Connor Bedard - Jan. 13 Chicago Blackhawks Media Availability postgame Over the past five years, the Chicago Blackhawks have had the most first-round picks in the NHL, and it isn't particularly close. The team has drafted 10 times in the first round over the past five seasons while four teams are tied in second with eight (Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, Utah Hockey Club/Arizona Coyotes). Between the Blackhawks (one) and the four teams that have drafted eight times in the first round over the last five drafts, there have only been two first overall picks. The Blackhawks got Connor Bedard in 2023 and the Sabres selected Owen Power in 2021. With an average of two first round picks over the past half a decade, the Blackhawks should have a very bright future. That is if they hit on over half of those picks. Bedard is a hit and the best player on Chicago already. As for the rest of the selections, they're getting there and a number haven't even played in the NHL yet and needed it. The first round picks the Blackhawks have made in the past five years include Lukas Reichel (17th, 2020), Nolan Allan (32nd, 2021), Kevin Korchinski (7th, 2022), Frank Nazar (13th, 2022), Sam Rinzel (25th, 2022), Bedard (1st, 2023), Oliver Moore (19th, 2023), Artyom Levshunov (2nd, 2024), Sacha Boisvert (18th, 2024), and Marek Vanacker (27th, 2024). At this point, Bedard, Reichel, Allan, and Nazar are all full-time members of the team while Korchinski is likely the next to step in full-time. While he did play in the NHL all of last season, he wasn't able to develop in the AHL yet. Moore could join the Blackhawks after university this season and Levshunov may get a couple games in the NHL by the end of the season, but Rinzel, Boisvert, and Vanacker will probably be at least another full year before we see anything from them in Chicago. This is a talented group that the Blackhawks have assembled, but a lot of them have to turn into productive players, whether that be in the offensive or defensive end. Missing on too many first round picks leads to long a rebuild and that just can't happen with Bedard improving at the rate he is. Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/] team site to stay updated on the latest news [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-newshttps://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/latest-news], game day [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/game-dayhttps://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/game-day] coverage, player features [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/playershttps://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/players], and more. RECENT BLACKHAWKS NEWS
