The Chicago Blackhawks secured the No. 4 overall selection in the upcoming NHL Draft after falling two spots during the league’s lottery drawing on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Despite entering the lottery with high odds for a top-two pick, the franchise landed its lowest draft position in four years.
Chicago held a 13.5% chance to secure the first overall pick and a 14.1% probability for the second slot. However, the Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks both surpassed the Blackhawks in the order, claiming the No. 1 and No. 2 selections, respectively, while the Vancouver Canucks dropped to third as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
The result forces Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson to evaluate a different tier of prospects for the draft scheduled for June 26 in Buffalo. Potential targets for the fourth pick include OHL center Caleb Malhotra or defensive prospects such as Reid, Verhoeff, Carson Carels, and Alberts Smits.
Malhotra has gained attention following a productive playoff run with the Brantford Bulldogs, though the Sun-Times notes that top-tier forwards Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg are likely out of reach at the fourth spot. Among the defensive options, Reid is noted as a Michigan State commit with offensive capabilities, while Verhoeff is recognized as a stout defender heading to North Dakota.
The Blackhawks entered the lottery for a third consecutive year with a 13.5% chance at the top pick. To reach the postseason next year, internal projections suggest the team would need to improve by more than 20 points in the standings during the 2026-27 season.