evolved from a run the Oilers started with now Blackhawks winger, Taylor Hall.

The Oilers' suffered though a decade of darkness where the team missed the playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons. Edmonton sunk to the depths of the league and drafted first overall three years in a row and four times in a six-year span.

The Oilers selected Hall in in 2010, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in 2011, Nail Yakupov in 2012 and then Connor McDavid in 2015. 

Hall is set to come back from right ACL surgery with the Blackhawks next season at age 32. He started his career at age 19, then played six seasons in Edmonton. Hall peaked as a Hart Trophy winner in New Jersey in 2017-18 skating on a line with 2017 top draft pick Nico Hischier.

Nugent-Hopkins is in his 13th season with the Oilers. The forward's best output was in 2022-23 when he hit career highs with 37 goals and 104 points. 

Yakupov, a Russian winger, lasted only six seasons in the NHL and never scored more than 33 points. He returned to the KHL in 2018-19.

The Oilers hit the jackpot with McDavid as a franchise star. Perhaps the NHL's fastest skater and most electric forward, he's won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's top points producer in five of nine seasons and the Hart as league MVP twice.

The Blackhawks would have a great foundation for the long run if they could draft first overall this year and take Boston University power forward Macklin Celebrini. Chicago already has lots of talented prospects on the team and in its system.

But even with a generational talent like Bedard, it takes a team around him to win. There's no guarantee that the Blackhawks won't finish near the bottom of the standings for a couple more years as well.

Recent Blackhawks News

Is Mitch Marner the Upgrade Blackhawks Want or Need for Connor Bedard?

Blackhawks Shut Down Maple Leafs, Auston Matthews Before Bruins Did

Blackhawks Farm Team Falters in AHL Playoff Opener, Along With Top Prospects

Blackhawks Have Top Prospects Playing Outside of North America