Chicago Blackhawks Draft High-Upside Prospects in 2026 NHL Draft

The Chicago Blackhawks drafted Xavier Villeneuve and Ryan Roobroeck in the 2nd round of the 2026 NHL Draft.

What happened in the draft?

The Blackhawks had to wait until day two to make their first selection after packaging the fourth overall pick to the Buffalo Sabres.

They used their first two picks on players with first-round talent, including Villeneuve, a 5-foot-11, 163-pound left-handed defenseman.

Villeneuve tallied 38 points in 37 games for Blainville-Boisbriand in the 2025-26 regular season.

Who are the drafted players?

Villeneuve has a first-round skill set, with excellent skating mechanics and a dynamic offensive makeup as a defenseman.

He has drawn comparisons to Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, who also slipped into the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft.

Ryan Roobroeck, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound center, recorded 58 points in 49 games for the Niagara IceDogs in the 2025-26 regular season.

Why it matters for Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks have been searching for more players with size and skill for their top-six/top-nine forward group, and Roobroeck brings that to the table.

With a 29-39 record and standing 15th in the Western Conference, the Blackhawks are looking to improve their roster.

The team is on a W1 streak, and these draft picks could be a step in the right direction.

What comes next for the team?

The Blackhawks will look to develop Villeneuve and Roobroeck, and see how they fit into the team's lineup.

Villeneuve is heading to Boston University for his freshman year of college hockey in 2026-27, the same place Hutson called home from 2022-2024.

The Blackhawks' general manager, Kyle Davidson, must have been pleased with how the draft played out, as the team stayed home and used their first two picks on high-upside prospects.