Chicago's four second-round picks
The Blackhawks had an extremely busy start to the second day of the 2023 NHL Draft.
Chicago started Thursday morning with four second-round picks in the 2023 NHL Draft. Here's what happened with them:
Round 2, Pick 35: Goaltender Adam Gajan
Gajan is a 6-foot-3, 176-pound native of Slovakia who made the move to North America last year and soared up draft boards with an excellent season in the USHL, playing for Chippewa and Green Bay. He played well enough that Slovakia added Gajan to its roster for the World Juniors and was named the top goaltender at that tournament, bosting a 2-2 record, 2.40 goals-against average and .936 save percentage in four games. In 34 games with Chippewa, Gajan posted numbers of 19-12-1, 2.57 and .917, respectively.
The next step of his hockey career will take him up north to the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Welcome to Chicago, Adam 👋 pic.twitter.com/2ity7gwGcJ — Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 29, 2023
Adam Gajan is the first goalie off the board. Incredible athlete and he came out of nowhere to be a top-tier goalie prospect. Here's my story about how he was brought to North America this year from the WJC https://t.co/JbDadjTXEQ — Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) June 29, 2023
Round 2, Pick 44: Roman Kantserov
Chicago's fondness for players who can skate continued into the second round, with the selection of this smaller Russian forward (5-9, 176 pounds) who makes up for that deficiency with blazing speed. In 45 games with Magnitogorsk in the MHL (the Russian equivalent of the AHL), Kansterov posted 56 points (28 G, 28 A) in 47 games.
Roman the Draft floor 🤩 pic.twitter.com/8D7noK6782 — Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 29, 2023
At No. 44, the Blackhawks select Russian winger Roman Kantserov. https://t.co/eqdsBOTsrX pic.twitter.com/plZZsjtwn2 — Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) June 29, 2023
Surprise surprise, Kantserov is apparently known for his skating and speed. Undersized at 5-9. He had 54 points in 45 games for Magnitogorsk in Russia's second division. — Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) June 29, 2023
At least one of the draft models out there had Kantserov ranked much higher than his No. 44 selection:
#Blackhawks select Roman Kantserov 44th. I ranked him 20th.
Top remaining forwards:
1. Riley Heidt (15th)
2. Koehn Ziemmer (16th)
3. Aydar Suniev (30th)
Top remaining defensemen:
1. Lukas Dragicevic (14th)
2. Luca Cagnoni (23rd)
3. Etienne Morin (27th) pic.twitter.com/0m73IeOmJR — Patrick Bacon (@TopDownHockey) June 29, 2023
Round 2, Pick 51: A trade!
Chicago did not make a selection with this second-round pick, shipping it to Philadelphia, which used the pick on goaltender Carson Bjarnason:
TRADE
To CHI
2024 2nd round pick (LAK)
2023 6th round pick (PHI #167)
To PHI
2023 2nd round pick (TBL #51)https://t.co/SF4vWmU61f — CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) June 29, 2023
Round 2, Pick 55: Forward Martin Misiak
Chicago's third pick of the second round was used on another Slovakian player: Martin Misiak, a 6-2, 194-pound center. Misiak started last season in his native Slovakia and then joined the USHL's Youngstown Phantoms, helping them lift the Clark Cup. Misiak had 17 points (6 G, 11 A) in 27 regular-season games with Youngstown but picked up that production with 10 points (2 G, 8 A) in nine playoff games. Misiak also skated in three games without tallying a point for Slovakia in the World Juniors.
Misiak has decent size, as detailed above, but – like virtually every other Blackhawks pick in this draft – every scouting report praises his skating ability.
We have picked, Martin 😁 pic.twitter.com/JDjhI1rdEf — Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 29, 2023
At No. 55, the Blackhawks take USHL winger Martin Misiak. pic.twitter.com/KN5CPOfySq — Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) June 29, 2023
Blackhawks pick Martin Misiak took some time to adjust to the USHL when he came over mid-season, but was an integral part of their Clark Cup championship. @ryan_sikes10 got insight from Coach Ryan Ward on his value. https://t.co/eqHjm9uIkF — Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) June 29, 2023
#Blackhawks select Martin Misiak 55th. I ranked him 179th.
Top remaining forwards:
1. Riley Heidt (15th)
2. Koehn Ziemmer (16th)
3. Aydar Suniev (30th)
Top remaining defensemen:
1. Lukas Dragicevic (14th)
2. Luca Cagnoni (23rd)
3. Hunter Brzustewicz (33rd) pic.twitter.com/zf9oHate2j — Patrick Bacon (@TopDownHockey) June 29, 2023
Source: Second City Hockey
