NHL Draft: The Chicago Blackhawks' Top 10 Draft Classes

The Chicago Blackhawks will look to continue to improve the organization in the 2011 NHL Draft next week.

The draft has been feast or famine for the 'Hawks over the years.  As of today, just two players in the last five drafts have seen more than a handful of games on the ice for Chicago.

Those players?  Jonathan Toews (2007) and Patrick Kane (2008).  Maybe you've heard of them.

With prospects like Ben Smith, Marcus Kruger and Brandon Pirri getting limited action during this season, and a host of youngsters in Rockford, we should start to see what kind of draft classes the 'Hawks have in those last five years.

The 2002-2005 drafts provided eight players from the 2010-11 roster.  Drafting a player is a long term investment by and large.  It takes a while to truly evaluate the strength of a draft in a given year.

That said, let's rank what I feel are Chicago's top 10 draft classes from the years 1969 to the present.  Apologies to the last five years, of which time will tell.

I used the following criteria in rating a draft:

1. How many players drafted played NHL minutes?

2. How effective were those players?

3. How long did those players remain in the league?

4. How many long-time Blackhawks' came out of that year?

We'll get started with some more recent drafts.

10. 2004

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 24: Dave Bolland #36 and Christian Ehrhoff #5 of the Chicago Blackhawks of the Vancouver Canucks battle for the puck in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the United Center on A

Players Drafted: 17

100+ NHL Games: 5

Notables: Dave Bolland (2nd), Bryan Bickell (2nd), Jake Dowell (5th), Troy Brouwer (7th)

Four of the five players who have seen substantial NHL time were with the team in 2010-11, though Dowell and Brouwer are RFA's this summer.

First-round pick Cam Barker yielded defenseman Nick Leddy in a 2010 trade.

9. 2003

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - JUNE 09: Dustin Byfuglien #33 of the Chicago Blackhawks skates against the Philadelphia Flyers during Game Six of the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the Wachovia Center on June 9, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett

Players Drafted: 10

100+ NHL Games: 3

Notables: Brent Seabrook (1st), Dustin Byfuglien (8th)

Both Seabrook and Byfuglien signed big-money extensions this season.  Also signing a three-year deal was second-round pick Corey Crawford.  Crawford has played just 65 NHL games, but figures to reach the 100-game mark next season.

8. 2002

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 20: Duncan Keith #2 of the Chicago Blackhawks skates with the puck during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on March 20, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Blackhawks defeated the Coyotes 2-1. (Photo by Christ

Players Drafted: 9

100+ NHL Games: 3

Notables: Duncan Keith (2nd), James Wisniewski (5th), Adam Burish (9th)

Keith and Wisniewski each have more NHL games under their belt (486 and 329, respectively) than the first-round pick that year, Anton Babchuk (250), who finished the season with Calgary.

7. 1970

Dave Sandford/Getty Images

TORONTO - DECEMBER 1: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Pittsburgh Penguins and teammate Mark Recchi #8 listen to goaltending coach Gilles Meloche during an open practice before facing the Toronto Maple Leafs in their NHL game at the Air Canada Centre Decembe

Players Drafted: 5

100+ NHL Games: 3

Notables: Dan Maloney (1st), Len Frig (3rd), Giles Meloche (5th)

A draft that wasn't very fruitful for the 'Hawks, as none of these players suited up much for Chicago.

Maloney played 11 seasons, following a short stint in town with tours in Los Angeles, Detroit, and Toronto.

Meloche played just two games in goal for the Blackhawks, but had a 17-season career in the NHL, including a pair of All-Star appearances.  With Grant Fuhr, he shares the distinction of giving up 2,756 goals—the most in league history.  Since his retirement he has been employed in the Penguins' organization.

6. 1978

Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images

VANCOUVER - DECEMBER 4: Head coach Darryl Sutter of the Calgary Flames watches the game against the Vancouver Canucks at General Motors Place on December 4, 2003 in Vancouver, Canada. Calgary defeated Vancouver 4-1. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)

Players Drafted: 11

100+ NHL Games: 5

Notables: Tim Higgins (1st), Rick Paterson (3rd), Darryl Sutter (11th)

Three years after being the 'Hawks last pick in 1978, Sutter had a 40-goal season.  He was never that good again, but had a solid eight-year career in Chicago.

