Over the past couple days I’ve seen three new 2026 NHL Mock Drafts that don’t have the Blackhawks selecting Ivar Stenberg, which got my attention. Two of the mock drafts — from regular writers cited here — took one of the more conventional routes with their top four picks. A third did not.
Here’s how Ben Pope, Scott Powers (as part of the staff at The Athletic) and Tony Ferrari see the top four picks playing out in next week’s NHL draft, and their comments about the selections they make on behalf of the Blackhawks.
Ben Pope (Chicago Sun-Times) — June 14
Pope’s top 4 picks:
Toronto — Gavin McKenna, LW San Jose — Ivar Stenberg, LW Vancouver — Caleb Malhotra, C BLACKHAWKS — Chase Reid, RHDPope’s comments on the Blackhawks selecting Reid:
The top three forwards going 1-2-3 would put the Hawks in a difficult spot — and perhaps further motivate Davidson to trade this pick. The next several prospects are all defensemen, but the Hawks have invested so much draft and development capital in defensemen already — and owe it to Bedard to expand out their forward talent around him.
If the Hawks are forced to pick a defenseman, the fact they visited Reid at his family home outside Detroit is an interesting hint that he’s likely their top target. He has risen quickly through the junior-hockey ranks over the past two years, is headed to Michigan State next season and profiles as a future NHL power-play quarterback.
His right-handedness would create some redundancy with Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov, but Davidson needs to get this pick right first and foremost.
The Athletic Staff Mock Draft — June 15
Their top 4 picks:
Toronto — Gavin McKenna, LW San Jose — Ivar Stenberg, LW Vancouver — Caleb Malhotra, C BLACKHAWKS — Chase Reid, RHDScott Powers’ comments on the Blackhawks selecting Reid:
The Blackhawks would ideally draft one of the top three forwards at No. 4, but with none of them available in this mock draft, they would likely select one of the top defensemen. Who the top defenseman is probably depends on who you ask. Reid has been the highest-ranked defenseman on our experts’ lists of late. There might be some overlap with the Blackhawks already having Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel as right-hand shots, but that won’t likely stop Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson from taking someone who might have the highest ceiling among the players left on the board.
Tony Ferrari (The Hockey News) — June 15
Ferrari’s top 4 picks:
Toronto — Gavin McKenna, LW San Jose — Chase Reid, RHD Vancouver — Ivar Stenberg, LW BLACKHAWKS — Alberts Šmits, LHDFerrari’s comments on the Blackhawks selecting Šmits:
Chi-Town is on the verge of making a breakthrough. Connor Bedard looks like he is on the precipice of ascending to superstar status, and so many of the other young pieces are beginning to take their games to the next level.
They have really strong young players throughout the lineup, but they need an effective defenseman.
Adding Alberts Smits could give them that, as the Latvian blueliner has proven time and time again that he is among the best players in this draft.
Whether it was defending Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel with some success at the Olympics or pushing around fellow draft prospects at the world juniors, Smits has proven his defensive worth while flashing some interesting offensive upside.
My Two Cents
In my mock draft on Monday morning, I have the Sharks staying put at No. 2 and taking Reid because I believe he’s the best defenseman in this draft class and, as a right-handed shot, fills a significant need for San Jose. At this time, I think that’s what we ultimately see happen.
But in the event the Sharks surprise me and take another top forward, there are two defensemen who have my interest at No. 4: Reid and Šmits. And, in the event that Reid goes to San Jose and the Canucks take Stenberg, I would be strongly in favor of the Blackhawks taking Šmits as the second defenseman off the board. I think he could be a long-term complement of either Artyom Levshunov or Sam Rinzel and has a pro track record that wouldn’t make a jump straight to the pro ranks in North America a shock to his system.
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