The Chicago Blackhawks built one of the best dynasties in NHL history throughout the 2010s, led by their core of stars. The Hawks captured three Stanley Cups throughout the decade, winning in 2010, 2013 and 2015. During this period, drafting was a pivotal part of the Hawks success, as it set them up with talent to aid their dynasty and players to carry the legacy into the next generation of Blackhawks hockey. General manager Stan Bowman had a lengthy list of draft picks throughout the 2010s. Let’s cover some of the best Chicago Blackhawks draft picks throughout the decade.
The Best Blackhawks Draft Picks of the 2010s
Brandon Saad (2011 NHL Entry Draft, Pick #43)
Brandon Saad would become a pivotal part of the Blackhawks dynasty as a rookie in the 2012-2013 season. Saad would record 27 points in 46 games with the Blackhawks en route to their Stanley Cup victory over the Boston Bruins. He would continue to develop into a top-six forward in Chicago, breaking out during the 2014-2015 season, recording 52 points in 82 games. Saad would also add eight goals throughout the playoffs, eventually winning his second Stanley Cup.
Due to cap constraints, the Hawks would be forced to trade Saad to the Columbus Blue Jackets after the 2014-2015 season. He would continue his success in Columbus recording back-to-back 53-point seasons. Saad would return to Chicago in the notorious Artemi Panarin trade. Saad played three seasons before being traded to the Colorado Avalanche for Nikita Zadorov. Safe to say, the Hawks found a gem with Saad in the second round in 2011.
Andrew Shaw (2011 NHL Entry Draft, Pick #139)
The Hawks would find another piece to their dynasty in the 2011 draft, selecting Andrew Shaw in the fifth round. Shaw would begin his career as a bottom-six forward known for his toughness. Shaw would become a fan favourite during game six of the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals, in which he would take a puck off the face and return with stitches. He would play the remainder of that game with severe cuts. Shaw would break out in the 2013-2014 season when he scored 20 goals. Similar to Saad, Shaw would also have a great 2014-2015 playoffs, helping Chicago secure another Stanley Cup.
Shaw also became a cap casualty following the 2015-2016 season, being traded to the Montreal Canadians. During his time in Montreal, Shaw would begin to deal with injuries due to his physical style of play. Chicago traded for Shaw after he spent three seasons in Montreal. However, Shaw would only play in 40 games for the Blackhawks in two seasons due to injuries. Shaw retired in 2021. Shaw will forever be remembered as a fan favourite, who went from an enforcer to a cornerstone of the Hawks dynasty.
Teuvo Teravainen (2012 NHL Entry Draft, Pick #18)
Before his return to the Blackhawks in the 2024 offseason, Teuvo Teravainen was a first-round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks. Teravainen would start his career slow but broke out during the 2015-2016 season recording 35 points in 78 games. Teravainen also found himself being a casualty due to the Blackhawks cap situation, being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes along with Bryan Bickell. Teuvo immediately would become a core piece of the Hurricanes playoff runs. During his seven seasons, Teravainen became one of the league’s best two-way forwards.
If Teuvo Teravainen hadn’t returned to the Blackhawks this offseason, he likely would not have been on this list. Since he will tie himself to the Blackhawks for the next few seasons, he can appear on this list. Him returning to the Hawks seems to make it feel like this pick has come back around full circle.
Alex DeBrincat (2016 NHL Entry Draft, Pick #39)
DeBrincat was a rare case of a player who emerged as a star from day one. The Blackhawks selected DeBrincat in the second round of the 2016 draft, and he dominated in the OHL with the Erie Otters. He would then record 52 points as a rookie. DeBrincat would have likely been a candidate for the Calder Trophy if it wasn’t for the league’s loaded rookie class in 2018. DeBrincat would form a great pairing with Patrick Kane, would be very beneficial in his rise to stardom.
Alex DeBrincat would record a career-high 78 points in the turbulent 2021-2022 season in Chicago. Chicago would then trade DeBrincat to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a first-round pick that offseason. After one season with the Senators, DeBrincat would be traded to the Detroit Red Wings, where he has been reunited with Patrick Kane. While the Blackhawks never found much team success with DeBrincat, finding a perennial 30-goal scorer is a win no matter what.
Philipp Kurashev (2018 NHL Entry Draft, Pick #120)
Kurashev is an interesting selection by the Blackhawks. The 2018 NHL draft was a rough one for Chicago, who missed on both of their first-round picks. Kurashev is the only player who is saving this draft from being a massive failure. Kurashev broke out playing alongside Connor Bedard in 2023-2024. Philipp had 54 points in 75 games and has turned himself into a future part of the Blackhawks core.
Kurashev ended up being the only positive in a dreadful draft for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2018. Now with a chance to play alongside more talented players, the future is looking bright for Kurashev in Chicago.
Honorable Mentions
Alex Vlasic (2019 NHL Entry Draft, Pick #43), Nick Schmaltz (2014 NHL Entry Draft, Pick #20), Ryan Hartman (2013 NHL Entry Draft, Pick #30)
These five players have separated themselves as the best draft selections from the 2010s by the Chicago Blackhawks. Stan Bowman had a pretty bad drafting record over his time as general manager, but finding these players was a major win for the organization. The Blackhawks had to employ very different drafting strategies during the 2010s due to their picks being lower on the board. Even through some bad drafts and draft picks, the Blackhawks still managed to do their due diligence and draft some outstanding NHL talent.
Main Photo Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
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