Hawks looking for a center from first round of draft
The fact the Blackhawks have the 28th selection in the first round of Friday's NHL entry draft in Montreal should be considered a good thing.
While picking near the top of the draft is fun, racking up 104 points during the regular season and advancing to the Western Conference finals as the Hawks did is much more desirable.
The Hawks haven't picked higher than 11th in the last five drafts, getting the likes of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Cam Barker, Jack Skille and Kyle Beach. This is the lowest the Hawks have ever picked in the first round.
"We're not going to get the same player as we would at one, three or five, but we're going to get a good player," Hawks general manager Dale Tallon said. "It's a pretty good draft. There are a lot of good players between five and 50. "Obviously, we're going to stick with our philosophy of size, speed and character."
If the Hawks get what they want, it will be a center. With Toews and Dave Bolland already established as NHL players after being drafted in 2006 and 2004, respectively, there's a bit of a hole in the organization down the middle.
"I don't know if we're thin at center, but we're young," Tallon said. "(Evan) Brophey and Nathan Davis are still a little bit away. I'd like to get deeper at center.
"When you're picking 28th, if two guys are equal then you look at your depth chart. I'd like to get a center or a defenseman."
It's difficult to project what players might be available that late in the first round, but two mock drafts have the Hawks taking a center.
A player that likely interests the Hawks is center Drew Shore, a 6-foot-2, 198-pounder who played for the U.S. national development team. The International Scouting Service ranks Shore the 14th best player in the draft while The Hockey News puts him at 23, so it's questionable he'll be on the board at 28. Various scouts say Shore is a good skater and forechecker but more or an energy-type forward than a scorer.
Several other centers that might be available to the Hawks at No. 28 are Kyle Palmieri of the U.S. national development team, Louis LeBlanc out of Omaha in the U.S. Hockey League, Swede Marcus Johansson, Richard Panik of Slovakia, Rimouski's Jordan Caron and Kingston's Ethan Werek.
The only thing Tallon knows for sure is the Hawks won't be taking a goaltender in the first round.
"I don't think we'd go that way," Tallon said. "We like what we've got coming."
The Hawks have seven selections in the two-day draft. Rounds two through seven take place Saturday.
Meanwhile, Tallon was supposed to meet Wednesday with Allan Walsh, the agent for Martin Havlat. Tallon remains hopeful that Havlat can be re-signed before July 1 when he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Havlat himself gave Hawks fans hope on Wednesday when he twittered from his home in the Czech Republic his desire to remain in Chicago.
"I had some meetings with my agent in Prague the last few days and he is on the way to (Montreal)," Havlat wrote. "He will meet with Dale (Wednesday). Everyone should know I am only thinking about signing with Chicago. It's where I want to be."
As for Chris Chelios, who was told by the Detroit Red Wings he would not be re-signed, he told a news conference Wednesday in Detroit he would prefer to play in the Eastern Conference because of easier travel.
Chelios becomes a free agent July 1 and it's not known what the market will be for the 47-year-old defenseman. It does not appear the Hawks have serious interest in Chelios, although Tallon said he might make a phone call.