The Chicago BIackhawks won the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery on Monday, securing the first overall pick in the upcoming draft and the rights to potential generational talent Connor Bedard.
And if you had to take a temperature check of the rest of the league’s reaction to the Hawks’ coup — jumping two teams that had better chances at the No. 1 pick — people don’t exactly seem thrilled.
Barstool Chicago posted a video of a TikTok user named @the.detroiter, presumably a Red Wings fan, reacting to the three-time champions since 2010 jumping the board to secure the top pick.
“What is this? They spent one year, one year when they’re not competitive,” he said. “One year when they’re not trying to make a playoff push.
Warning: graphic language
“They trade literally everyone … blatantly tank, they go to get Bedard, and the NHL, here you go. Detroit’s never moved up in eight years, but f–k it dude. Chicago last time they were here, we gave them Patty Kane. Let’s give ’em Connor Bedard. Why not! Give them another one. It doesn’t get less deserving than that.”
Many on Twitter went on to accuse the NHL of being “rigged” after one of the league’s premier franchises got the pick, jumping small market franchises in Columbus and Anaheim in the process.
Worse, ESPN appeared to have a gaffe as they were announcing the draft order, mistakenly revealing that the Blue Jackets (who had the second-best odds) were picking third ahead of time, before quickly cutting to commercial – leading to more anger.
Additionally, many were upset that the Blackhawks weren’t punished for a major sexual abuse scandal that rocked the team in recent years, while other teams have been docked draft picks for minor infractions.
Here’s a summary of what other NHL franchises have been punished for in recent years — and the scandal that the Blackhawks walked away from with limited consequences.
The Coyotes had to forfeit a 2022 second-round pick and a 2021 first-round pick for combine testing violations.
The punishment was determined by commissioner Gary Bettman, who did not impose a financial punishment, instead opting for penalizing Arizona with a loss of draft capital.
Arizona claimed they weren’t aware that they violated any rules by asking draft prospects about their eating habits, workout routines and supplement regiments.
Still, the NHL decided to crack down with a steep punishment.
Arizona finished the 2021 season 24-26-6 for 54 points and would have had two chances at the first overall pick, from their own pick (11th, forfeited) and a ninth-overall pick they acquired from the Vancouver Canucks.
The Devils were also penalized harshly by the NHL for Ilya Kovalchuk’s unique contract structure.
Lou Lamoriello, the GM at the time, tried to sign Kovalchuk to a 17-year, $102 million contract, but was rejected by the NHL because it was deemed to be circumventing the salary cap.
The Devils and Kovalchuk agreed to a 15-year, $100 million deal, which was approved.
But they were fined and penalized $3 million, the loss of a third-round draft pick in 2011 and a first-round pick in the Devils’ choice of the next four drafts (2011-14).
The Devils’ punishment was lessened in 2014, when Bettman awarded them their 2014 first-round pick back. However, it was for the 30th pick, instead of a top-10 selection.
Perhaps the most egregious NHL scandal of all, Brad Aldrich, former video coach of the Blackhawks during the team’s Stanley Cup run in 2010, was accused of sexual assault by two unnamed players on the team.
An unnamed player went to the NHL Players’ Association after the incident, but nothing came of it.
The other player, Kyle Beach, also alleged Aldrich sent him inappropriate texts and coerced him with threats if he did not engage in sexual activity.
Aldrich, a registered sex offender in Michigan, was convicted of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct for an unrelated incident in 2013.
The NHL fined the Blackhawks organization $2 million due to “the organization’s inadequate internal procedures and insufficient and untimely response.”
Chicago’s GM Stan Bowman stepped down in 2021, and coach Joel Quennville, who was head coach of the Blackhawks at the time of the incident, also had to vacate his coaching position with the Florida Panthers.
Still, it seems the Blackhawks got off lightly compared to Arizona and New Jersey.