The Chicago Blackhawks are in critical need of a spark after having missed the playoffs six seasons in a row, and they are hoping to get it with the fourth overall pick of the NHL Draft.
There has been some buzz that winger Ivar Stenberg could slip to No. 4, which would be music to Blackhawks’ fans ears. And if the Toronto Maple Leafs do not pull the trigger on Stenberg with the top overall selection in the draft, Chicago may get its wish.
That’s assuming, of course, no other teams trade up to try and acquire him.
The biggest wild card here is the San Jose Sharks, who own the No. 2 pick and may be willing to trade out of it. That could mean another team may move up to snatch Stenberg from under the Blackhawks’ noses, and that appears to be a real possibility, according to a report from David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.
Chicago Blackhawks could lose out on Ivar Stenberg
Jan 5, 2026; St. Paul, Minnesota, USA; Sweden forward Ivar Stenberg (15) is all smiles after defeating Czechia in the final of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship ice hockey tournament at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
Chicago is in dire need of a winger to put alongside of star center Connor Bedard, and Stenberg could be the answer the club is looking for.
However, Pagnotta is getting the sense that the Sharks could sabotage those hopes in the Windy City.
“I think San Jose is serious about wanting to listen, excuse me, willing to listen on that second-overall pick,” Pagnotta said. “I could see Vancouver with motivation to move up. I could see the Rangers with motivation to move up. I think Calgary with motivation to move up. We’ll see kind of where that goes. It’s super fresh, and we’ve got what, five-six weeks? But there’s runway there where San Jose is going to be a pretty attractive team for clubs looking to move up to get basically, again, argument’s sake, [Ivar] Stenberg at No. 2.”
The St. Louis Blues are also a significant threat, as they own three first-round draft picks. That being said, their highest draft choice is at No. 11, and it’s debatable as to whether or not the Sharks would want to move down that far.
What San Jose decides to do with the No. 2 overall pick will almost surely have a major impact on what the Blackhawks can do at No. 4. Hopefully, things fall into place for Chicago, but at this point, it’s looking rather bleak.
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