Rating Blackhawks Draft History Great and NOT So Great Drafts (2000-2012)

This year is way too early to tell whether this is a good draft or not. But, we can go back over the past few years and see just how good or bad the drafts really were.

Let's start off with the 2000 Draft

Grade:  F

2000 Entry
Draft	Num.	Round	Player	Pos	Drafted From	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2000 Entry	10	1	Mikhail Yakubov	C	Tolyatti-2	53	2	10	12	20
2000 Entry	11	1	Pavel Vorobiev	R	Yaroslavl Torpedo [Russia]	57	10	15	25	38
2000 Entry	49	2	Jonas Nordquist	C	Leksands IF [SEL]	3	0	2	2	2
2000 Entry	74	3	Igor Radulov	L	Yaroslavl Torpedo [Russia]	43	9	7	16	22
2000 Entry	106	4	Scotty Balan	D	Regina Pats [WHL]
2000 Entry	117	4	Olli Malmivaara	D	Jokerit Helsinki [SM-liiga]	2	0	0	0	0
2000 Entry	151	5	Alexander Barkunov	D	Yaroslavl Torpedo [Russia]
2000 Entry	177	6	Mike Ayers	G	Dubuque Fighting Saints [USHL]
2000 Entry	193	6	Joey Martin	D	Omaha Lancers [USHL]
2000 Entry	207	7	Cliff Loya	D	U. of Maine [H-East]
2000 Entry	225	7	Vladislav Luchkin	C	Cherepovets Jr. (Russia)
2000 Entry	240	8	Adam Berkhoel	G	Twin City Vulcans [USHL]	9	0	0	0	0
2000 Entry	262	9	Peter Flache	C	Guelph Storm [OHL]
2000 Entry	271	9	Reto Von Arx	L	Davos [Swiss-A]	19	3	1	4	4
2000 Entry	291	9	Arne Ramholt	D	Kloten [Swiss-A]

There wasn't ONE player in that draft that amounted to crap. Not one player played more than 57 games in the NHL.


2001 Draft: C-

2001 Entry
Draft	Num.	Round	Player	Pos	Drafted From	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2001 Entry	9	1	Tuomo Ruutu	C	Jokerit Helsinki [SM-liiga]	549	133	175	308	516
2001 Entry	29	1	Adam Munro	G	Erie Otters [OHL]	17	0	1	1	2
2001 Entry	59	2	Matt Keith	C	Spokane Chiefs [WHL]	27	2	3	5	14
2001 Entry	73	3	Craig Anderson	G	Guelph Storm [OHL]	318	0	11	11	46
2001 Entry	104	4	Brent MacLellan	D	Rimouski Oceanic [QMJHL]
2001 Entry	115	4	Vladimir Gusev	D	Khabarovsk Amur [Russia]
2001 Entry	119	4	Alexei Zotkin	L	Magnitogorsk Metallurg [Russia]
2001 Entry	142	5	Tommi Jaminki	R	Blues Jrs (Finland)
2001 Entry	174	6	Alexander Golovin	L	Omsk Jrs. (Russia)
2001 Entry	186	6	Petr Puncochar	D	Karlovy Vary HC [Czech]
2001 Entry	205	7	Teemu Jaaskelainen	D	Ilves Jrs (Finland)
2001 Entry	216	7	Oleg Minakov	F	Elektrostal (Russia)
2001 Entry	268	9	Jeff Miles	R	U. of Vermont [ECAC]

The Blackhawks traded Craig Anderson and Tuomo Ruuto away. Craig Anderson is now one of the top goaltenders in the league, and Ruutu will rack up more fights than goals. Ruutu would have been lucky to be a 5th rounder if drafted now.


2002 Draft: B+

2002 Entry
Draft	Num.	Round	Player	Pos	Drafted From	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2002 Entry	21	1	Anton Babchuk	D	Elemash Elektrostal (Russia)	289	36	71	107	108
2002 Entry	54	2	Duncan Keith	D	Michigan State University [CCHA]	607	59	250	309	417
2002 Entry	93	3	Alexander Kozhevnikov	F	Krylja Jr. (Russia)
2002 Entry	128	4	Matt Ellison	C	Cowichan Valley Capitals [BCHL]	43	3	11	14	19
2002 Entry	156	5	James Wisniewski	D	Plymouth Whalers [OHL]	407	38	151	189	354
2002 Entry	188	6	Kevin Kantee	D	Jokerit Jrs (Finland)
2002 Entry	219	7	Tyson Kellerman	G	North Bay Centennials [OHL]
2002 Entry	251	8	Jason Kostadine	R	Hull Olympiques [QMJHL]
2002 Entry	282	9	Adam Burish	C	Green Bay Gamblers [USHL]	343	26	31	57	515

Duncan Keith has turned into a staple at defense for the Hawks and you can add Norris Trophy Winner to that status, also.  Babchuck has barely stuck in the NHL and isn't worthy of a first round status. James Wisniewski is a beast. He is the big hit-man in Columbus now with a big paycheck after his name. Burish has made himself into a solid 4th line center man and he is every bit the agitator that was sold on him.


