Much of the focus ahead of the 2026 NHL draft for the Chicago Blackhawks has centered around who they will select at fourth overall. Or, to be more realistic, who will actually be available for general manager Kyle Davidson at No. 4? The ping pong balls didn't do the franchise any favors this time around, but there'll still be one heckuva prospect sitting there in this range.
There's a lot of smoke and mirrors going on with picks one through three. Gavin McKenna has generally been the consensus top pick despite a rocky start to his college career. Still, it's fair to wonder if the Toronto Maple Leafs could shock the hockey world by going in another direction at one.
There have been rumblings that they may prefer Ivan Stenberg, and with John Chayka at the helm, it's safe to expect curveballs. That would send a ripple effect to Chicago at No. 4. What does the best-case scenario look like for the Blackhawks, though, between the one first-rounder and three second-round selections?
If Ivan Stenberg is there for the Blackhawks, he feels like a no-brainer draft pick
This is the silly season when it comes to NHL draft content, when prospect analysts start moving pieces around on the board to test different outcomes and, presumably, prevent themselves from going a little stir-crazy within the bounds of their personal mock drafts.
It happens to the best of us. Still, McKenna to Toronto makes a ton of sense, the San Jose Sharks could use another high-end defensive prospect like Chase Reid, and Caleb Malhotra to Vancouver seems like such a forgone conclusion that some talking heads think it's the Canucks playing mind games.
If this is the way the draft board plays out--and most mock drafts have things unfolding this way--then it would be highly questionable for Davidson to pass on Stenberg here. It would leave the Blackhawks a little small up front, but the Montreal Canadiens just proved that it's possible to win a few playoff rounds without trying to clone the Florida Panthers.
We've tried to talk ourselves out of it, but Stenberg would give the Blackhawks an enviable amount of skill at forward. This seems like the best-case scenario in round one, save for an out-of-nowhere slide of McKenna. It's not like presumed No. 1 picks ever slip to No. 4 in the NHL draft, right?
Oh. Wright.
Blackhawks can shore up an area of need on defense with draft pick No. 34
Maybe the Blackhawks go defense if Reid is there at No. 4, but we are operating under the assumption that Stenberg is heading to Chicago with that pick. If so, there are several intriguing blueliners that Davidson and his staff could pick from.
They have Sam Rinzel has already made a tremendous impression on the organization, passing former seventh-overall pick Kevin Korchinski on the depth chart and playing in 54 games last season. Still, a majority of Chicago's most highly-touted prospects are forwards, so they can hope that someone like William Hakansson is waiting for them at No. 34.
A lot of mock drafts have the 6'4, 200-plus-pound defender going in the later stages of the first round, and it's not too difficult to understand why. He checks a lot of physical boxes, and looks like the kind of blueliner who could log a ton of minutes for his NHL team eventually. He's also got a touch of offense in his game. Nikita Shcherbakov would be a great consolation prize here, operating under the assumption that Chicago would like to add some bite on the backend.
And who doesn't want a little more snarl on the blue line?
Blackhawks could land best goalie of the NHL draft with pick 37 in Tobias Trejbal
Remember, this is a best-case scenario for Chicago. With so many forwards in the system, Davidson is seemingly having to trade one away every summer, and having just taken a defenseman, perhaps the 'Hawks give real consideration to taking Tobias Trejbal here.
There would be absolutely no rush on the USHL's top goalie, who has pretty much every trait NHL teams want out of starters these days. He's 6'4, considers his top trait his mental toughness, and, oh yeah, is really, really good at stopping the puck.
Drew Commesso is still a good pro prospect for the Blackhawks, but his ceiling is that of a solid backup or top-end No. 3. In Tobias Trejbal, Chicago would give themselves a high-end goalie prospect with starter potential in the system.
Blackhawks wrap up their second round with Jonas Lagerberg Hoen at No. 45
This pick might not be such a stretch as he will likely be available here, but finding this kind of talent at this stage of the second round has to be considered a best-case scenario for the Blackhawks. Jonas Lagerberg Hoen has first-round talent, but had his 2025-26 season derailed by a knee injury.
If Davidson and co. only had one pick in the second round, maybe the move is to lean toward a more sure thing. This is the space in the draft to take a homerun swing, though, and that is exactly what Hoen would be. Stenberg is considered the safest pick out of the entire draft class, so the Blackhawks can get a little weird at 45.
When healthy and at the top of his game, the 6'2 forward is a high-volume shooter who knows how to convert on his opportunities. He isn't just a one-dimensional forward looking to go bar-down on every shift, however, and has the kind of compete needed to settle in as a middle-six forward at the NHL level. He might not hit, but if he does, Hoen would be an outstanding pick for the 'Hawks here.
