The Chicago Blackhawks have missed the playoffs six years in a row, representing their longest drought since 1952. But that doesn’t mean it’s all bad for the club.
The Blackhawks are set up pretty well this offseason, owning a fair chunk of cap space as well as a wealth of draft capital. Not only does Chicago boast the No. 4 overall selection in this year’s NHL Draft, but it also lays claim to three second-round picks. Plus, the Blackhawks have three 2027 first-round draft choices in their back pocket, as well.
As a result, Chicago has positioned itself nicely on the trade market. If the Blackhawks want to acquire a star player like Jason Robertson or Matthew Knies to put alongside of Connor Bedard and Tyler Bertuzzi, they certainly have the assets to make it happen.
And if Chicago really wants to, it could also move down from the No. 4 overall pick to further add to its growing stash of draft capital, and that is exactly what Nestor Quixtan of Blackhawk Up suggested in a recent piece.
Chicago Blackhawks linked to huge trade with St. Louis Blues
Apr 11, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) looks to pass the puck against the St. Louis Blues during the second period at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
If the Blackhawks aren’t enamored with whoever is on the board when they are on the clock, they ultimately could choose to sell off the pick and reap a hefty return, and in Quixtan’s example, Chicago would send the fourth overall selection to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for three first-rounders.
“Then, there’s the possibility of another team looking to move up. For example, a team like the St. Louis Blues, that has three first-rounders, could look to weaponize that abundance of picks to move up,” Quixtan wrote. ” The Blackhawks could send St. Louis the fourth pick in exchange for the 11th, 15th, and 31st picks. For St. Louis, the move would allow them to bring in an impact layer to further their rebuild. For Chicago, three additional first-rounders would give the club more opportunities to draft solid prospects to complement the abundance of high-end talent.”
Such a move would also provide the Blackhawks with even more ammunition to use in trades, and they would then still have some draft assets left over because of it.
The question is whether or not Chicago would value three mid-to-late first-round picks over a top-five selection. For a team that is actually trying to consolidate, using all three selections may not be the best move. But again, the idea here is for the Blackhawks to stockpile as many assets as possible to use in potential trades and create flexibility.
If Chicago were able to swing such a deal, it would then possess six draft picks over the first two rounds, which would make the Blackhawks the envy of the league. It’s absolutely something they should consider in the coming weeks.
The Chicago Blackhawks should target this free agent, per The Athletic
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