2003 Draft: A-

2003 Entry
Draft	Num.	Round	Player	Pos	Drafted From	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2003 Entry	14	1	Brent Seabrook	D	Lethbridge Hurricanes [WHL]	599	56	190	246	467
2003 Entry	52	2	Corey Crawford	G	Moncton Wildcats [QMJHL]	152	0	1	1	6
2003 Entry	59	2	Michal Barinka	D	Ceske Budejovice HC [Czech]	34	0	2	2	26
2003 Entry	151	5	Lasse Kukkonen	D	Karpat [SM-liiga]	159	6	16	22	90
2003 Entry	156	5	Alexei Ivanov	L	Yaroslavl Jrs. (Russia)
2003 Entry	181	6	Johan Andersson	C	Troja (Sweden)
2003 Entry	211	7	Mike Brodeur	G	Camrose Kodiaks [AJHL]	7	0	0	0	0
2003 Entry	245	8	Dustin Byfuglien	D	Prince George Cougars [WHL]	450	95	148	243	467
2003 Entry	275	9	Michael Grenzy	D	Chicago Steel [USHL]
2003 Entry	282	9	Chris Porter	L	Lincoln Stars [USHL]	127	10	14	24	27

Brent Seabrook, Corey Crawford are two reasons why the Hawks are Stanley Cup Champions. Seabrook has been a blue line beast for the past 8 years. Corey had to earn his stripes. In addition, the Hawks had Dustin Byfuglien who was one of the reasons the Hawks won in 2010.


2004 Draft: B+

2004 Entry
Draft	Num.	Round	Player	Pos	Drafted From	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2004 Entry	3	1	Cam Barker	D	Medicine Hat Tigers [WHL]	310	21	75	96	290
2004 Entry	32	2	Dave Bolland	C	London Knights [OHL]	332	70	98	168	211
2004 Entry	41	2	Bryan Bickell	L	Ottawa 67's [OHL]	220	40	50	90	120
2004 Entry	45	2	Ryan Garlock	C	Windsor Spitfires [OHL]
2004 Entry	54	2	Jakub Sindel	C	Sparta Praha [Czech]
2004 Entry	68	3	Adam Berti	L	Oshawa Generals [OHL]	2	0	0	0	0
2004 Entry	120	4	Mitch Maunu	D	Windsor Spitfires [OHL]
2004 Entry	123	4	Karel Hromas	L	Sparta Jrs. (Czech Rep)
2004 Entry	131	5	Trevor Kell	R	London Knights [OHL]
2004 Entry	140	5	Jake Dowell	C	U. of Wisconsin [WCHA]	156	11	22	33	133
2004 Entry	165	6	Scott McCulloch	L	Grande Prairie Storm [AJHL]
2004 Entry	196	7	Petri Kontiola	C	Tappara Tampere [SM-liiga]	12	0	5	5	6
2004 Entry	214	7	Troy Brouwer	L	Moose Jaw Warriors [WHL]	367	86	83	169	250
2004 Entry	223	7	Jared Walker	L	Red Deer Rebels [WHL]
2004 Entry	229	8	Eric Hunter	C	Prince George Cougars [WHL]
2004 Entry	256	8	Matthew Ford	R	Sioux Falls Stampede [USHL]
2004 Entry	260	9	Marko Anttila	R	Lempaala (Finland)

Cam Barker was...and still is.....SHIT.
However, The Hawks have gotten great production from Bolland, Bickell and had a wonderful run with Troy Brouwer back in 2010. Jake Dowell was....ahhh,...uhmm....."serviceable". So overall, a decent draft.


