On Thursday, Chris Johnston posted an updated trade board for the offseason at The Athletic — and it’s a fascinating list from a Blackhawks perspective. There were a few spots on his board that got my attention, starting with the second… item… on his list: the San Jose Sharks’ pick at No. 2 overall.
As Johnston notes, “It’s been more than 20 years since an NHL team knowingly traded a top-three draft selection.” The Sharks need defensemen and feel like they aren’t that far away from the playoffs, so moving out of No. 2 would be a bold move with this year’s draft class top-heavy on the blue line with some potentially elite prospects.
There’s been a ton of smoke around the Blackhawks being open to moving their pick in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft. Johnston has the Blackhawks’ No. 4 overall pick on his list (down at No. 21). Here’s what he wrote about the Hawks’ pick being available:
Similar to the scenario with the Sharks at No. 2, the prospect-rich Blackhawks are open to the possibility of moving off a valuable pick if they can get something back that improves them in the present. Given the expected unpredictability at the top of this class, it may not be a deal that comes together until draft night, when it becomes apparent which top prospect will still be on the board at No. 4.
If the Blackhawks are going to need an important piece to move out of the pick, looking at the rest of Johnston’s list (and the intel attached to each name) can start to give us a shopping list for general manager Kyle Davidson this summer.
Blackhawks general manager Kyle DavidsonBlackhawks Forward Targets
A name we’ve talked about frequently, Ducks center Mason McTavish, appears at No. 4 on Johnston’s list. I like the player, but Johnston points out that there are some questions about his skating that could potentially give the Blackhawks’ front office pause. But if they view him playing a similar role as the similarly not-so-fast-my-friend Tyler Bertuzzi, there’s intrigue around this player.
However, the name the Blackhawks front office and fans have been salivating over for a while now is on Johnston’s list. Toronto’s Matthew Knies makes an appearance at No. 12.
When the Leafs won the draft lottery — and, presumably, Gavin McKenna — most thought Toronto would begin their retool approach around Knies and McKenna. But something Johnston wrote got my Blackhawks attention up once again:
There’s since been a change in management in Toronto, with John Chayka replacing Brad Treliving, but Chayka has told other teams that his only roster untouchable is Auston Matthews. That leaves the door open for those who showed interest in Knies previously to try again.
The Blackhawks are certainly on the list of teams who have previously expressed interest in the player. They had a deal “almost” done to get him four years ago and have reportedly inquired about him again in the years since.
If Matthews is the only “untouchable” player in Toronto, and Chayka is really looking to make a big course correction this summer with some bold moves, the Blackhawks could offer the Leafs’ new general manager the ransom he would undoubtedly want for the 23-year-old forward who is signed through 2031 at a reasonable $7.75M cap hit.
Is Knies a good enough, young enough player — signed with term — that the Blackhawks would consider moving out of the No. 4 pick to get him?
A couple other forwards on Johnston’s list that interest me for the Blackhawks are Calgary wing Blake Coleman (No. 13) and Carolina center Jesperi Kotkaniemi (No. 24). Those would obviously be lower profile deals than a move for Knies or McTavish.
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