The Chicago Blackhawks won the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery, and with that, they will have the right to select Connor Bedard at the top of the draft. Bedard has been one of the best prospects since Connor McDavid, and while it is tough to project his true NHL ceiling, he looks as promising as could be.

The term “generational talent” is thrown around too loosely, as that title only applies to players like McDavid and Sidney Crosby, but Bedard is on track to be the next name on that list. He is going to completely change the course of the Blackhawks’ rebuild, but what if the Blackhawks are looking to contend next season and decide to trade the pick?

It would take a lot more than a 1-for-1 swap with another player, but if it were to happen in this hypothetical world, there are only four players in the NHL that would be too much to offer straight up for the first pick.

A Few Words From THW’s Brooke LoFurno

Brooke LoFurno is one of the writers for the Chicago Blackhawks here at The Hockey Writers, so I asked for some of her input on this topic from the organizations’ perspective.

“With the NHL, I don’t think you can take trading a first overall pick off the table because anyone could be moved at the right price…”

We have seen this before. Most notably when Brian Burke maneuvered his way into selecting the Sedin twins with the second- and third-overall picks, which took a lot of work, including acquiring then dealing the 1999 first-overall selection.

“The thing that is getting me is that the ‘Hawks need someone like Bedard to lead them for the next 15-plus years since Kane and Toews left, so age is a factor here. Anyone pushing 30 would probably be a no-go and they have to match Bedard’s skill set with scoring, skating, IQ, etc.”

Brooke is bang-on with this analysis. With Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane’s era coming to an end, they are set to select their next franchise-altering cornerstone piece that will (hopefully, for them) lead them to another decade or more of team success.