2005 Draft: C-

2005 Entry
Draft	Num.	Round	Player	Pos	Drafted From	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2005 Entry	7	1	Jack Skille	R	U.S. Junior National Team [Intl]	178	20	29	49	73
2005 Entry	43	2	Mike Blunden	R	Erie Otters [OHL]	95	4	4	8	100
2005 Entry	54	2	Dan Bertram	R	Boston College [H-East]
2005 Entry	68	3	Evan Brophey	C	Belleville Bulls [OHL]	4	0	0	0	0
2005 Entry	108	4	Niklas Hjalmarsson	D	HV71 Jonkoping [SEL]	306	9	47	56	108
2005 Entry	113	4	Nathan Davis	C	Miami University (Ohio) [CCHA]
2005 Entry	117	4	Denis Istomin	R	Cherepovets Jr. (Russia)
2005 Entry	134	5	Brennan Turner	D	Notre Dame Hounds [SJHL]
2005 Entry	167	6	Joe Fallon	G	U. of Vermont [ECAC]
2005 Entry	188	6	Joe Charlebois	D	Sioux City Musketeers [USHL]
2005 Entry	202	7	David Kuchejda	R	Budejovice Jrs (Czech Rep.)
2005 Entry	203	7	Adam Hobson	C	Spokane Chiefs [WHL]

It's hard to say the draft was a bust when they Have Niklas  Hjalmarsson on the team the past 4 seasons. He is a solid 2nd core defenseman and will have a job in the NHL for some time. I think Jack Skille is completely a bust. He's struggling in Florida, as well.


2006 Draft: B

2006 Entry
Draft	Num.	Round	Player	Pos	Drafted From	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2006 Entry	3	1	Jonathan Toews	C	U. of North Dakota [WCHA]	408	167	205	372	223
2006 Entry	33	2	Igor Makarov	R	Krylja-2 [Russia]
2006 Entry	61	2	Simon Danis-Pepin	D	U. of Maine [H-East]
2006 Entry	76	3	Tony Lagerstrom	C	Sodertalje Jrs [Sweden]
2006 Entry	95	4	Ben Shutron	D	Kingston Frontenacs [OHL]
2006 Entry	96	4	Joe Palmer	G	US National Under 18 Team
2006 Entry	156	6	Jan-Mikael Juutilainen	F	Jokerit Jrs (Finland)
2006 Entry	169	6	Chris Auger	C	Wellington Dukes [OPJHL]
2006 Entry	186	7	Peter Leblanc	C	Hamilton Red Wings [OPJHL]

Outside of Jonathan Toews, (which is an A+), the rest of the draft is a bust. Simon Danis-Pepin had promise,...but never amounted to crap.


2007 Draft: B+

2007 Entry
Draft	Num.	Round	Player	Pos	Drafted From	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2007 Entry	1	1	Patrick Kane	R	London Knights [OHL]	446	149	275	424	190
2007 Entry	38	2	Billy Sweatt	L	Colorado College [WCHA]	3	0	0	0	0
2007 Entry	56	2	Akim Aliu	R	Sudbury Wolves [OHL]	7	2	1	3	26
2007 Entry	69	3	Maxime Tanguay	C	Rimouski Oceanic [QMJHL]
2007 Entry	86	3	Josh Unice	G	US National Under 18 Team
2007 Entry	126	5	Joe Lavin	D	US National Under 18 Team
2007 Entry	156	6	Richard Greenop	R	Windsor Spitfires [OHL]

Outside of Patrick Kane (who also is an A+), the rest of the draft had a bit of promise, (Lavin, Tanguay, Aliu, Sweatt), but no one has done anything. Kane.....2 time Stanley Cup Champion, Calder Cup winner, every year an all-star and this years Conn Smythe winner.....that is all.


2008 Draft: D- 

2008 Entry
Draft	Num.	Round	Player	Pos	Drafted From	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2008 Entry	11	1	Kyle Beach	L	Everett Silvertips [WHL]
2008 Entry	68	3	Shawn Lalonde	D	Belleville Bulls [OHL]	1	0	0	0	0
2008 Entry	132	5	Teigan Zahn	D	Saskatoon Blades [WHL]
2008 Entry	162	6	Jonathan Carlsson	D	Brynas IF Gavle [SEL]
2008 Entry	169	6	Ben Smith	R	Boston College [H-East]	20	4	0	4	0
2008 Entry	179	6	Braden Birch	D	Oakville Blades [OPJHL]
2008 Entry	192	7	Joe Gleason	D	Edina H.S. (Minn.)

Tons of promise but nothing yet. Ben Smith has the best chance followed by Kyle Beach. Carlsson and Gleason will by AHLers and Lalonde gave up and went to Germany.

2009 Draft: C-

2009 Entry
Draft	Num.	Round	Player	Pos	Drafted From	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2009 Entry	28	1	Dylan Olsen	D	Camrose Kodiaks [AJHL]	28	0	1	1	6
2009 Entry	59	2	Brandon Pirri	C	Georgetown Raiders [OJHL]	7	0	2	2	0
2009 Entry	89	3	Daniel Delisle	W	Totino Grace H.S. (Minn.)
2009 Entry	119	4	Byron Froese	C	Everett Silvertips [WHL]
2009 Entry	149	5	Marcus Kruger	C	Djurgarden Jrs. (Sweden)	125	13	26	39	50
2009 Entry	177	6	David Pacan	R	Cumberland Grads [CJHL]
2009 Entry	195	7	Paul Phillips	D	Cedar Rapids RoughRiders [USHL]
2009 Entry	209	7	David Gilbert	C	Quebec Remparts [QMJHL]

I would have given this a lower grade if it wasn't for Brandon Pirri and Marcus Kruger. Dylan Olsen isn't progressing enough to crack the Hawks roster.


