Blackhawks: Kyle Davidson open to trading 2023 first-round NHL draft pick

Kyle Davidson on Blackhawks timeline & the 2023 NHL draft | Mully & Haugh

The Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson is willing to trade the team’s first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. The Blackhawks currently hold several valuable draft picks, including two first-round picks (No. 1 and No. 19) and four second-rounders in this year’s draft.

The first-round draft pick is usually considered the most valuable asset in the entire draft. It gives a team a chance to select a top-tier prospect who could potentially impact their future success.

Trading a first-round pick is a move that requires careful consideration. Teams may choose to trade a first-round pick if they believe they can get a better deal by acquiring players who can immediately fill gaps in their roster.

Although it remains to be seen whether the Blackhawks will indeed trade their first-round pick, their willingness to consider trading their first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft indicates they are pursuing all available options to ensure the team’s long-term success.

Exploring possibilities

During an interview with sports talk radio show Mully & Haugh on 670 the Score, Davidson expressed that the team is actively exploring the possibility of trading up in the draft.

Davidson believes that the caliber of players the team acquires will ultimately determine their success. He also recognized that securing a higher draft position offers a greater chance of acquiring a talented player.

“It’s definitely something we’re exploring,” Davidson said. “I think the level of success we reach will be dictated by the level of player we can acquire. And logic dictates that the higher you are in the draft, the better chance you have of getting a good player. And so we’re going to explore the opportunities available to us to potentially move up again.”

With four second-round picks, it would make sense for the Blackhawks to try and maneuver their way into the first round of the upcoming NHL entry draft. This year’s draft class is expected to be particularly talented at the top, featuring notable prospects such as Regina Pats’ captain Connor Bedard, University of Michigan’s forward Adam Fantilli, and SKA Saint Petersburg’s winger Matvei Michkov.

Bedard has actually been the center of attention during Chicago’s offseason, with much discussion centered around his potential impact on the team. As the Blackhawks have been awarded the first overall pick in the draft, they now have the opportunity to select Bedard. The Canadian center is widely regarded as one of the most talented prospects in recent memory, rivaling even the likes of Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid.

Aside from Bedard’s potential, Davidson also acknowledged the team’s choice, saying that Chicago may not need to use all their picks in the first three rounds.

“We’ve got eight picks in the first three rounds of the draft, which is a lot,” Davidson said. “And I will concede that that’s a lot. I think it’s probably unlikely that we make all those picks.”

Davidson said that the team is currently considering several options, although the exact strategy has yet to be decided.

“So how that manifests itself, whether it’s in a move up, whether we move some picks for future picks or something like that. You know, that remains to be seen. But that’s a lot of picks.”

The 2023 NHL Draft is scheduled on June 28–29 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.