The Chicago Blackhawks may or may not have one of their targets on the board. If they aren't, this is how it may look for them.
The Chicago Blackhawks will make the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. This comes as a result of the Toronto Maple Leafs winning the first lottery and the San Jose Sharks winning the second. Vancouver fell to third overall to round out the top three ahead of the Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks would likely prefer to select a forward, but Kyle Davidson confirmed after the lottery that every position is a possibility.
"We're best player available," Davidson said when asked if he'd select any type of skater. "We're just gonna take the best player and figure out the reserve list after that. It's all about accumulating talent. I'm excited to get in a room with our amateur scouts next week and figure out who they like."
Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and Manny Malhotra are the three best forwards in the draft. What would the Blackhawks do if all three of them were gone by pick four? Well, they might take one of the top defensemen, despite going that route a lot in recent drafts.
The draft details how that scenario could look:
1. Toronto Maple Leafs - Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State
Gavin McKenna's transition to the National Hockey League will be much easier if he has a top-flight center to play with. If the Toronto Maple Leafs make him the first overall pick and keep Auston Matthews around, that would be a great pairing.
2. San Jose Sharks - Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda
Lots of folks think that the San Jose Sharks are going to take a defenseman, and they might. However, if they want the second-best player in the draft, Ivar Stenberg is the guy.
3. Vancouver Canucks - Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford
The Vancouver Canucks are going through a lot of organizational change. If the draft starts with McKenna and Stenberg first and second, they will run to the podium to take Caleb Malhotra. They may take him anyway, but this scenario allows them to do it with no pressure.
4. Chicago Blackhawks - Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste. Marie
With the top three forwards in the draft off the board, the Chicago Blackhawks pivot to a defenseman with the fourth overall pick. Chase Reid is their guy as they hope that he can eclipse Artyom Levshunov or Sam Rinzel as the future number one.
5. New York Rangers - Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota
The New York Rangers need help up and down their lineup, but they are in the perfect spot to continue a run of defenseman. Keaton Verhoeff of North Dakota has the ceiling of an elite puck-moving defender, which would be perfect for New York's pipeline.
6. Calgary Flames - Carson Carels, D, Prince George
The Calgary Flames are building themselves a great pipeline. Another one of these great young defensemen would be perfect for them. Carson Carels, who is set to attend the University of North Dakota next year, deepens their organization even further.
7. Seattle Kraken - Alberts Smits, D, Jukurit
The Seattle Kraken end this run of defensemen with Alberts Smits, a young Latvian who has the tools to be a top-flight player in the NHL. Smits isn't talked about as much as the other three defenders ahead of him, but he is very talented.
8. Winnipeg Jets - Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor
The Winnipeg Jets selecting Ethan Belchetz with the 8th overall pick would add to their forward pipeline. He will head to Boston College to continue his development in 2026-27, which is a great place for him to work on his scoring touch.
9. Florida Panthers - Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University
Tynan Lawrence has been up and down the draft board throughout the season. The Boston University forward would be a great consolation prize for the Florida Panthers, who had one tough year with injuries after winning back-to-back championships.
10. Nashville Predators - Viggo Bjorck, RW, Djurgarden
Viggo Bjorck may be one of the top steals in the draft if he falls into the double digits. The Nashville Predators, who are going through a lot of change as an organization, would love to add a forward of this caliber.
11. St. Louis Blues - J.P. Hurlbert, LW, Kamloops
The St. Louis Blues may make some moves with their top forwards, but they also may stand pat. Regardless, J.P. Hurlbert of the Kamloops Blazers would add to their infrastructure. He will take his talents to the University of Michigan in 2026-27.
12. New Jersey Devils - Oscar Hemming, RW, Boston College
The New Jersey Devils need to add to their forward group organizationally. Oscar Hemming of Boston College is someone they should consider if they decide to use the 12th overall pick. The thought of him on a line with one of Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier is intriguing.
13. New York Islanders - Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert
The New York Islanders struck gold with Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman, with the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Daxon Rudolph, another defender, is someone to put with him as a young piece on the blue line.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets - Adam Novotny, LW, Peterborough
The Columbus Blue Jackets would make great sense for Adam Novotny. The Peterborough Petes forward, a Czech native, is a great project for the Blue Jackets to take on as they work towards being a playoff team once again.
15. St. Louis Blues via Detroit Red Wings - Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver
The St. Louis Blues have a second top-15 pick via the Detroit Red Wings. Ryan Lin of the Vancouver Giants, who is committed to the University of Denver, would be a great defensive complement to the forward they drafted earlier in the mock. St. Louis walks away from this with added depth at the prospect level.
16. Washington Capitals - Brooks Rogowski, RW, Oshawa
The Washington Capitals have been good at drafting in recent years. Brooks Rogowski of the Oshawa Generals is the pick here. He is going to be a part of a great Michigan State team in 2026-27, which has NHL talent all over.
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