Chicago Blackhawks: Redrafting Core Players Since 2002
Nov 5, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) and goalie Corey Crawford (50) celebrate the win over the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. The Blackhawks defeat the Stars 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Do you ever wonder what could have happened to the Chicago Blackhawks had they not drafted as well as they did?
While the Chicago Blackhawks continue to retool and reload their supporting cast each season due to salary cap concerns, the core has mostly stayed intact. And a majority of that core was drafted by the Blackhawks brass.
Patrick Sharp was a trade acquisition from Philadelphia, though he’s now in Dallas. Marian Hossa signed as a free agent in 2009. Beyond that, however, the Blackhawks have drafted their entire core group.
But what if the Blackhawks had drafted differently? Who might have ended up wearing the Indian Head … or struggling to make it to the big leagues altogether?
Today, I’m going to take a look at possible different draft choices for reach of the Blackhawks’ core pieces who were selected by the team: Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Corey Crawford, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Marcus Kruger.
Each redraft will be done in a vacuum, per say. So when I do Keith’s redraft, we’ll assume everyone else was drafted as planned by the Blackhawks. With that in mind, let’s begin.
Nov 23, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith (2) controls the puck in the second period of the game against San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose. The San Jose Sharks defeated the Chicago Blackhawks with a score of 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Duncan Keith
Selected: 54th overall in 2002 draft
Instead, Blackhawks select: D Johnny Boychuk (61st overall, Colorado Avalanche)
Boychuk was the second defenseman taken after the Blackhawks selected Keith, the first being unknown Denis Grot (Vancouver, 55th overall). While Chicago could’ve selected forwards Matt Stajan or Jiri Hudler, we’ll stick with improving the blue line.
Boychuk is best known for his work with the Boston Bruins, with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2011. The blueliner now plays alongside former Blackhawk Nick Leddy and others with the New York Islanders.
While Boychuk is a solid defender, posting a career Corsi-for of 53.6 percent and tallying 23 or more points each of the last three seasons, he’d be no replacement for iron man Keith. A two-time Norris Trophy winner and one-time Conn Smythe winner, Keith jumped in with the Blackhawks in 2005-06 and quickly became the de facto No. 1 defenseman.
His connection with Seabrook was also critical to much of the Blackhawks’ early success in this current era. It’s unlikely Boychuk and Seabrook would’ve had the same chemistry. Thus, the Blackhawks definitely would’ve suffered drafting Boychuk instead of Keith.
Nov 23, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook (7) in the third period of the game against San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose. The San Jose Sharks defeated the Chicago Blackhawks with a score of 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Brent Seabrook
Selected: 14th overall in 2003 draft
Instead, Blackhawks select: D Brent Burns (20th overall, Minnesota Wild)
So now, we’re imagining the Blackhawks have taken Keith in the previous draft, but they didn’t take Seabrook in 2003. There are some really interesting forward options who were taken right after Seabrook in this draft — Zach Parise, Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler, Corey Perry (I’m not saying I would want all of these guys). But, again, let’s stick with the blue line.
Burns is applying his craft with the San Jose Sharks, and applying it quite well. The heavily bearded one spent parts of seven seasons with the Wild, and until the last one (46 points), they were relatively nondescript. Things really started to click for Burns in 2013-14, as he collected 48 points and followed that up with seasons of 60 and 75 points.
Burns was a huge part of the Sharks’ run to the Stanley Cup Final last season, posting 24 points in 24 games while playing more than 25 minutes a night. He also finished third in Norris Trophy voting.
Trying to compare Burns and Seabrook is quite the task. Both guys are offensively predisposed from the blue line, and they’re both big bodies. Again, we have to look to Seabrook’s chemistry with Keith as a big selling point for him. And while Seabrook has maxed out at 49 points in a regular-season, he’s also come up with some gigantic postseason tallies, collecting three postseason game-winners in his career.
It would really be interesting to see a defense led by Keith and Burns, but having Seabrook around has certainly been beneficial to the Blackhawks.
Jan 17, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Marian Hossa (81) and goalie Corey Crawford (50) celebrate their win against the Montreal Canadiens at the United Center. The Chicago Blackhawks won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Corey Crawford
Selected: 52nd overall, 2003 draft
Instead, Blackhawks select: G Jimmy Howard (64th overall, Detroit Red Wings)
This one is pretty tough to redraft. Part of it is because I don’t really want to imagine the Blackhawks not taking Crow, but another part of it is the redraft options are pretty unappealing.
This was not a good draft for goaltenders. Marc-Andre Fleury was taken first overall this year, but after him, only Crow and Howard are drafted goaltenders who have had any extended NHL experience. And since I don’t want to entertain the idea of the Blackhawks instead drafting David Backes (62nd overall), let’s go to Howard.
Howard cracked the NHL a little sooner than Crow, jumping into Detroit’s starting spot in 2009-10. You might recognize that as the season the Blackhawks were trying to figure out what to do with their goaltending situation as Cristobal Huet was struggling mightily and Antti Niemi was unproven.
Howard was a 37-game winner in 2009-10, still a career high for him. He finished eighth in Vezina Trophy voting and second in Calder Trophy voting. So maybe Howard breaks in around the same time with Chicago, spelling Huet and helping Chicago to their first Stanley Cup in 49 years. Then what?
Crow broke into the league full time in 2010-11, and he has been critical to the Blackhawks’ success in the regular season and playoffs. Without Crow, the Blackhawks might not have won the Stanley Cup in either 2013 or 2015.
