The Chicago Blackhawks currently have the fourth-overall pick of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. With the Blackhawks having another pick in the top five, there is no question that they are facing a big decision on who to select with it. In his latest mock draft for The Athletic [https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7333541/2026/06/09/nhl-draft-mock-prospects-list-2026/], Scott Wheeler had the Blackhawks taking left-shot defenseman Carson Carels with their fourth-overall pick if Ivar Stenberg is not available when they are on the clock. With the Blackhawks needing help on the left side of their blueline, it would make a lot of sense if they picked Carels with their fourth-overall selection. He would give them a left-shot defenseman who has the potential to emerge as a top-pairing blueliner at the NHL level later down the road. Carels just had himself a very good season in the WHL with the Prince George Cougars, and the truth is in his stats. In 58 games this campaign with the WHL squad, he posted 20 goals, 53 assists, and 74 points. With numbers like these, it is clear that the 6-foot-2 defenseman has plenty of offensive upside, which certainly adds to his appeal. It will be interesting to see if the Blackhawks end up taking Carels with their fourth-overall pick this summer. If they do, he would be a nice addition to their prospect pool.
