The Chicago Blackhawks had an exciting first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft as the team picked Anton Frondell third overall, Vaclav Nestrasil 25th overall, and Mason West 29th overall. But with those three strong additions to the organization, when was the last time the Blackhawks selected in each of those positions and how did it turn out for them?
The Blackhawks last drafted third overall in 2019 and selected Kirby Dach. After three seasons in Chicago (one of them spending the majority of the time injured - 18 games), he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for the 13th overall pick and 66th overall pick in 2022. Those picks turned into Frank Nazar, arguably already better and more impactful than Dach, and Gavin Hayes.
Dach has 24 goals and 62 points in 117 games for the Canadiens since being moved. He is their second line center when healthy, but he's played 58 games, two games, and 57 games in his three seasons in Montreal.
The Blackhawks last drafted 25th more recently, choosing Sam Rinzel in 2022 as their third selection of that draft. After the 21-year-old impressed over the last two seasons in the NCAA, he graduated to the NHL at the end of this season and got into nine games for Chicago, recording five assists.
Rinzel already looked very good and will likely get top pairing minutes next season for the Blackhawks. The defensive group is young and he looks like a fixture to log lots of minutes for many years to come.
The last time the Blackhawks drafted 29th in the NHL draft was in 2017 and the team took Henri Jokiharju. He only played 38 games for the Blackhawks as a 19-year-old and was traded to the Buffalo Sabres where he spent 5.5 seasons. He was once again dealt to the Boston Bruins this season at the deadline and played the final 14 games with them before just re-signing for three-years at $3 million AAV today.
Jokiharju got Chicago Alex Nylander back in return. That didn't turn out very well for the Blackhawks. Jokiharju has now played 407 NHL games and recorded 19 goals and 97 points. He is a solid 4th or 5th d-man in the NHL.
Other than Rinzel, the Blackhawks hope that these first-round picks will turn into something really impactful for the team in the near future.
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