Chicago Blackhawks and New York Islanders Make Trade for 2024 NHL Draft Picks

In a recent trade, the Chicago Blackhawks and the New York Islanders exchanged draft picks for the upcoming 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft. The Blackhawks acquired the No. 18 pick and a second-round selection, while the Islanders received the No. 20 pick and two second-round choices.

The No. 20 pick initially belonged to the Blackhawks, as part of a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning for forward Brandon Hagel in March 2022. The Islanders, on the other hand, gained their two second-round picks from previous Blackhawks trades with the Los Angeles Kings and the Vancouver Canucks.

The draft itself will be held at the Sphere in Las Vegas, with the first round scheduled for June 28 and rounds 2-7 on June 29. The Islanders now have a total of six selections in the draft, including three picks in the first two rounds. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks have six picks in the first three rounds, including the coveted No. 2 selection they won in the 2024 NHL Draft Lottery.

The order of selection for the first 28 picks in the first round was determined after the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The first 16 picks were set through the draft lottery, while the remaining teams that lost in the first two rounds of the playoffs were placed in picks 17-28. The order for the 2024 draft will be finalized after the conclusion of the playoffs, with the team that loses in the Stanley Cup Final receiving pick No. 31 and the Cup winner getting pick No. 32.

Both the Blackhawks and the Islanders are looking to make strategic moves in the draft, with Chicago boasting eight picks in total and New York aiming to maximize their selections in the early rounds. The trade indicates the willingness of these teams to secure the best talent available to strengthen their rosters for the upcoming season.

Fans eagerly await the 2024 NHL Draft, as teams make strategic moves to shape the future of their franchises.