How Youth, Draft Picks, and Lottery Odds Are Shaping the Blackhawks' Future
As the NHL hits pause for the Olympic break, the Chicago Blackhawks find themselves at a familiar crossroads - one that blends immediate development with long-term vision. The second half of the season won’t just be about wins and losses. It’ll be about how young this roster gets down the stretch and what pieces the front office might add to the puzzle through the draft and beyond.
Let’s break down where things stand and what lies ahead for a team still deep in its rebuild - but with plenty of intriguing possibilities on the horizon.
Youth Movement, Part II?
Last season, we saw the Blackhawks dip into their prospect pool late in the year, giving Ryan Greene, Oliver Moore, and Sam Rinzel their NHL debuts after their college seasons wrapped. That trend could continue this spring, and potentially expand.
Anton Frondell, the No. 3 overall pick in 2025, is a name to watch. The Swedish forward could make the jump to the NHL before season’s end.
There’s also a possibility that Sacha Boisvert turns pro after his college campaign, though that’s not set in stone. Roman Kantserov, meanwhile, appears more likely to wait until the 2026-27 season for his debut.
And don’t forget about players already in the system. Rinzel, Kevin Korchinski, and Nick Lardis could all return from AHL Rockford, while Artyom Levshunov is expected to rejoin the Blackhawks' lineup after the break.
In short, the youth movement is far from over. If anything, it’s just getting started - and the second half of this season could offer another glimpse into the future.
Draft Lottery Watch: Where Things Stand
Heading into the break, the Blackhawks own the sixth-worst points percentage in the league. That puts them in line for the sixth-best odds in the NHL Draft Lottery - a 7.5% shot at landing the No. 1 overall pick.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting: Chicago is still eligible to move up into a top-two pick spot. NHL rules allow a team to jump up in the lottery just twice over a five-year span. The Hawks have used one of those moves already - that was back in 2023, when they leapt from No. 3 to No. 1 and grabbed Connor Bedard.
In 2024 and 2025, they finished with the second- and third-worst records, respectively, but didn’t technically “win” the lottery either year. So, if the ping pong balls bounce their way again this spring, they’re still in play for another top-two leap.
The Bottom-Six Battle
While Vancouver has the league’s worst points percentage at .368, the Blackhawks are in a tight cluster of teams just ahead of them. St. Louis, the New York Rangers, Winnipeg, Calgary, and Chicago are all hovering around the same mark, with the Hawks at .465.
That group will likely shuffle a bit before season’s end, but odds are the Blackhawks will remain in the mix for a top-10 pick - and possibly better if they slide a little further in the standings.
Playoff Hopes? Not Likely, But Division Games Loom Large
Let’s be real - the playoff picture is a long shot. The Anaheim Ducks currently hold the second wild-card spot in the West with a .563 points percentage. For the Blackhawks to get into that conversation, they’d need to go on a serious heater over their final 25 games.
But that doesn’t mean the games don’t matter. Eleven of Chicago’s next 13 matchups are against Central Division opponents. That includes three against Utah, two apiece versus Nashville, Colorado, and Minnesota, and one each against Winnipeg and Dallas.
Even if the playoffs are out of reach, these games offer a crucial measuring stick - and a chance to evaluate how the young core stacks up against familiar foes.
The Florida Factor: A Draft Pick with Strings Attached
Here’s a subplot worth tracking closely: the Florida Panthers’ slide. Florida currently owns the league’s 10th-worst points percentage (.535), which gives them a 3.5% shot at the top pick.
Why does that matter in Chicago? Because the Blackhawks hold Florida’s 2026 first-round pick - but it’s top-10 protected.
If the Panthers stay in the bottom 10, they keep the pick this year, and the Blackhawks would instead receive Florida’s 2027 first-rounder. That 2027 pick, however, would not come with any protection.
So, if you’re a Hawks fan, you’re probably rooting for Florida to finish just outside the top 10 - enough to trigger the pick transfer this year.
Defense or Forward? Options Aplenty in 2026 Draft
Chicago is likely to keep targeting forwards high in the draft, but don’t rule out a defenseman if the right one is on the board. Right-handed blueliners Keaton Verhoeff and Chase Reid could be in play, depending on how the draft order shakes out.
Among the forwards, names like Ivar Stenberg, Tynan Lawrence, and Caleb Malhotra are worth keeping tabs on. Later in the first round, Oscar Hemming and Elton Hermansson could also be intriguing options.
The Blackhawks are building a pipeline, and the 2026 class looks like another opportunity to stockpile talent - especially with multiple picks in hand.
No-Go on McKenna
One name unlikely to appear on the Blackhawks’ draft board is Gavin McKenna. The talented forward was already a long shot before being charged with felony assault - and that situation has only further distanced him from Chicago’s plans.
Trade Deadline Ammo: Three Second-Round Picks
Looking ahead to the trade deadline, the Blackhawks have some flexibility. They already hold three second-round picks in 2026, and it’s possible they could add more if they move a veteran or two.
Whether they use those picks to draft or deal remains to be seen, but it’s another layer of optionality for a front office that’s clearly thinking long-term.
Bottom Line
The Blackhawks are still in the thick of their rebuild, but the pieces are starting to take shape. Between potential late-season prospect debuts, a strong hand in the 2026 draft, and intriguing lottery odds, there’s a lot to watch - even if the standings don’t reflect immediate success.
This is still a team laying its foundation. And while the growing pains are real, so is the potential.