We’re now three days removed from the night the Chicago Blackhawks lost the NHL Draft Lottery, with both the Maple Leafs and Sharks jumping over them and the Canucks for picks No. 1 and 2. The rumor mill has been flying, with analysts and insiders admitting that the pick is wide open if the Blackhawks make it, as Chicago could end up with anyone from Ivar Stenberg to Caleb Malhotra.
But what if they don’t make the pick at all?
When GM Kyle Davidson spoke with the media on Tuesday, he noted the rarity of trading a top-five pick in the NHL, but also mentioned that he’s open to trade talks. And with the Blackhawks looking to make a splash on the trade market this summer, packaging the No. 4 overall pick might be the way to do it. If Chicago wants to acquire a big piece to accelerate its nearly-completed rebuild, the best way to do that isn’t by taking a player No. 4 overall, so the fact that they lost the draft lottery might be a blessing in disguise.
With the No. 4 pick included, the Blackhawks could pick up a real superstar to play next to Connor Bedard, which was the plan all along. We’ve made it very clear that they don’t need any more prospects and the cupboards are fully stocked, and they own three second-rounders this year and three first-rounders next year, so Davidson has plenty of ammunition to work with. When he picks up the phone this month to make a deal, four names stand out as superstar trade targets.
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Maple Leafs: William Nylander OR Matthew Knies
Blackhawks Receive: William Nylander OR Matthew Knies
Maple Leafs Receive: 1.04, Oliver Moore, 2026 2nd
Now that the Leafs own the first overall pick, they won’t be entering any sort of rebuild after all—but they can’t pay everyone. Knies has been tied to the Blackhawks for months now, and the rumored mutual interest is promising. Both he and Nylander would probably fetch a similar asking price at this point, but the above package might be enough to get the job done. Nylander is 30 years old and will be paid $11.5 million annually through 2032, while Knies is 23 and will earn $7.75 million until 2031. Knies fits Chicago better at this point, but Nylander is the bigger star. Either way, the Blackhawks would be getting a superstar to play next to Bedard on the top line, and with the Leafs having less than $1.8 million in projected cap space, Chicago might be able to pounce.
Predators: Filip Forsberg
Blackhawks Receive: Filip Forsberg
Predators Receive: 1.04, Martin Misiak, 2026 2nd
Forsberg may not be as appealing of a candidate as Nylander or Knies, but Nashville’s asking price would be lower. Now 31 years old and being paid $8.5 million until 2030, Forsberg’s production hasn’t slipped, notching 40 goals this season. The Predators aren’t in much cap trouble, but after a sixth-place finish in the Central Division, a hard reset could be just what they need. What better way to do that than picking up another top-10 pick and a raw 21-year-old prospect? In return, the Blackhawks would lock down a proven veteran winger without an absurd cap hit.
Canucks: Elias Pettersson
Blackhawks Receive: Elias Pettersson
Canucks Receive: 1.04, Oliver Moore, 2026 3rd
Yet another team already picking inside the top 10 adds a pick. The Canucks, who already own the third-overall pick this year, seem to be entering full rebuild mode after trading Quinn Hughes and finishing with the league’s worst record. With $2.7 million in projected cap space, they’ll be looking to sell some of their biggest cap eaters, so this move seems like a win-win. Vancouver offloads by far its biggest contract ($11.6 million until 2032) and owns picks 1.03 and 1.04 while picking up Oliver Moore, and Chicago buys low on a 27-year-old (previously) point-per-game scorer who can play a huge role on the top line—and one they can afford to pay.
