Blackhawks Fans Quick Guide to the NHL Draft

The 2025 NHL Entry Draft is finally here. This weekend, Los Angeles will host all seven rounds as hundreds of young hockey players will have a dream fulfilled by getting drafted by an NHL team. This is the first draft that is not centrally located. All 32 teams will be drafted from their war rooms, rather than on the floor in Los Angeles. There are already rumblings that this format will be one-and-done, with the entire league getting together again next year.

The Chicago Blackhawks expect to be busy over the draft weekend. They currently have 10 picks, but as we’ve seen in the past, Kyle Davidson is likely to be aggressive. Will there be a big trade? Will they move up? All of that is on the table. This year’s draft could be one of the wildest we’ve seen in years.

How to Watch the NHL Draft

The Peacock Theater in Los Angeles will be hosting the NHL Entry Draft this season. Many of the top prospects will be in attendance to hear their names called. With the general managers staying home, it sounds like the teams will have special guests announce their picks. The San Jose Sharks announced WWE superstar Bayley will announce their first-round picks, and stand-up comic Nikki Glaser will do the same for the St. Louis Blues.

ESPN has the coverage for the entire weekend. Round 1 will go on the air at 6 p.m. CT. The broadcast team for Friday night includes John Buccigross. Kevin Weekes, Emily Kaplan, Leah Hextall, and Meghan Chayka. Saturday’s coverage begins at 11 a.m. CT and will be shown on ESPN+ and the NHL Network.

Blackhawks Draft Picks

As of Thursday afternoon, here are the draft picks the Blackhawks have. It is unlikely that they will stand pat and make all these picks in these slots, but this is what they are starting with. The fun will begin with who the Sharks take at No. 2. Will it be Michael Misa or Anton Frondell?

Round 1 – No. 3
Round 1 – No. 25 (From Toronto Maple Leafs in trade for Jake McCabe/Sam Lafferty)
Round 2 – No. 34
Round 2 – No. 62 (From the Dallas Stars in the trade for Max Domi)
Round 3 – No. 66
Round 4 – No. 98
Round 4 – 107 (From the New York Rangers in trade for Patrick Kane)
Round 6 – 162
Round 7 – 194
Round 7 – 197 (From Boston Bruins in trade for Victor Soderstrom)

Blackhawks Draft Profiles

I spent the last month compiling profiles on some of the prospects the Blackhawks are likely to target in the first round.

Matthew Schaefer         
Michael Misa
James Hagens
Porter Martone
Anton Frondell
Caleb Desnoyers
Jack Nesbitt
Cullen Potter
Daniil Prokhorov
Malcolm Spence
Milton Gastrin
Will Horcoff
Václav Nestrašil