The Blackhawks are set to make history Tuesday by using the No. 17 overall pick in the NHL draft for the first time in franchise history.
It’s the fourth straight year the Blackhawks will have a first-round selection after they didn’t have one for 2015 or 2016. Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman has picked close to No. 17 before with three picks all on forwards: No. 18s Mark McNeill in 2011 and Teuvo Teravainen in 2012 and No. 20 Nick Schmaltz in 2014. Both McNeill and Teravainen were Chicago’s own pick, while Bowman traded up seven spots with San Jose to acquire the pick to select Schmaltz.