Blackhawks Select Center Joel Svensson with the 138th Pick in the 2024 NHL Draft

The Chicago Blackhawks continue to add a specific type of player to their prospect cupboard. Having made three selections that fit the bill, including moving into the draft at pick #92 , the Blackhawks were not done finding their guys. With the 138th pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, the Blackhawks selected center Joel Svensson from Vaxjo Lakers HC of the SHL in Sweden.

Svensson only played seven games in Sweden's top league, posting a lone assist in limited action. However, in the Vaxjo juniors system, Svensson was an impressive scorer. He tallied 33 points (24 goals, nine assists) in 25 games with the Vaxjo Lakers HC J20 team. On loan, he tallied eight points (five goals, three assists) in 10 games for Kristianstads IK.

Like many of the other picks made by Kyle Davidson, Svensson is a player that relies on his quality skating and sense of space to make plays. Having a great hockey sense and an ability to play with speed are the traits the Blackhawks are looking for as they build their identity. Davidson gets another guy that's just his type.

Here's what Elite Prospects had to say about Svensson:

Svensson's skating and awareness of space are his two strongest attributes. He's most effective when reading gaps and exploiting them, whether that's by making a quick pass to a moving teammate or driving the net around a passive defender.

- EliteProspects 2023 NHL Draft Guide

What's On Tap Next?

Unless Kyle Davidson makes another deal, the Blackhawks have one pick remaining in the sixth round of the 2024 NHL Draft. The 163rd selection will round out Chicago's 2024 Draft class and shift the organization's focus to free agency which opens on Mon., Jul. 1.

Subscribe to On Tap Sports Net on YouTube and the Four Feathers Podcast for more Chicago Blackhawks content, updates, and hot takes!