Blackhawks on the Cusp of Historic Draft Pick Bump, or Is it All for Naught?
The Chicago Blackhawks' current position in the standings may have fans and analysts alike wondering what the future holds for the team. With a 51-point tally thus far, they're not guaranteed another top-three pick, but there's still a possibility that they'll end up with two entries in the NHL Draft lottery - the No.1 and No.2 picks - at the same time.
It's worth noting that this scenario would put them at an 8.7% chance of landing each of those picks. The Hawks are currently tied for fifth-fewest points in the league, but a late surge from teams like the Panthers or Rangers could change their standing significantly.
The Panthers' situation is particularly concerning, as they've been struggling and now find themselves just eight points behind the Sabres for the last wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The team has made an impressive comeback into the playoffs before, thanks in part to the Hawks' efforts last season.
One major factor working in the Hawks' favor is the trade that brought goalie Spencer Knight aboard. They also acquired defenseman Seth Jones in a deal that would have given them a top-16 pick even if they hadn't gotten the Panthers' first-round selection.
The 2026 NHL Draft class has become increasingly murky, with no clear consensus on who will be among the top picks. Players like Ivar Stenberg, Gavin McKenna, and Tynan Lawrence are currently at the forefront of the conversation for top-five picks, not to mention potential selections in the top-10 range.
While it's impossible to predict how things will play out over the next few months, one thing is certain - with two relatively high draft picks on the table, the Hawks could snag both a forward and a defenseman, potentially bolstering their prospects for years to come.
The Chicago Blackhawks' current position in the standings may have fans and analysts alike wondering what the future holds for the team. With a 51-point tally thus far, they're not guaranteed another top-three pick, but there's still a possibility that they'll end up with two entries in the NHL Draft lottery - the No.1 and No.2 picks - at the same time.
It's worth noting that this scenario would put them at an 8.7% chance of landing each of those picks. The Hawks are currently tied for fifth-fewest points in the league, but a late surge from teams like the Panthers or Rangers could change their standing significantly.
The Panthers' situation is particularly concerning, as they've been struggling and now find themselves just eight points behind the Sabres for the last wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The team has made an impressive comeback into the playoffs before, thanks in part to the Hawks' efforts last season.
One major factor working in the Hawks' favor is the trade that brought goalie Spencer Knight aboard. They also acquired defenseman Seth Jones in a deal that would have given them a top-16 pick even if they hadn't gotten the Panthers' first-round selection.
The 2026 NHL Draft class has become increasingly murky, with no clear consensus on who will be among the top picks. Players like Ivar Stenberg, Gavin McKenna, and Tynan Lawrence are currently at the forefront of the conversation for top-five picks, not to mention potential selections in the top-10 range.
While it's impossible to predict how things will play out over the next few months, one thing is certain - with two relatively high draft picks on the table, the Hawks could snag both a forward and a defenseman, potentially bolstering their prospects for years to come.
They've been doing so well this season and it's crazy to think they might end up with TWO top picks in the draft! 
I know it's not a done deal yet, but can you imagine how epic it would be if they got both?! 
They're already looking strong with Spencer Knight as their goalie and Seth Jones on D, so that would take their prospects to whole new levels 
Let's keep our fingers crossed for them!!! 
. The coaching has been pretty stagnant this season, and it's not helping them gain ground on those teams. But at the same time, a couple of high picks would be a huge boost for their prospects... I mean, who wouldn't want to see some of those young guns coming up through the ranks? 
. If they can somehow squeak in, that'd be a huge win for their fans. But if they don't, it's gonna be tough for the Hawks to get those picks... still hope for 'em though! 
They've got this crazy opportunity to grab those top draft picks & it's defo gonna boost their youngins' futures 
. I mean yeah Panthers or Rangers could still give them a run for their money but I think they've been doing pretty well lately 
. We can't predict what'll happen in 2 months but if da Hawks can stay steady & come from behind it's anyone's game 
! If they can pull off those top 2 picks, it'll be huge for their future! I've been following them all season and they've been so inconsistent, but with guys like Knight and Jones on board, that trade made total sense. Now if they can just keep moving forward and get some of these young players onto the roster, who knows what could happen? They'd have a solid foundation to build from 
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. They've got some serious work to do if they wanna make a playoff push. And what's up with this goalie Knight? Is he really going to save their season single-handedly? I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out...
. But with Knight and Jones on board, they got a solid foundation. And that draft class is SO deep 
. If Hawks get both picks, watch out NHL!
. They've made some smart moves with Spencer Knight and Seth Jones, but I'm not convinced it's going to be enough to get them two top picks 
.
, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that maybe all this hype around their draft picks is just a way to distract us from how cluttered our lives are 
... like, do we really need two top picks? can't we just focus on finding the one thing that actually matters? 
...
Can you even imagine how epic it would be for them to draft a talented forward AND a defensemen at the same time?! 
I'm keeping my fingers crossed they can make a late push and snag those spots 
. And can you believe they've got Seth Jones on board too? It's like the stars are aligning in their favor 
️. Now, I know the Panthers situation is kinda worrisome, but we gotta keep our fingers crossed 
!
, gotta say though, with spencer knight in goal, that trade was genius 