BLOG: Former NHL GM on Blackhawks options at eight

The growing sentiment at the NHL Scouting Combine among draft analysts is that the Blackhawks will have plenty of good options with their two first round picks. Speaking in particular of the eighth pick, former NHL general manager turned broadcaster and analyst Craig Button likes the class of player that will be available.
"It's really interesting because I think the Hawks do a really good job," Button said. "I think Nick Schmaltz, you consider what they did and traded up to get him. Alex DeBrincat has 28 goals this year and he was a second round pick. He should have never been a second round pick. I think the Blackhawks have a really good, strong sense of what they're looking for and they also understand where they pick at eight, they'll have their pick of a higher pedigree of player.
"I think they'll have choices. They can look at some wingers, they can look at centers or they can look at defensemen. I think when you have a smorgasbord of really good players in that group like Evan Bouchard, Noah Dobson, Quinn Hughes perhaps, Oliver Wahlstrom, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Barrett Hayton, there are a lot of different players they can consider at that spot. When you have those different options and players that are really good, I think you get excited about that."
Button served as a scout with the Minnesota North Stars and then served as the Dallas Stars director of player personnel during their Stanley Cup run in 1999. He was also the general manager for the Calgary Flames from 2000-2003. Button is now TSN's director of scouting.
Overall, the former NHL executive likes the "DNA" of the 2018 NHL Draft.
"I have no question in my mind that there's going to be some really good centremen, some really good defensemen, some scoring wingers who are going to be very productive players and the future of the NHL," he said. "Now how many of them are closer to playing than not? Not very many, but you have to give them time."