The Chicago Blackhawks’ First-Round Picks: Where Are They Now?

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 21: Kirby Dach reacts after being selected third overall by the Chicago Blackhawks during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 21: Kirby Dach reacts after being selected third overall by the Chicago Blackhawks during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
5 of 12

Mark McNeill

Mark McNeill was selected 18th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He had just finished a season with the Prince Albert Raiders in the QMJHL, where he scored 81 points in 70 games. Clearly, McNeill was looking to be an impact player for the Blackhawks. Unfortunately, his next two years in the QMJHL saw him drop to 71 points and then 67 points. Something was not clicking in his development.

McNeill played just two games in the NHL during his career. In those two games, he scored no points, and only one of them was with the Blackhawks. However, he stayed in the Blackhawks organization for a few years before being shipped to the Dallas Stars. On February 28th, 2017, The Blackhawks traded Mark McNeill and 2018 fourth-round pick to the Stars for the return of Johnny Oduya.

McNeill found no more success with the Stars than with the Blackhawks. He always managed to be a reasonably consistent point producer in the AHL, but his game never translated correctly to the NHL. So in 2019, McNeill took his talents to the Black Wings Linz in the EBEL, and he continues to play overseas to this day.

McNeill’s best year was the 2015-16 season, where he scored 48 points in 64 games with the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL.