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After last night’s draft lottery, the Chicago Blackhawks will officially be selecting third overall in the 2025 NHL Draft which will take place on June 27 in Los Angeles. The franchise will have made a top three selection in each of the last three drafts, with the highlight being Connor Bedard going number one overall in the 2023 draft. The team’s rebuild took a turn for the better at the end of this past season, with the youth movement in the organization making an impact down the stretch.
Chicago entered last night’s lottery with the second-best odds to win the top selection at 13.5%. Despite moving down a spot in the order with the New York Islanders making a surprise leap to win the lottery, people around the organization feel great about the spot they are in. This includes general manager Kyle Davidson, who has crushed the last few drafts since he took over in the role to steer the ship in this rebuild.
Chicago Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson “excited” about the 3rd pick
Davidson spoke to the media after it was announced that Chicago would be drafting third overall this season, and he was in a very positive mood while doing so. A couple of things in this lottery were different than those of the last few years, including the surprise jump from the Islanders and the fact that the drawing was done live for the first time ever.
“I thought it was kind of exciting,” Davidson said. “The last couple years haven’t been necessarily like chalk, but teams close to the top of the odds have moved up or stayed the same, so it was kind of exciting from that standpoint. Third overall, we’re going to get a great player. I’m excited to head into meetings next week with our amateur group and start the process of nailing down where we want to line up the board and what it looks like. We stayed in good range where I think we’re going to be really excited with what we end up with.”
As Davidson mentioned, the Blackhawks are getting a fantastic player with this selection. Their prospect pool is only going to get better after this pick, which is the biggest positive to take away at the end of the day. Six of the eight first round picks that Davidson has made in the last three years were with the team at some point this past season, and that number will only grow more this year.
This pick for Kyle Davidson is another huge piece in the rebuild
After getting much needed help on the blue line in last year’s draft with the selection of Artyom Levshunov number two overall, it is likely that Chicago will take a forward with the third overall pick in June. They will have plenty of options, but any choice will be great in helping guys like Bedard and Frank Nazar down the road.
Even though this pick shouldn’t start the season with the team, their progress will be monitored closely to potentially sign their entry level deal at the end of the campaign. This will be different from the previous two top picks, as Bedard made his NHL debut right away in 2023, and Levshunov began his career in Rockford this past season before getting called up with 18 games left to play in the year.
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TODAY'S BEST
Latest comments hint Penguins will part ways with franchise cornerstone
As the Pittsburgh Penguins approach a new season with an eye on the future, their relationship with Evgeni Malkin, one of their longest-tenured legends, is already under fire. When Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas spoke to the media ahead of training camp getting underway on Friday, one of the first questions he was asked was about Malkin's contract. The upcoming 2025-26 season will mark a career milestone for the 39-year-old Russian-born superstar. Malkin is preparing to play in his 20th NHL season, but he's also well aware he's in the final year of a four-year contract he signed in July 2022. But based on the comments from both sides, it certainly sounds as if there's uncertainty about how much longer Malkin will remain in Pittsburgh. Penguins GM Kyle Dubas comments on Evgeni Malkin "He’s in a great mood every day,” Dubas said in reference to Malkin. “No change on [the contract] front. I spoke with him and [agent J.P. Barry] in the summer when stuff started percolating there. At the time in every one of their careers, I’ll sit when time permits," he added. Most of what Dubas said comes off as a typical statement from a general manager wanting to stay noncommittal while also avoiding alienating a star player. However, what Malkin said leads fans to believe he has every intention on continuing his career beyond this coming season. Evgeni Malkin speaks out ahead of contract year Malkin seems to understand the Penguins' situation, but that doesn't necessarily mean he will bow out gracefully and have his final year in Pittsburgh be his last in the NHL. "I understand it's maybe last year, maybe two more years. I need to just play fan. Because I play my whole life, why not just two more years? It’s so much better when the team wins. The last three years, we missed playoffs; it’s the worst feeling, you know?" said Malkin. The problem with that may be that he's unlikely to fit into Dubas' plans. Fully aware that it may take time to make the Penguins a contender again, Dubas spent most of last year selling off talent in hopes of rebuilding the roster. Even so, most don't expect Pittsburgh to contend unless somehow the only Penguin with a legacy greater than Malkin's in Sidney Crosby performs to a level that rivals his MVP seasons. Where does Evgeni Malkin fit into the Penguins' plan? If the Penguins are still stuck in a rebuilding mode, where does an aging and declining player fit into that equation, if anywhere at all? Of course, a lot of what happens may depend on how much production Malkin can still provide the current iteration of the team. Last season, Malkin registered only 16 goals and 50 points in 68 games, his lowest outputs in a season with at least 60 games played in both categories since 2018-19. And for the most glaring statistic, Malkin was a -24, the second worst +/- of his career. While Malkin will be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame and likely honored with his No. 71 retired by Pittsburgh, it's very possible Dubas will be able to find a younger, and maybe cheaper, player who can match or exceed his production. Regardless of what the future holds, Malkin's legacy as is set. The three-time Stanley Cup champion has 514 goals and 1,346 points. He's also a seven-time NHL All-Star and a Conn Smythe and Hart Trophy winner as the MVP of a postseason and a regular season among his many accolades. When it comes to Malkin and the Penguins, stay tuned.