Paterson also spent eight seasons with the 'Hawks and Higgins logged nearly six in Chicago.

5. 1984

Elsa/Getty Images

19 Nov 1997: Defenseman Trent Yawney of the Chicago Blackhawks in action during a game against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks at Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California. The Blackhawks won the game, 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Elsa Hasch /Allsport

Players Drafted: 13

100+ NHL Games: 4

Notables: Ed Olcyzk (1st), Trent Yawney (3rd), Mike Stapleton (7th)

Olcyzk and Yawney were both NHL coaches after their playing days.  Olcyzk is in Chicago's broadcast booth, while Yawney is an assistant in San Jose.

Stapleton had a 14-year career with seven NHL clubs. Not bad for a seventh-round pick.

4. 1979

Mike Powell/Getty Images

INGLEWOOD, CA - 1989: Defense Keith Brown #4 of the Chicago Blackhawks takes a shot against the Los Angeles Kings during a game at the Great Western Forum during the 1989-90 season in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Mike Powell/Getty Images)

Players Drafted: 6

100+ NHL Games: 4

Notables: Keith Brown (1st), Doug Crossman (6th)

Bill Gardner, the 'Hawks third-round selection, played eight years in the NHL, primarily with Chicago.  Brown had a 16-year career in the league, 14 of those seasons as a member of the Blackhawks.

Crossman logged 17 NHL campaigns with a slew of teams, most notably with the Flyers.

3. 1983

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

DETROIT - NOVEMBER 17 : Dominic Hasek #39 of the Detroit Red Wings waits for a shot in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks on November 17, 2007 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Blackhawks defeated the Red Wings 5-3. (Photo by Claus Ande

Players Drafted: 12

100+ NHL Games: 4

Notables: Wayne Pressley (2nd), Mark Bergevin (3rd), Brian Noonan (9th), Dominic Hasek (10th)

First-round pick Bruce Cassidy was a bust, but Noonan and Hasek down at the bottom draft add to the strength of this year's picks.

Bergevin played nearly 1,200 NHL games on the blue line.  He and Pressley spent several seasons in Chicago.

Bergevin now may shape a few more drafts for the 'Hawks, having been named assistant GM to Stan Bowman on June 15.

2. 1974

Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images

MONTREAL, QC - JUNE 26: General manager Bob MurrayY of the Anaheim Ducks talks to the media during the first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft at the Bell Centre on June 26, 2009 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

Players Drafted: 13

100+ NHL Games: 6

Notables: Grant Mulvey (1st), Bob Murray (3rd), Terry Ruskowski (4th)

Mulvey and Murray were both long-time Blackhawks, and second-round pick Alain Daigle also spent his six-season career in the Indian head sweater.

Murry logged over 1,000 NHL games, briefly served as the Blackhawks GM, and is currently in the same position with Anaheim.

Ruskowski didn't arrive in Chicago until the WHA merger, spending just over three seasons with the 'Hawks as part of a 15-year career.

1. 1980

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

22 Nov 1991: Rightwinger Steve Larmer of the Chicago Blackhawks looks on during a game against the Buffalo Sabres at Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport

Players Drafted: 15

100+ NHL Games: 8

Notables: Denis Savard (1st), Troy Murray (3rd), Steve Larmer (6th)

Savard is a Hall-Of-Famer, Larmer should be if there's justice in the world, and Murray won a Selke in 1985-86.  All three are have historical importance to the organization.  Not much debate for this spot.

Second-round pick Steve Ludzik spent eight years with the Blackhawks, and fourth-rounder Carey Wilson was in the league for ten years with the Flames, Whalers and Rangers.

The players drafted in 1980 played nearly 5,000 NHL contests, easily more than any other Chicago draft class.  It is the draft by which all past and future drafts will be measured.

The drafts of 2002-2004 will surely rise in prominence as the years go by.  How will they compare with 1980 when all is said and done?  It should be fun finding out.