The Chicago Blackhawks select three players in the first round of the 2024 draft.

One year ago today, the Chicago Blackhawks made two selections in the first round of the NHL Draft: Connor Bedard as the first overall pick and Oliver Moore as the nineteenth pick. Tonight, they executed a late first-round trade to acquire three first-round picks in the 2024 NHL Draft, aiming to further strengthen the organization’s future. They drafted Artyom Levshunov with the second overall pick, Sacha Boisvert with the eighteenth pick, and Marek Vanacker with the twenty-seventh pick.

Kyle Davidson shows his aggressive and confident approach by relying on his scouting staff’s evaluations of their preferred draft prospects. Unlike being a solitary decision-maker, Davidson ensures everyone’s opinions are heard during the scouting and evaluation process. This inclusive method allows him to consider all perspectives on targeted players, weighing the benefits of assertive moves to secure them.

In 2022, Davidson orchestrated trades that transformed the Chicago Blackhawks’ draft position from having no first-round picks to acquiring three. His determination was evident again in 2023 when he attempted to trade up to secure Oliver Moore in the NHL Draft. This year, Davidson traded both second-round picks (No. 34 and No. 50) to guarantee acquiring Marek Vanacker before the first round concluded, underscoring his commitment to securing targeted talents.

The Chicago Blackhawks made a strategic choice with the second-overall pick in the 2024 Draft, selecting Artyom Levshunov, widely regarded as one of the top defensemen in his draft class. Addressing a critical need for a versatile right-side defenseman with significant size and all-around skills, Levshunov was seen as the ideal fit.

After the first round concluded, Kyle Davidson emphasized that Levshunov’s comprehensive skill set represented the highest potential for the Blackhawks at the No. 2 spot. While Levshunov is expected to return for his second year at Michigan State and continue playing in the NCAA, Davidson indicated that discussions with Levshunov and his agent, Dan Milstein, would precede any final decisions regarding his development path.

WATCH: Full Replay of CHGO Blackhawks First Round Livestream

With the 18th overall pick, the Chicago Blackhawks chose Sacha Boisvert, a standout from the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks. Hailing from Quebec, Boisvert opted for an unconventional path compared to many Canadian junior players, foregoing the CHL to play two productive seasons in the USHL. He is slated to join the University of North Dakota for the 2024-25 season.

Boisvert, standing at 6’2″ and weighing 185 pounds, brings a physical presence to his game as a power forward capable of playing effectively down the middle of the ice. Combined with his strong work ethic and potent shot, Boisvert possesses all the attributes to potentially fill a top-six role for the Blackhawks, adding size to their forward group, particularly at center, a position they have sought to bolster.

To conclude the first night of the 2024 Draft, Kyle Davidson made a bold move by trading away two second-round picks to re-enter the first round and select Marek Vanacker from the Brantford Bulldogs. Vanacker, who was teammates with 2023 NHL Draft pick Nick Lardis, caught the attention of Davidson and the Blackhawks’ scouting team with their extensive in-person evaluations.

Despite not fitting the typical size profile of a power forward at around 6 feet tall and 180 pounds, Vanacker showcases considerable offensive potential and excels in the high-traffic areas of the ice. During the 2023-24 season, he admirably played through a labrum injury that required recent surgery, affecting his upcoming 2024-25 season start with Brantford. Nevertheless, Vanacker’s impressive performance included 36 goals and 82 points in 68 OHL games, leading his team in both categories.

Finally, recall when I mentioned that Kyle Davidson is assertive? I wasn’t exaggerating.

Can you imagine the excitement if the Blackhawks managed to move back into the top-five and potentially drafted BOTH Artyom Levshunov and Ivan Demidov? It would be quite the spectacle.