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Draft Lottery Doom: Blackhawks Drop To Fourth Pick in 2026 NHL Draft
TL;DR
The Chicago Blackhawks dropped to the fourth pick in the 2026 NHL Draft after the lottery results. They had the second-best odds but missed out on top prospects Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg.
Key points
- Blackhawks dropped to fourth pick in 2026 NHL Draft
- They had second-best odds before the lottery
- General manager acknowledged falling to No. 3 or No. 4 was likely
- Missed out on top prospects Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg
- Finished bottom-three in NHL standings for fourth straight season
Gavin McKennaIvar StenbergChicago Blackhawks
Draft Lottery Doom: Blackhawks Drop To Fourth Pick in 2026 NHL Draft
The Chicago Blackhawks suffered the worst-case scenario at the 2026 Draft Lottery on Tuesday night, as the ping pong balls determined they will be selecting fourth in the upcoming NHL Draft this summer. Entering the selection process, the Blackhawks had the second-best odds of winning the Draft Lottery and could finish no worse than fourth.
It’s undoubtedly a disappointing result for the Blackhawks, who finished bottom-three in the NHL standings for a fourth consecutive season, only to likely miss out on both Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg.
General manager Kyle Davidson acknowledged afterwards that based on the odds, falling to No. 3 or No. 4 were the most likely outcomes. The Hawks had a 13.1% chance of winning the lottery, a 14.1% chance of staying put at No. 2, a 30.7% chance of dropping to No. 3, and a 41.7% chance of falling two spots to No. 4.
“Based on the odds, we were expecting it was going to be three or four, and it was four… We’re gonna get a great player. If you asked me a couple of days ago how many players could be in contention… I would have put 5 or 6 guys.”
Who the Blackhawks end up drafting with the fourth pick in late June will heavily depend on how the board shakes out ahead of them. The Toronto Maple Leafs, winners of Tuesday’s Draft Lottery, and the San Jose Sharks, who vaulted up seven spots to claim the No. 2 pick, are two teams desperately in need of more defensive help moving forward. With a slew of defensemen in the top-five conversation, there’s a chance that one of them gets picked a little earlier than expected.
However, there’s still a slim chance that either McKenna or Stenberg make it to No. 4, as the Vancouver Canucks would almost assuredly snatch up either, should they make it that far. The most likely options for the Blackhawks at this point are forward Caleb Malhotra, or one of four defensemen — Keaton Verhoeff, Chase Reid, Carson Carels, or Alberts Smits.
Q&A
What were the Blackhawks' odds in the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery?
The Blackhawks had a 13.1% chance of winning the lottery, a 14.1% chance to stay at No. 2, a 30.7% chance to drop to No. 3, and a 41.7% chance to fall to No. 4.
Who are the top prospects the Blackhawks missed in the draft?
The Blackhawks likely missed out on top prospects Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg after dropping to the fourth pick.
How many seasons have the Blackhawks finished in the bottom three of the NHL standings?
The Blackhawks have finished in the bottom three of the NHL standings for four consecutive seasons.