We’re inside of two weeks from the 2026 NHL Draft, which means it’s time to ramp up our prospect conversation for the Chicago Blackhawks. We’ll have some profiles of potential first-round targets coming soon, but today we’re going to focus on a list of players who could be Blackhawks targets in the second round of the draft next week.
Chicago Blackhawks
2026 NHL Draft Selections 8 Total Picks Round 1 Pick 4 Chicago Own Pick Round 2 Pick 34 Chicago Own Pick Round 2 Pick 37 From Toronto McCabe/Lafferty trade – 2023 Round 2 Pick 45 From NY Islanders Josh Bailey trade – 2023 Round 3 Pick 66 Chicago Own Pick Round 4 Pick 119 From Ottawa Nikita Zaitsev trade – 2023 Round 7 Pick 194 Chicago Own Pick Round 7 Pick 200 From Florida 2025 pick swapThe Blackhawks currently own three selections in the second round: picks Nos. 34, 37 and 45. Which gives them plenty of options to add either more forwards to their collection of talent or begin adding to a blue line pipeline that’s getting thin beyond the NHL level. I’ve broken up our list into forwards and defensemen below.
To be clear: the players I’m including in the lists below are individuals that not only could be in play for the Blackhawks with their three selections in the second round of the 2026 NHL Draft, but could also be of enough interest for the Blackhawks to explore trading up into the 20s in the first round to select.
Potential Second Round Blackhawks Draft Targets
Forwards
Casey Mutryn, C/RW6-3, 206DOB: July 5, 2008Shoots: Right
Mutryn is an interesting player to project because his rankings are all over the place; Scott Wheeler had him at 54 in his final rankings, while Corey Pronman had him at 14. He’s a big, physical power forward who can skate and has some offensive upside. Compete is his calling card. Think AJ Spellacy without the football background. He’s headed to Boston College this fall.
Gleb Pugachyov, RW6-3, 198DOB: March 25, 2008Shoots: Left
Everything I wrote about Mutryn is the same here: big power forward who plays with an edge and has come offense, but whose rankings are all over the place (Wheeler had him at 38; Pronman had him at 15). What intrigues me here is Pugachyov is signed in Russia for two more seasons. That would buy the Blackhawks a couple seasons to sort thru their current prospect pool before making a decision; it also gives him a couple years to continue development. That two-year commitment might cause him to be available in the 30s for the Blackhawks.
Simas Ignatavičius, C/RW6-2.5, 208DOB: Oct. 22, 2007Shoots: Right
This is a fascinating prospect who is Lithuanian, born in Tennessee and playing in Switzerland. He fits a lot of the elements the Blackhawks look for: skates well, strong on the puck, competes and has played against older, more mature competition. He’s got an NHL-caliber shot already. Given his unique path to the draft, there’s a lottery ticket element here that fits what the Blackhawks have done in recent drafts.
Ryder Cali, C/W6-1.5, 214DOB: Sept. 6, 2008Shoots: Left
Another player with a bigger body, Cali is a terrific skater who has an NHL-caliber release. The Blackhawks will likely appreciate his good puck protection skills and willingness/ability to win picks in the corners. He’s one of the youngest players in this draft class and already has a pro body. He’ll play with Blackhawks prospects John Mustard and Julius Sumpf at Providence this coming season.
Jaxon Cover, LW6-1.5, 183DOB: Feb. 13, 2008Shoots: Left
If the Blackhawks are looking for a raw talent, Cover is a fascinating prospect. He grew up in the Cayman Islands who has played professional inline hockey in the United States. He had a good year for the London Knights and will remain with them for the coming season before matriculating to Penn State.
Adam Andersson, C6-4, 218DOB: July 2, 2008Shoots: Left
Andersson is a big center with good hands, some offensive creativity and a good skill level who competes at a high level. His rankings would say he’s probably more of a mid-round pick, but his stock has been sneaking up draft boards late in the process. He would be another long-game selection for the Blackhawks banking on development and betting on his size and compete.
Tomas Chrenko, C5-11, 172DOB: Nov. 2, 2007Shoots: Right
Chrenko falls into the category of many of the forwards the Blackhawks have drafted since Kyle Davidson took over as general manager. He can absolutely fly, his offensive skill is excellent and he’s played well against international competition (he’s represented Slovakia in two World Juniors already). The knocks here are his size and the fact that he hasn’t played against top-level competition outside of those international events.
Defensemen
William Håkansson, LHD6-4.5, 217DOB: Oct. 8, 2007Shoots: Left
Håkansson is a big defenseman who skates well for his size and is more of stay-home guy who plays the body and competes. Pronman listed Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech as a pro comp. He’s generally ranked around the late-first round area, but there are some questions about consistency that could see him slide into the early second for the Blackhawks.
Maksim Sokolovskii, LHD6-7.25, 240DOB: July 12, 2008Shoots: Left
Sokolovskii’s stock has been skyrocketing since the Draft Combine in Buffalo, seeing him go from a potential late-second round pick into late-first round talk in late mock drafts. He’s an enormous defenseman who is also a very good athlete, which checks a few boxes for the Blackhawks. He’s committed to play at Maine.
Nikita Shcherbakov, LHD6-3, 187DOB: Oct. 23, 2007Shoots: Left
Shcherbakov is another bigger left-handed defenseman who could be in the late-first round conversation. He’s committed to play in Russia for one more year, which would buy the Blackhawks some time to work with their current group before adding him to the mix. He moves well for a player of his size and wins pucks.
Jakub Vaněček, LHD6-2, 203DOB: Feb. 25, 2008Shoots: Left
Vaněček is a big, mobile defender who showed well on a fairly pedestrian Tri-City team in the WHL this past season. He isn’t going to wow anyone with his puck skills, but he has a great one-timer from the point and skates well. He was the No. 1 defenseman for Czechia at the U-18s and showed quite well in that showcase.
Hence then, the article about 2026 nhl draft potential second round targets for the chicago blackhawks was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( 2026 NHL Draft: Potential Second Round Targets for the Chicago Blackhawks )
Also on site :