Blackhawks and Islanders swap 2024 first-round picks

The Blackhawks and Islanders are making an unusually early pick swap ahead of the 2024 draft. Chicago has acquired the Islanders’ first- and second-round picks (18th and 50th overall), while the Islanders receive the 20th overall selection (originally owned by the Lightning) and a pair of second-round picks (54th and 61st overall, previously acquired from the Kings and Canucks).

It’s unclear whether this is a precursor to a bigger move for either club. The Blackhawks had acquired the 20th overall pick from Tampa back in March 2022 as part of the return for winger Brandon Hagel. The 54th overall pick, originally slated for the Kings, was transferred to the Flyers in last year’s Ivan Provorov three-team deal before being flipped to the Blackhawks in a pick swap a few weeks later at the 2023 draft. Meanwhile, Chicago acquired the 61st pick along with center Jason Dickinson from the Canucks in exchange for defenseman Riley Stillman in October 2022.

All in all, the Hawks will move up two spots in the first round and four spots in the second at the expense of the 61st overall pick.

Chicago also owns the second overall selection in next month’s draft after winning the second lottery draw to retain the pick. After picking up Calder Trophy finalist Connor Bedard with the first-overall selection last year, they’re expected to select either Russian winger Ivan Demidov or Belarusian defenseman Artyom Levshunov with their lottery pick this year.

The full draft order won’t be locked in until after the Stanley Cup Final ends, but Chicago drops to eight total selections from nine with today’s trade. They now own two first-rounders (2nd, 18th), two second-rounders (34th, 50th), two third-rounders (67th, 72nd), a fifth (138th) and a sixth-round pick (163rd). The Islanders move up to six total selections from five, now boasting the 20th, 54th, 61st, 115th, 147th and 179th overall picks.