Chicago Blackhawks: 12 Most Important Draft Picks in Franchise History

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The Chicago Blackhawks seem to have made a memorable pick in the 2011 NHL draft with the selection of Brandon Saad in the second round.

Saad was a surprise inclusion on Chicago's opening-night roster. The second-round pick impressed 'Hawks brass enough for him to skate on the top line against Dallas opening night.

Whether the 18-year-old Saad returns to his junior team or remains with the team throughout the season, he will be worth watching as he develops. Saad could eventually become a major part of future Blackhawks success.

It's far too early what kind of returns Saad will garner the 'Hawks in coming seasons. That potential got me thinking about some other Chicago draft picks over the years, though. What follows are a dozen of what I feel are the most important selections made by the Blackhawks in the history of the NHL draft.

12. Darryl Sutter, 1978

Sutter was drafted in the eleventh round that year, the 179th overall selection. With that pick, the 'Hawks received a valuable member of their teams of the  mid-1980's. Sutter scored 40 goals in his first full season as a pro and served as team captain for five of his eight seasons in Chicago.

Sutter also coached the Blackhawks from 1992-1995.

11. Brent Seabrook, 2003

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Seabrook has developed into a premier defenseman who helped lead the Blackhawks to the 2010 Stanley Cup.

Seabrook was Chicago's first round selection in 2003, the 14th overall pick. Now entering his seventh season with the team and starting the first year of a five-year extension, the defenseman has turned out to be one of the first key members of the current "core" of players to be obtained through the draft.

10. John Marks, 1968

Marks' selection with the ninth pick of the draft was significant because he was the first 'Hawks draftee to spend more than a cup of coffee with the team.

Marks, a big left wing at 6'2" and 200 pounds, played in ten seasons in Chicago. He had a pair of 21-goal seasons and played in the 1976 All Star Game. From 1974 to 1979, he played in all 400 games for the Blackhawks.

His 657 games played is good enough for 20th on the Blackhawks all-time list.

9. Bob Murray, 1974

Murray, now the GM of the Anaheim Ducks, served in the 'Hawks organization for a quarter century. Quite a tenure for Chicago's third round pick in 1974.

After a solid 15-year NHL career that included two All-Star appearances, Murray worked in the front office as Director of Player Personnel and was GM from 1997 to 1999.

8. Troy Murray, 1980

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The 1980 draft was one of note historically. Three players from that draft made this list.

Murray was drafted in the third round, 57th overall. He was a constant on the 'Hawks teams of the 1980's, playing in the Indian head sweater for parts of 12 seasons.

Murray, who won the 1986 Selke Trophy, reached the 20-goal plateau five times. He is now the color man on the 'Hawks radio broadcast team.

7. Duncan Keith, 2002

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The first piece of the current core was selected 54th overall in the second round by the Blackhawks.

Like Seabrook, with whom he often teams to make one of the leagues' most effective defensive pairings, Keith is starting his seventh season with Chicago. Keith is one of four Blackhawks blue liners to win a Norris Trophy while a member of the team.

With Keith currently toiling away on a 13-year contract, he could someday challenge Bob Murray's franchise record for games played by a defenseman.

Doug Wilson, 1977

Wilson was the sixth overall pick in the 1977 draft and spent 16 seasons in the NHL, 14 of those in Chicago.

The franchise's top scorer from the blue line, Wilson played in six All-Star games and won a Norris Trophy in his time with the Blackhawks. Wilson is currently the GM of the San Jose Sharks, a position he has held since 2003.

5. Steve Larmer, 1980

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Larmer went to Chicago with the 120th overall selection. The sixth-round pick played in 884 consecutive games for the 'Hawks.

Over that time, he played in a pair of All-Star games and was the 1982-83 Calder Trophy recipient. Larmer epitomized the hard working teams of his era, helping to lead the 1991-92 squad to the Stanley Cup Finals.

4. Jeremy Roenick

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Another member of the finals team of 1991-92, Roenick was the team's first round pick of 1988. He was also the only player the 'Hawks selected that year that ever played for the club.

The owner of two 50-goal seasons in Chicago, Roenick played eight years in town. He played in four All-Star games and topped the 100-point mark three times while a member of the Blackhawks.

Roenick is in the 'Hawks all-time top ten in both goals and points.

3. Denis Savard

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The Hall of Fame center played in 13 seasons in his two stints with the team after being the third overall pick. The 1980 draft also netted the 'Hawks other long-time players like Larmer and Troy Murray.

Third on the franchise in career scoring, Savard is right behind longtime line mate Larmer for fourth on the all-time goals list in Chicago. He was used to trade for Chris Chelios in the summer of 1990 and also coached the team for parts of three seasons.

2. Patrick Kane, 2007 and 1. Jonathan Toews, 2006

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Kane and Toews have been at the front of the organization's resurgence since they were selected in the first round of consecutive drafts in 2006 and 2007.

I give the nod to Toews, the third overall selection in 2006 and the current captain of the 'Hawks, However, nabbing Kane with the franchise's first number one pick the following year provided Chicago with a one-two injection of talented youth that led to the 2010 Stanley Cup.