So maybe the team would’ve been well off with Howard for a brief spell, but Crow longer-term was a far better draft choice.
Nov 23, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson (4) controls the puck during the game against the San Jose Sharks in the second period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Niklas Hjalmarsson
Selected: 108th overall, 2005 draft
Instead, Blackhawks select: D Anton Stralman (216th overall, Toronto Maple Leafs)
This one is a stretch, because there’s no way the Blackhawks can look into the future and see a seventh-round choice helping a team to a Stanley Cup Final. Of course, Hjalmarsson has helped his team to three Stanley Cups. So not much comparison.
But let’s say the Blackhawks had a feeling on Stralman, who was taken out of Sweden toward the back end of this draft. Well, the Blackhawks would’ve gotten a solid contributor, but not of Hjalmarsson’s stature.
Stralman is more of an offensive contributor than Hjammer, but not by much. Stralman has also started a majority of his career zone starts in the offensive end. Hjammer, meanwhile, gobbles up defensive-zone starts and puts his body on the line every few minutes (see last night’s game against the Islanders, when Hjammer took a point-blank blast off the arm and didn’t miss a second).
Stralman could’ve been a solid 3/4 D behind Keith and Seabrook. But he wouldn’t have brought Hjalmarsson’s critical defensive defenseman brand of hockey to the table, and the Blackhawks have needed that more and more as time has passed.
Dec 15, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) fights for the puck with New York Islanders left wing Nikolay Kulemin (86) and New York Islanders right wing Cal Clutterbuck (15) during the first period at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jonathan Toews
Selected: 3rd overall, 2006 draft
Instead, Blackhawks select: C Nicklas Backstrom (4th overall, Washington Capitals)
It’s difficult to imagine the Blackhawks not drafting the guy who would soon after start his path to becoming the team’s greatest captain well before his 30th birthday.
However, the top of the 2016 draft was extremely fruitful. Sixteen of the top 18 picks have spent 226 games or more in the NHL, and 13 of those guys are still active today.
For my money, there are only two guys that make sense in this redraft. I went for the oft-overshadowed Backstrom over the oft-underappreciated Phil Kessel.
Backstrom takes a back seat to Alex Ovechkin with the Capitals, and rightly so. But Backstrom has carved out one hell of a career for himself to date, posting nearly a point per game for his entire regular-season career (667 points in 680 games). He has career bests of 33 goals, 68 assists and 101 points, and he’s a career 50.6 percent faceoff winner.
Backstrom makes those on his wings that much better, but he’s just not Jonathan Toews. Sure, the Blackhawks captain doesn’t have nearly as many points in the same number of games (577 in 668). But it’s never been all about points with Toews.
Can you imagine this team being half as successful without Toews’ leadership on and off the ice? Without his clutch goals, his slick passing, his success at the faceoff dot and on the penalty kill? The one-time Selke Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy winner is irreplaceable.
Dec 15, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Artemi Panarin (72) celebrates his goal against the New York Islanders with Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane (88) during the first period at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Patrick Kane
Selected: 1st overall, 2007 draft
Instead, Blackhawks select: RW Jakub Voracek (7th overall, Columbus Blue Jackets)
For different reasons than with Toews, the Blackhawks wouldn’t have nearly the level of success they’ve seen in this current era without Kane.
Still, this is a redraft, so we have to pick someone else. And Voracek seems like a really solid choice. He’s been underutilized in Philadelphia, where he’s spent the majority of his NHL career. Voracek has 460 points in 636 regular-season games, second-most among 2007’s first-round draft picks (behind Kane).
We don’t know how well Voracek would fare in the postseason, however, since he has just 28 games of experience (compared with Kane’s 123). But we know he could’ve been an extremely capable top-six forward with the Blackhawks for some time.
Still, it’s not the same as having Kane. The reigning Hart Trophy winner sealed the Blackhawks’ first Stanley Cup win in 49 years and has been a huge part of almost all other success Chicago has had since. Again, irreplaceable.
Dec 4, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Marcus Kruger (16) with the puck during the second period against the Winnipeg Jets at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Marcus Kruger
Selected: 149th overall, 2009 draft
Instead, Blackhawks select: C Anders Lee (152nd overall, New York Islanders)
Kruger needs to be considered part of the Blackhawks’ core by now. The defensive center to end them all (besides maybe Sean Couturier), Kruger has been a key piece in two of Chicago’s Stanley Cup wins.
There aren’t a lot of phenomenal options to replace the pick of Kruger in 2009. Erik Haula is the only other really good option who was drafted below Kruger, but I went with Lee.
There’s not much to compare here. Lee is a center who has never taken a ton of faceoffs (20 in his NHL career), and while he scores more than Kruger (105 points in 209 regular-season games versus 96 points in 360 games), Lee is just kind of a prototypical bottom-six guy — not good enough to be a top-six guy, and just fills a roster space.
Kruger is a fine faceoff guy, but his real value comes in taking the toughest zone assignments and flipping the ice. We saw this in full display during the 2015 postseason, when Kruger, Andrew Desjardins and Andrew Shaw crushed the competition from Anaheim and Tampa Bay again and again.
So that’s our Blackhawks core redraft. Doesn’t it make you glad the Blackhawks brass didn’t screw up these picks? Consider it an early holiday gift.
More from Blackhawk Up
This article originally appeared on 
