The Hawks’ primary targets, among players possibly still available when Stan Bowman takes the podium at the NHL Draft, include a scoring/power RW, two 2-way centermen and a defenseman.
According to a source, the Hawks’ high grade on USNTDP RW Oliver Wahlstrom has not changed—it’s just gone up. Apparently Wahlstrom has “impressed” the team as having “high character” in addition to his obvious size and skill.
Today, barring other factors, it sounds as though the Hawks will snag Wahlstrom with the #8 overall pick (assuming he’s still there).
Three other players the Hawks are said to be considering at that position are are Acadie-Bathurst defenseman Noah Dobson, Finnish center Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and QMJHL center Joe Veleno.
Some might ask: why take another scoring winger, a current relative strength of the Hawks’ NHL roster, when there seems to be more dire organizational need at center and defense?
However, unless you’re picking in the top 2-3 slots, you have to look at every draft through the lens of 2-3 years out minimum. And in a draft like this year’s—so deep and loaded with potential quality NHL players—you should be even more inclined to go with the best player available.
My information is the Hawks are placing equal emphasis on character and maturity as they are on talent (because at #8 in this year’s draft, talent is a likely given with several selections).
Picking this high for the first time in a decade, and coming off a miserable season with an aging veteran core, the Hawks cannot afford to miss with this pick—the player selected at #8 this year must be a player who can be party of the “next” core of quality players for Chicago.
More to come.
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