The NHL Draft lottery is just around the corner. We will finally know where the Chicago Blackhawks will be drafting. We do know that they will be selecting no lower than 4th overall. Who could they take at each draft position come June?

1st Overall Pick ~ Gavin McKenna

Believe it or not, the hardest spot for this team to draft would be first overall. Two players have legitimate cases for being the first overall pick. Ultimately, Gavin McKenna is the best choice. He put up an impressive 51 points in 35 games for Penn State. I was able to see him play in person, and the hype around him is well deserved. He shows incredible vision, whether it’s finding his teammates for an incredible pass or finding a route to the net that didn’t seem open. His shot is lethal, quick, and hard, and his hockey IQ is off the charts.

To make the jump to the NHL, he will need to develop his defensive game. His game reminds me of Connor Bedard, who struggled defensively but took a big step in the right direction this past season. With the Blackhawks needing more scoring on this team, adding McKenna would add a massive boost to its offense.

2nd Overall ~ Ivar Stenberg

Ivar Stenberg has impressed me so much that it was difficult not to rank him first overall on my board. Stenberg is coming off an impressive 33-point season in the SHL for Frolunda HC. Playing in Sweden’s top professional league at the age of 18 and making a significant impact is a remarkable achievement. He enters this draft as one of the most complete players. He has skills to impact all three zones on the ice. Stenberg has an elite hockey IQ, which helps him make quick decisions and adjust on the fly.

What makes him so valuable is what he brings to the game outside of offense. The best example for this is Jonathan Toews. He’s a player who might not always get on the score sheet, but the impact he makes on the game away from the puck is huge. He’s a 200-foot player who has proven he can play against men. My biggest question about him is whether he would be prepared to make the immediate jump or if they would take the same approach as Anton Frondell last season.

3rd Overall ~ Caleb Malhotra

Caleb Malhotra is a player that I believe has done the most to improve his draft stock. His draft ranking as him any where from 5th and as low as 20th. Could taking him at third overall be a bit of a stretch? He has had a great season with the Brantford Bulldogs, putting up 84 points in 67 games. He has seemed to find another level to his game in the playoffs. Currently at 26 points in 14 games. Scouts are calling him the best center in this draft which is big. Bringing him in could open the door for a lot of different options. Plugging him in at the 2C spot lets Frank Nazar go back to his natural winger position. It also lets Anton Frondell move to Connor Bedard’s wing.

The downside to Malhotra at three is that he likely won’t be a factor for this team until at least the 2027/2028 season. He is committed to playing at Boston University next season, which will be great for his development. Will Hawks fans who are wanting an impact player right away be able to accept that, or will their impatience get the better of them?

4th Overall ~ Explore a Trade

If the Chicago Blackhawks fall to fourth overall, there needs to be some research done on what a return could be for this pick. I think there are plenty of teams that would like to move up to grab one of the higher-ranked defenders in this draft. Could they move down the draft a little bit and take a Viggo Bjorck or an Ethan Belchetz and get more draft capital? Could that fourth overall pick be used to land an already established NHL player that can fit in the Hawks’ top six? I think there are a lot of things at play if the Hawks draft here, and we just need to trust that KD and the team will make the best call.

There are lots of variables out there for what the Hawks do in this draft. Speculation has run wild since the season ended, but after tomorrow, the picture will clear up a bit. In a perfect world, the Hawks are drafting first or second, and the choice is nice and easy. However, no matter what happens during the draft lottery, let’s all agree on one thing as Hawks fans: this has to be the last time the draft lottery means this much to this franchise.

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