When we start the new season(s) for the Chicago Blackhawks, the 2023 NHL Draft will be on everyone’s mind. They’re hoping for the lottery balls to fall their way and Connor Bedard to be in play for Chicago, but we’re a long way from that happening.
So what could the Blackhawks do if they don’t land No. 1?
This week we’ve been looking at some players who might be on the Hawks’ radar as they put in the prep work for a pick that will have a huge impact on the rebuild plan — and timeline. We’ve profiled Michigan center Adam Fantillithe Russian superstar forward Matvei Michkov and Moose Jaw center Brayden Yager. Each has a robust resume worthy of a top-five pick. But there are other names to keep in mind, as well.
Here are three more players for Blackhawks fans to check in on as the 2022-23 season progresses who might be in play for the Hawks if they land outside the top three overall selections.
Calum Ritchie, C
Ritchie is listed at 6-1 and 175 pounds and will skate for the Oshawa Generals (OHL) this season. Scott Wheeler at The Athletic ranks him No. 10 but with an up arrow (see the quote below). The Hockey News also has him ranked tenth, while McKeen’s has him ranked fourth overall.
Ritchie finds ways to get the puck a lot and then tends to do a lot with it. He plays a magnetic game, mesmerizing with his hands (he’s lethal on breakaways/in the shootout) and his ability to finesse pucks into spots for himself or his linemates to skate onto. He is one of the craftier offensive players to come through in a few years. And while he still looks a little skinny and has some work to do in the gym, he’s slick in traffic, he slides through seams under sticks and rotates through coverage or away from checks beautifully. He takes smart routes with the puck to the interior, and he’s got superb puck control skills. I would have liked to see him fill the score sheet a little more than he did last year, but he has looked the part whenever I’ve watched him and I expect a big uptick in his production this year.
Matthew Wood, C/RW
Wood is a big body (6-3, 195) who will play at the University of Connecticut this season. That NCAA experience will be helpful in evaluating a player who had a marvelous 2021-22 season. Scott Wheeler at The Athletic has him ranked ninth overall (see quote below). The Hockey News has him fifth overall. McKeen’s, meanwhile, did not rank him in their top 16 this summer.
One of my early favorites, Wood led the BCHL in goals (45 in 46 games) and points (85) last year for a 1.85 points-per-game clip that stands as the most productive 16-year-old season in the league. decades, besting Alex Newhook (1.47), Kyle Turris (1.26), Tyson Jost (0.98), and Kent Johnson (0.81) — while being four months younger than Johnson was at the time. Wood is a rangy, goal-scoring forward who has silky hands for his size (considering the long stick he uses, he’s got great control on the toe of his blade out wide and the heel in tight to his feet), a marksman’s shot inside the offensive zone (both through a natural shooting motion and his one-timer), and a sixth sense for arriving around the net/slot at the right time. He’s got quick hands one-on-one, he drops pucks back into his shooting stance quickly and effortlessly, and he’s got a beautiful curl-and-drag motion. There’s work to do to get a little quicker from a standstill, but he’s better suited as a playmaker than a power forward type anyways. Especially with the way he slows down the game, adjusts and maneuvers his frame and shades pucks. He’s able to play the game his way.
Dalibor Dvorsky, C
Dvorsky (6-1, 190) is another playmaking center who could be a consideration. He’s widely considered in play for a team with a top-five pick and the rankings love him coming off the strongest draft in Slovak history; he could be the next in the line of Slovak players to earn a high draft pick. He’s ranked fifth overall by McKeen’s (see quote below), fifth by Scott Wheeler The Athleticand sixth by The Hockey News.
The keys to Dvorsky’s success are his high-end IQ and vision. He is a player who rarely makes a bad play with the puck. His poise in the offensive zone is extremely impressive for such a young player. However, as much as Dvorsky excels as a playmaker, he is also a skilled finisher who can be a big-time weapon on the powerplay. Just how high Dvorsky can go in 2023 will depend on the development of his physical tools to match his frame. Scouts will be looking for him to get stronger on and off the puck and to become more explosive as a skater. Much like Fantilli and Ritchie before him, Dvorsky has the potential to be a dominant two-way center.