Of the five players who skated in the top two D pairings for the three Chicago Blackhawks teams that won Stanley Cups, only one — Brent Seabrook — was a first-round pick.
Duncan Keith was a second-round pick in 2002. Niklas Hjalmarsson was a fourth-round pick in 2005. Brian Campbell was a sixth-round pick in 1997. Johnny Oduya was a seventh-round pick in 2001.
So don’t sleep on 2017 second-round pick Ian Mitchell.
There’s been significant buzz about several Blackhawks defensive prospects lately. Adam Boqvist was Chicago’s first top-ten selection since Patrick Kane in 2007, and the young Swedish defenseman displayed that pedigree at last week’s prospect camp.