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

By Andrew Stille

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) /
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Phillip Danault

In the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, the Blackhawks had two first-round picks. While they selected McNeill with their first-round pick, they acquired a second one from the Washington Capitals in exchange for Troy Brouwer. With the 26th overall pick, the Blackhawks selected Phillip Danault from the Victoriaville Tigres.

Danault played 32 games with the Blackhawks, and in those games, he only managed to put up 5 points. The Blackhawks decided that rather than let him develop in the minors for a few more years, they would take a swing while they could and use him as a trading asset. On February 26th, 2016, the Blackhawks traded Danault and a 2018 second-round pick to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Dale Weise and Tomas Fleischmann.

Danault became an immediate plus to the Habs’ roster in typical Blackhawks fashion. Over the past few years, he has established himself as one of the best two-way players in the game. Danault was a player who would have been incredibly useful on a Blackhawks team struggling to find a consistent defense. While he has yet to win any hardware, there is no doubting that losing Danault was one of the biggest hits to the Blackhawks’ prospect pool under Bowman.

Danault’s best year was the 2018-19 season, where he scored 53 points in 81 games with the Montreal Canadiens.

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