The Chicago Blackhawks were very busy during the first round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. General manager Kyle Davidson made three trips to the podium on Friday night. First, he took Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov with the second overall pick. Next was Sacha Boisvert from the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks. We thought the Blackhawks were done for the night, but Davidson traded both his second-round picks (34th and 50th overall) to the Carolina Hurricanes to get back into the first round at No. 27. He used the pick to take forward Marek Vanacker from the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL.
Davidson added five more players to the prospect pool, making it eight for the weekend. After taking Levshunov with their top pick, the Blackhawks took six straight forwards before bookending the 2024 draft class with another defenseman. There is little doubt about the main objective of this draft for Davidson and his staff: speed, size, and physicality.
Third Round (Pick No. 67) John Mustard, F, Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL), 6-foot, 185 pounds
We had a fun moment on the draft floor when this pick was made. Regardless of what Jay might think of the name, Mustard brings a lot to the Blackhawks’ prospect pool. He is an extremely fast skater with a heck of a shot. He will take time to develop, but that is not an issue for the Blackhawks. His raw talent makes him worth the pick. He only has one gear, and that’s full speed. Scouts have called his speed “difference-making.” When he doesn’t have the puck, he tries hard to get it back. Speed, a great shot, and a high motor. Sounds familiar. He will attend Providence College starting in the 2025-25 season.
Third Round (Pick No. 72) AJ Spellacy, C, Windsor Spitfires (OHL), 6-foot-3, 190 pounds
The Blackhawks continued to add size and speed with their second third-round pick of the day. Spellacy is another raw talent who possesses excellent speed and physicality. He chose to play hockey instead of Division I college football, and his journey has led him to Chicago. He is dynamic off the rush and needs little time to hit full speed and blow past defenders. He brings a decent defensive game and seeks contact when he doesn’t have the puck. He will be a project, but there is high upside. Elite Prospects says he has shades of Josh Anderson and Miles Wood.
Third Round (Pick No. 92) Jack Pridham, RW, West Kelowna Warriors (BCHL), 6-foot-2, 174 pounds
The Blackhawks and Hurricanes were not done trading, as Davidson gave up their third-round pick next season to move into this slot. Pridham is a bigger right wing whose biggest attributes are speed, edge work, and high energy. He had 23 goals and 49 points in 54 games last season. He has elite-level strides and explosiveness. He uses his speed to create chances up and down the ice. Even though he can use more bulk, he doesn’t avoid contact. Plenty of seasoning and coaching are needed, but the raw materials give the Blackhawks’ development staff a lot to work with. He is committed to Boston University, so he will be in good hands.
Fifth Round (Pick No. 138) Joel Svensson, C, Växjö Lakers HC, 6-foot-1, 185 pounds
Davidson continued to look to fortify the middle of the ice by selecting Svensson out of Sweden. His two biggest attributes are his skating and his use of space on the ice. He was draft-eligible last season but was passed on due to injuries limiting him to just 29 total games. He bounced back in 2023-24 to play 42 games at three different levels, including seven in the SHL. In 25 games in the U20 junior league, he put up 24 goals and 33 points.
Sixth Round (Pick No. 163) Ty Henry, D, Erie Otters (OHL), 6-foot-4, 198 pounds
After taking six straight forwards, the Blackhawks returned to the blue line with their sixth-round pick. Henry is a big defense-first defenseman. He has excellent mobility but did not have much offensive production in limited minutes, with seven assists in 54 games. The NHL potential is there with his size and sound defensive play. He does some of his best work along the boards, using his quick feet to keep up attacking players. Like most players taken in the sixth round, he is a long-term project.
