"The Blackhawks own the Leafs' second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft from the Jake McCabe/Sam Lafferty trade before the 2023 NHL trade deadline. With the Blackhawks' own second-round pick resting comfortably at No. 34, having No. 37 as well would provide Kyle Davidson with two intriguing trade pieces this summer."
"The Islanders enjoyed an exciting season with No. 1 pick Matthew Schaefer running away with the Calder Trophy. But they didn't qualify for the playoffs, and currently sit 13th in the draft lottery standings."
"With that pick coming in the late-40s, Chicago should own three selections in the top half of the second round in June - and four of the top 50 overall picks in the 2026 NHL Draft."
"The 2025-26 season was the first big step in establishing a proof of concept of Davidson's draft-and-develop rebuild strategy, and the organization can now make more definitive moves."
As the NHL regular season nears its end, the performance of certain teams will influence the Blackhawks' draft and trade strategies. The Toronto Maple Leafs, currently fifth in the draft lottery, have given the Blackhawks a second-round pick from a previous trade. The New York Islanders, despite a strong rookie performance, are positioned poorly in the lottery and will also contribute a second-round pick to the Blackhawks. This positions Chicago favorably for the upcoming draft, with multiple high-value picks.
Read at Bleacher Nation
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