The Chicago Blackhawks had a busy first day of the NHL draft on Friday.
They used the No. 2 pick on defenseman Artyom Levshunov and the No. 18 pick on center Sacha Boisvert. But they weren’t done, trading two second-round picks — Nos. 34 and 50 — to the Carolina Hurricanes to select winger Marek Vanacker at No. 27.
Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson said Thursday that he and his staff felt “pretty confident with where we’re going to go” after the San Jose Sharks drafted Macklin Celebrini at No. 1. But Davidson acknowledged there were “significant” debates.
“If it was a no-brainer, then we probably would have known months ago,” after landing the No. 2 pick in the draft lottery.
Follow along to see who else the Hawks drafted at the two-day event at Sphere in Las Vegas.
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Blackhawks’ 2024 draft picks
- No. 2 (first round): Defenseman Artyom Levshunov
- No. 18 (first round): Center Sacha Boisvert
- No. 27 (first round): Winger Marek Vanacker
- No. 67 (third round)
- No. 72 (third round)
- No. 128 (fifth round)
- No. 163 (sixth round)
No. 2: Defenseman Artyom Levshunov
The Blackhawks selected Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov with the No. 2 pick. Levshunov, 18, boosts a budding corps of young blue liners that includes Kevin Korchinski and Alex Vlasic.
“I was waiting for this for 18 years. Finally, I’m somewhere. Not somewhere — in Chicago,” Levshunov said minutes after he was selected at Sphere. “Feels real now. Now it feels like a dream come true.
“I was thinking about them because we had a good conversation throughout the season and at the combine, they came to Buffalo, with our agency camp (in Florida), they came to talk with me, (and) we went for lunch. … I’m happy that Chicago picked me.”
Calder Trophy winner Connor Bedard, last year’s No. 1 pick, announced the Hawks’ selection of Levshunov.
“Finally, I’m somewhere. Not somewhere — in Chicago.”
—Artyom Levshunov on being drafted by the Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/HrCRQgVgtc
— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) June 29, 2024
No. 18: Center Sacha Boisvert
The Hawks added offense by selecting Sacha Boisvert at No. 18. The 6-foot-2, 179-pound left-handed center played for the Muskegon (Mich.) Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League the last two seasons and is committed to the University of North Dakota.
Boisvert, an 18-year-old native of Trois-Rivières, Quebec, had 68 points (36 goals, 32 assists) in 61 games for Muskegon last season.
“I can’t even describe it,” he said. “It’s great. Best feeling I’ve ever had.”
“Yeah, I take a lot of pride in that part to my game, just being able to be a skill guy but also a physical guy who can (bring) a lot of grit and defend his teammates and just go and do everything on the ice.”
—Blackhawks No. 18 draft pick Sacha Boisvert on having “grit” pic.twitter.com/CWcIaXPY4R
— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) June 29, 2024
No. 27: Winger Marek Vanacker
The Hawks traded their two second-round picks — Nos. 34 and 50 — to the Carolina Hurricanes and selected winger Marek Vanacker at No. 27. Vanacker, 18, of Delhi, Ontario, had 36 goals and 46 assists (82 points) in 68 games for OHL Brantford last season.
“Honestly, kind of speechless,” he said. “Just amazing feeling, something I’ve worked toward my whole life. So to have this happen on this night is super surreal.”
He said of his game: “I bring a lot of skill and a lot speed. I like to turn defenders.”
“I bring a lot of skill and a lot speed. I like to turn defenders.”
—Marek Vanacker, the Blackhawks’ third pick of the first round, on his game pic.twitter.com/BD5hpHt88t
— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) June 29, 2024
