Even if it's not Macklin Celebrini, Davidson still expects to select a "foundational piece." And not having Connor Bedard not on line made the 2024 draft lottery less stressful...
The Chicago Blackhawks finished second to the San Jose Sharks in the NHL's 2024 Draft Lottery on Tuesday.
So after winning the lottery in 2023, then selecting generational talent Connor Bedard, Chicago won't be able in position to take Boston University power forward Macklin Celebrini in June 2024.
No Macklin Celebrini, but Chicago will get a "foundational piece."But Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson and his staff can take anyone else they want with the No. 2 pick at Las Vegas next month. And getting what Davidson expects to "be a foundational piece" isn't so bad.
"It wasn't No. 1, but I think for us, the way we see this draft and what we're able to acquire in the draft in June, No. 2 is a very big win," Davidson said. "And so we're really excited. I can't wait to dig in with our amateur staff next week to start the process of getting that (draft) board finalized or on the road to being finalized.
"We likely know where No. 1 is going," he added. "And so, we kind of dictate what's next and that's exciting as well." See following video.
Chicago Held Serve
The Blackhawks finished at 23-53-6 and with 52 points last season. Only the Sharks were worse. Chicago had a 72% chance of getting a draft position that was later than second in the lottery, so Davidson seemed a bit relieved.
Mike Grier and the San Jose Sharks have dibs on Macklin Celebrini."To be at No. 2 and stick and hold our spot, I'm really happy," Davidson said. "It's massive, it's huge to pick that high in the draft," he added. "But as we sit here now, at No. 2 overall, there's going to be a huge reward."
Davidson said his dinner on Tuesday would be "celebratory," even if not the kind of champagne-popping event the Blackhawks enjoyed last year when they won the lottery and the right to take Bedard. The 18-year-old went on to become the NHL's leading rookie scorer in 2023-24 and a Calder Trophy finalist.
"I was way more nervous last year," said Davidson, who admitted he had flashbacks. "Winning last year and having that in our back pocket would make navigating this year a little bit easier. And to be honest, it didn't weigh on me that much.
Getting Bedard (right) was cause for celebration."There was just so much hype going into last year. It was just a different animal. It felt a little bit different."
Ivan Demidov a Possibility?
Davidson never gives any hint of whom he might draft by name. But league-wide scuttlebutt is the Blackhawks will take a close look at highly's-killed Russian forward Ivan Demidov.
The 5-foot-11 winger came on strong in the second half of 2023-24 as a junior player and then joined St. Petersburg of the KHL. He's been compared to Tampa Bay star Nikita Kucherov.
That Demidov is still under a KHL contract for a year, from Russia and may have a knee injury don't bother Davidson as a potential complications, however.
"We don't have too much on medical stuff," Davidson said. "I don't think it's any concern at all.
"As far as the player being from Russia, it's so case-by-case and every player's different," he added. "Just like a North American or a non-Russian European, it's always case-by-case and there's reasons why someone may or may not be on the (draft) board.
"There's some dynamics you have to weigh when it comes to players with contracts overseas, but I don't necessarily see too many of those questions in this draft as we stand here now."