2010 Draft: B-

2010 Entry
Draft	Num.	Round	Player	Pos	Drafted From	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2010 Entry	24	1	Kevin Hayes	F	Nobles School [Mass.]
2010 Entry	35	2	Ludvig Rensfeldt	L	Brynas Jrs. (Sweden)
2010 Entry	54	2	Justin Holl	D	Minnetonka H.S. [Minn.]
2010 Entry	58	2	Kent Simpson	G	Everett Silvertips [WHL]
2010 Entry	60	2	Stephen Johns	D	U.S. National Development Team [USHL]
2010 Entry	90	3	Joakim Nordstrom	C	AIK Jr. (Sweden)
2010 Entry	120	4	Rob Flick	C	Mississauga St. Michael's Majors [OHL]
2010 Entry	151	6	Mirko Hoefflin	C	Mannheim Jr. [Germany]
2010 Entry	180	6	Nick Mattson	D	Indiana Ice [USHL]
2010 Entry	191	7	Mac Carruth	G	Portland Winterhawks [WHL]

It is hard to rate this one higher than that. There are a LOT of top line prospects here. Kevin Hayes is finishing at B.C., Holl, Simpson, Johns are doing well. Flick has played well in Rockford. Mac Carruth is ready for Rockford this year. Good class, but no one's made it to the show,...yet.

2011: Draft: A+

2011 Entry
Draft	Num.	Round	Player	Pos	Drafted From	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2011 Entry	18	1	Mark McNeill	C	Prince Albert Raiders [WHL]
2011 Entry	26	1	Phillip Danault	C	Victoriaville Tigres [QMJHL]
2011 Entry	36	2	Adam Clendening	D	Boston University [H-East]
2011 Entry	43	2	Brandon Saad	L	Saginaw Spirit [OHL]	48	10	17	27	12
2011 Entry	70	3	Michael Paliotta	D	U.S. National Development Team [USHL]
2011 Entry	79	3	Klas Dahlbeck	D	Linkoping HC [SEL]
2011 Entry	109	4	Maxim Shalunov	F	Cherepovets Jr. (Russia)
2011 Entry	139	5	Andrew Shaw	C	Owen Sound Attack [OHL]	85	21	17	38	88
2011 Entry	169	6	Sam Jardine	D	Camrose Kodiaks [AJHL]
2011 Entry	199	7	Alex Broadhurst	C	Green Bay Gamblers [USHL]
2011 Entry	211	7	Johan Mattsson	G	Sodertalje Jr. [Sweden]

Wow is this a helluva draft.
Mark McNeill and Phillip Danault are vying for a spot this year. Adam Clendening played last year in Rockford and in his first year was a 2nd team All-Star. Brandon Saad was runner-up for NHL's rookie of the year. Klas Dahlbeck is on the Rockford Icehogs. Andrew Shaw has made the Hawks and has become a 3rd line centerman and can also play wing.  Alex Broadhurst is going to Rockford this year. This was an unbelievable draft.


2012 Draft: (too early to tell....but looks like a strong B+)

2012 Entry
Draft	Num.	Round	Player	Pos	Drafted From	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2012 Entry	18	1	Teuvo Teravainen	F	Jokerit Helsinki [SM-liiga]
2012 Entry	48	2	Dillon Fournier	D	Rouyn-Noranda Huskies [QMJHL]
2012 Entry	79	3	Chris Calnan	R	Nobles Prep [Mass. H.S.]
2012 Entry	139	5	Garret Ross	L	Saginaw Spirit [OHL]
2012 Entry	149	5	Travis Brown	D	Moose Jaw Warriors [WHL]
2012 Entry	169	6	Vince Hinostroza	F	Waterloo Black Hawks [USHL]
2012 Entry	191	7	Brandon Whitney	G	Victoriaville Tigres [QMJHL]
2012 Entry	199	7	Matt Tomkins	G	Sherwood Park Crusaders [AJHL]

Teravainen is as good as they say. Garret Ross is vying for Rockford this year and will be invited to the Hawks camp this year. Chris Calnan and VinnyHinostroza are quite good. Whitney is doing well. This looks like 2 straight years of great drafting.