3 Blackhawks Questions Before 2026 NHL Draft

The Chicago Blackhawks were originally entering the 2026 NHL Draft with eight draft picks, and it seemed likely it wasn’t going to stay that way.

In the aftermath of the blockbuster trade that brought Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway in from the Buffalo Sabres, the Blackhawks now have six draft picks, and none in the first round (for now).

Since the Blackhawks no longer have the fourth overall pick, the draft conversations look very different from a month ago.

Here are three questions for the Blackahwks ahead of the draft, which begins on June 26 in Buffalo, New York.

1. Will the Blackhawks Trade Back Into the First Round?

The Blackhawks don’t have a first-round pick, but that doesn’t mean it will stay that way. It doesn’t seem like they view having a first-round pick as urgent as it once was, given their existing assets, including three first-round picks in 2027. Furthermore, they have made 11 first-round selections since 2022.

General manager Kyle Davidson was asked on June 24 whether it’s a priority to move back into the first round, or if they are comfortable where they’re at with their system,

“It’s certainly not a priority just to pick in the first round. It’s a priority to get the players that we want in a certain range. Obviously, with this trade, players in the top range are likely out of reach for us. Which, again, is the value package we put into acquiring Bo (Byram). We got someone that we feel provided that value and more in terms of what we could get, and so it’s something we’ll certainly explore as the board starts falling, and that’s part of the work that we’ll look to do throughout the back part of this week with our amateur group, and Mike Doneghey- is to understand the tiers and where there are places that we may want to strike, or if it’s just a sit and pick where we find ourselves at the top of the second round.

“So, it’s all case by case and situational. But I’m not opposed to it, but it’s certainly not something that I’m sitting here saying, ‘I need to pick in the first round, because it’s the first round, and I need to get up there and make a selection.’ It’s just going to be a read the board, read the situation, and see if there’s anything that from a value standpoint, makes sense to move up and get a player in the first round.”

It seems 50/50 whether Davidson will trade back into the first round. In the last two years, he has traded to acquire more first-round picks on the draft floor, adding Mason West and Marek Vanacker.

Therefore, if there is a player who really catches their eye, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them trade back in. They traded two second-round picks and a fifth-round pick to the Carolina Hurricanes to get the 29th overall pick last year.

As of now, they have two second rounds, one third round, one fourth, and two seventh-round picks.

2. Who Could Be Blackhawks Draft Targets?

I asked my colleague, and one of The Hockey Writers’ draft experts, Peter Baracchini, for help identifying some intriguing names for the Blackhawks in the later rounds.

I did a profile on winger Gleb Pugachyov as a potential target if he were to fall to the second round.

Some other names that Baracchini brought to my attention:

Jaxon Cover – Left Wing

Cover is listed as a potential second-round pick, and it looks like he would be a good one to ponder. He was with the London Knights of the OHL last season, recording 52 points in 67 games.

According to our Jordan Orth’s write-up,

“A few skills have translated very well from his time as an inline player to his role as a full-time OHLer, including his stickhandling and puck-handling. When given the time and space, Cover has the hands to make a defender look silly and can make shifty plays with the puck on his stick to move either down the ice or create even more space in the offensive zone. Another aspect of his game that has translated well has been his “natural” goal-scoring ability. He has the shot and accuracy to be a true threat with the puck on his stick from plenty of spots on the ice as a shooter. He plays the bumper spot on the power play for the London Knights and has shown the release and accuracy to be a strong power-play player (five power-play goals).”

He was listed at the scouting combine as 6-foot-1.5, 183 pounds. Considering his playmaking and goal-scoring ability, he could make for a talented addition to the Blackhawks’ wingers.

Victor Plante – Left Wing

Last season, Victor Plante was with U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP), recording 48 points in 57 games, and also with U.S. National Development Team in the USHL, recording 8 goals and 18 points in 20 games.

He appears to have many of the intangibles the Blackhawks like.

Here’s part of our Justin Giampietro’s analysis,

“Plenty of teams hunt prospects with a high-end motor, and Plante falls under that umbrella. Though the NTDP’s offense didn’t revolve around him, he was always engaged at both ends of the ice. He was rewarded with all-situations usage: even strength, penalty kill, and power play.

While Plante is undersized, he is a pest on the forecheck and has plus skating ability. This gives him some of the most essential tools to become a useful NHL forward in any coach’s system: motor, two-way engagement, and skating. His game can be widely appreciated at the next level.”

Plante is listed at 5-foot-10, 165 pounds.

His description reminds me a bit of Blackhawks’ Oliver Moore, who’s also a relentless, skilled player the Blackhawks really value.

Should Plante (whose dad is Derek Plante, former Blackhawks assistant coach) become a second or third round pick, the Blackhawks could consider adding another hard-working forward to their group.

Ryder Cali – Center

Ryder Cali was with the North Bay Battalion of the OHL last season, recording 36 points in 47 games. If the Blackhawks want to continue adding size to their prospect pool, he could be a target, as he is listed at the combine as 6-foot-1.5 and 214 pounds.

According to our Lukas Bernasiewicz analysis,

“That is one of Cali’s biggest strengths. Standing at 6-foot-2, he is very good in the offensive zone at forechecking and putting pressure on defending players. He is great at winning puck battles and has a knack for muscling past players to get open. He loves to find open spaces right in front of the net to put in those bang and crash type goals, but he also looks to get open on the boards so he can step in and rip a shot on net.

“For a player as noticeable in the offensive zone, Cali has underrated speed, which he shows off when trying to get back on defence. In an instance where the puck quickly or unexpectedly goes back the other way towards the North Bay end, Cali often shows off his wheels and hustles to try and get back into position to prevent a chance against. Oftentimes, he can make it.”

Cali could be a nice target for the Blackhawks, as speed, offense, and size are a great combination to have, being a potential second-round option.

3. What Else Could the Blackhawks Do?

Besides possibly trading to get back into the first round, could another trade for an impact player be in play?

For example, there has been a lot of talk around Jason Robertson. Greg Wyshynski of ESPN tweeted that an NHL executive said the Dallas Stars are seeking a trade package for Robertson, similar to the one for Mikko Rantanen. Robertson could still end up re-signing with the Stars, but something to keep in mind.

We don’t know how much more aggressive the Blackhawks are willing to get this summer. Davidson mentioned on June 24 that even though they believe in the players they have, that doesn’t mean they won’t keep looking for ways to improve.

If the Stars decide to go the trade route, could Davidson try to pull another huge deal off for Robertson? Or could they have sights on someone else?

Time will tell. More moves could come after the draft, as well.

But anything can happen on the draft floor.

This draft seems like it could be more on the quiet side or become super busy in an instant for the Blackhawks.

Either way, it’s one to watch. They still have different avenues to explore.