Liam Doyle Makes a Dazzling Debut for the Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals’ 2025 season saw the arrival of highly-touted prospect Liam Doyle. He wasted no time making an impact. The left-handed pitcher selected fifth overall in the 2025 MLB Draft, has swiftly moved through the Cardinals’ minor league system. Furthermore, he has showcased the high-octane stuff that made him a top-five pick. Doyle, known for his “fiery competitiveness” and “swing and miss stuff,” was a standout at the University of Tennessee, where he was named the 2025 Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year. His college career was marked by a remarkable strikeout rate. Impressively, he shattered Tennessee’s single-season strikeout record. This dominance continued as he transitioned to professional baseball. Doyle Impressive in Debut The 21-year-old southpaw began his professional career with a debut for the Single-A Palm Beach Cardinals. In his first outing, he recorded three strikeouts over 1 2/3 innings, signaling his ability to overpower hitters. His performance was strong enough that the organization quickly promoted him. The Cardinals assigned Doyle to the Double-A Springfield Cardinals to help with their playoff push. In his Double-A debut, Doyle was just as effective, striking out three batters in two scoreless innings. His overall minor league stats for the 2025 season show a combined 2.45 ERA with six strikeouts in 3.2 innings pitched across both levels. While the sample size is small, his ability to generate a high number of strikeouts and hold opponents scoreless, particularly at the Double-A level, is a testament to his talent. Powerful Arsenal The lefty’s arsenal is centered around a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and has reached 100 mph. Also, he has a solid slider and cutter, which has allowed him to dominate hitters. Scouts note his ability to get the most out of his body with a high-effort, up-tempo delivery. His rapid promotion to Double-A shows the Cardinals’ belief in his potential to be a key part of their future rotation. As the season concludes, Doyle’s impressive debut should give fans some hope for the future. Furthermore, the fireball-throwing lefty has solidified his position as one of the Cardinals’ top prospects and should be able to contribute at the big league level soon.
Packers Get Good News Regarding TE Tucker Kraft’s Knee Injury
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Packers TE Tucker Kraft had “a little scare but all good” regarding the knee injury he suffered during Thursday’s practice squad. “I think he will be OK,” Schefter’s source added. The Packers were optimistic that Kraft’s knee injury wasn’t a season-threatening issue, but they had to get tests run before saying for certain. It’s still unclear whether he will be able to play in Week 3. Kraft, 24, was a two-year starter for South Dakota State and earned first-team All-American honors in 2021 and third-team in 2022. The Packers selected him in the third round with the No. 78 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s in the third year of a four-year, $5,537,934 rookie contract that included a $1,027,588 signing bonus. In 2025, Kraft has appeared in two games for the Packers and caught eight passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns.
'That's a concern': Steelers' Omar Khan hears something a GM never wants to
The Pittsburgh Steelers went through a big change back in the 2022 offseason. Once the NFL Draft had been completed, the organization searched for its next general manager after Kevin Colbert was set to walk away. The franchise ended up promoting from within and gave the reins to long-time front office member Omar Khan. It's been clear since he got the keys to the kingdom that a physical brand of football would be emphasized, as his three first-round selections as the man in charge have been either on the offensive or defensive lines. While the team has made a conscious decision to build in the trenches, it hasn't panned out just yet. The defense allowed 299 yards rushing to the Baltimore Ravens in the 2024 Wild Card Round, and the offensive line has not been able to consistently protect the quarterback or help the rushing attack find a consistent groove. Reporter has concerns about the Steelers' player development On Wednesday, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette hosted his weekly fan chat. Someone wanted to get the insider's thoughts on both sides of the ball on the line of scrimmage. The reporter did not mince words. "My thoughts are you are right. They want to play a physical brand of football, but they can't because their players are not developing at the rate they had hoped," Fittipaldo wrote. "When Omar was hired as the GM, that was one of his main goals. Get bigger and more physical and be able to maul teams." It didn't stop there for Fittipaldo. He brought Andy Weidl into the equation, who is Khan's partner-in-crime. The lack of development regarding several players has to be something that is leaving the front office uneasy. "I remember a quote from Andy Weidl from a while back about how physical offensive and defensive lines travel well in the playoffs," Fittipaldo noted. "And yet, three years into the new regime, the Steelers don't resemble a physical football team at all. I'm sure that's a concern for the front office." It's one thing to worry internally about a trend, but it's even worse when it's blatantly obvious for the outside world to see. The Steelers' front office simply cannot be happy with how the coaching staff is making it look. Players with promise are being selected, but not turning into the professionals that they should be. Head coach Mike Tomlin is continuously recognized as one of the best coaches in the NFL, but still, somehow, lacks a legitimate coaching tree. There are arguments to be made that he is seriously losing his ability to truly develop the players that are drafted, and the individuals on his staff aren't as qualified as he would like to believe they are. It's currently being seen with the young group that is on the roster in 2025, specifically those who operate in the trenches. There is still time remaining to turn the ship around, but it's fair for fans to start worrying about the franchise's recent drafts. It's hard to blame Khan specifically, or Weidl for that matter, because the coaching staff is in charge of getting young players ready to compete at the professional level. The NFL is played at a completely different speed than college, so Khan's goal of dominating the trenches only ends up working if the draftees are developed and coached the proper way. Steelers' Omar Khan and Andy Weidl not necessarily at fault for losing in the trenches While the goal in recent seasons has been clear from a front office perspective, the vision on the field has not exactly gone according to that plan. The best organizations are on the same page at every level, but something is missing in Pittsburgh right now. The coaching staff is running out of time to get certain young players up to speed, and that is only going to delay the team's ability to compete for a seventh Lombardi Trophy.
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