The draft lottery wasn’t quite as favorable for the Chicago Blackhawks time around.
One year after winning a draft lottery to jump up and take Connor Bedard No. 1 overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, the Blackhawks did not have similar luck at the 2024 lottery, remaining in their No. 2 spot for the 2024 NHL Draft.
The last time the Blackhawks picked No. 2 overall was way back in 1965 when Chicago drafted Andrew Culligan. He did not play in any NHL games. Hopefully things work out better this time around.
There will be plenty of time for jockeying of positions atop draft boards in NHL war rooms over the next month-plus, but the early clubhouse leader for possible selection with that No. 2 pick in the 2024 Draft is Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov.
And, wouldn’t ya know it? We wrote him a few months ago: