As the NHL Draft draws nearer, speculation continues to build around the Chicago Blackhawks and their plans for the No. 3 overall pick — a selection that is far from a lock.
Last year, the Blackhawks were reportedly aggressive in their draft strategy, with multiple sources suggesting they attempted to move back into the top picks to draft Ivan Demidov.
While that trade never materialized, it appears another, even more ambitious move was also on the table.
According to Charlie Roumeliotis on the Chicago Hockey Radio show, the Blackhawks made a strong effort to trade for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, with the intention of selecting Macklin Celebrini.
Roumeliotis mentioned that the team “really tried” and made a “significant pitch” to pull off the deal. Had it gone through, Chicago would have landed another elite prospect to pair with Connor Bedard — creating a potential superstar tandem for years to come.
It remains unclear how far trade talks progressed, but Roumeliotis noted that several teams attempted to trade up. In the case of Chicago and San Jose — who held the first pick — a deal would have likely involved swapping the first and second picks, suggesting the Sharks may have given the proposal more serious thought than other offers.
Such a move would have sent shockwaves through the draft landscape, likely reshaping the entire top-10.
A young forward core featuring Bedard, Celebrini, and Frank Nazar could have dramatically sped up the Blackhawks’ rebuild and established one of the NHL’s most promising groups of young talent.
However, given the deal didn’t happen, it’s reasonable to believe San Jose had firm plans to select Celebrini and were asking for a major return to part with the pick.
Reports suggest the Sharks may have demanded the No. 2 pick, Chicago’s second first-rounder in 2024, and their 2025 first-round pick — possibly more — just to advance the talks.
Although Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson ultimately passed, the pursuit shows he’s willing to be bold at the draft table.
With plenty of draft capital still in hand, don’t rule out the possibility of another aggressive play in the 2025 draft.
