Hockey Wilderness Community 2011 NHL Mock Draft: Chicago Blackhawks

The Habs have a strong core of prospects in the forward ranks. This is a nice problem to have, but it turns out, there are other positions on the ice. With just one defensive prospect in their top ten, the Habs need to focus a bit on the back end of the ice. Turns out, the community agreed, and have added a defensemen to the Habs pool, going with Jamie Oleksiak to ensure there is at least some semblance of talent on the blue line.

With the pick, the list of top end talent shrinks a bit more, and our mock draft looks like this:

1. Edmonton Oilers: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
2. Colorado Avalanche: Gabriel Landeskog
3. Florida Panthers: Adam Larsson
4. New Jersey Devils: Sean Couturier
5. New York Islanders: Jonathan Huberdeau
6. Ottawa Senators: Ryan Strome
7. Winnipeg: Mika Zibanejad
8. Columbus Blue Jackets: Dougie Hamilton
9. Boston Bruins: Ryan Murphy
10. Minnesota Wild: Sven Bartschi
11. Colorado Avalanche: Duncan Siemens
12. Carolina Hurricanes: Mark McNeill
13. Calgary Flames: Joel Armia
14. Dallas Stars: Zack Phillips
15. New York Rangers: Mark Scheifele 
16. Buffalo Sabres: Nathan Beaulieu
17. Montreal Canadiens: Jamie Oleksiak

Next up, the Chicago Blackhawks, who could use some young, cheap talent. 

Should we get into who The Hockey News ranks as the Blackhawks' top prospect? I think we shouldn't and we should just move on before anymore heads explode from thinking or discussing it. In fact, let's just pretend like the whole thing never happened.

Moving past the top prospect in the system, the Hawks still have several defensemen ready, as well as players like Kyle Beach, Jeremy Morin, Marcus Kruger, and Bradon Pirri. The mix inside the Hawks organization is a good mix of blueline and forwards, without a top goalie prospect to speak of. Oh. Wait. They have Corey Crawford. Never mind.

Can they please just take Cam Barker back? Please?

They get a pick, I guess. Though they shouldn't. Cast your vote, and make your case.