Chicago Blackhawks
· 2026-07-01
The Chicago Blackhawks entered the 2026 NHL Entry Draft with eight picks, but after trading the No. 4 and No. 45 picks to the Buffalo Sabres, they were left with six.
The Blackhawks used their first pick, No. 34, to select defenseman Xavier Villeneuve from the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League’s Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.
Villeneuve scored six goals and got 38 points in the regular season, despite missing a chunk of the 2025-26 season due to injury.
General manager Kyle Davidson made strategic trades to acquire the players he wanted, including swapping second-round picks with the New Jersey Devils to select left winger Ryan Roobroeck.
Roobroeck is a skilled goal-scoring winger who can make plays both from distance and in tight, and is set to play the 2026-27 season for the Guelph Storm.
The Blackhawks currently stand 15th in the Western Conference with a 29-39 record, on a W1 streak.
The Blackhawks will look to develop their new players, including Villeneuve, who will spend the 2026-27 season with the Boston University Terriers to work on his craft.
Villeneuve is a boom-or-bust prospect, but if he develops properly in college, he could become a top contributor on the Blackhawks.
And with the right development, Roobroeck could be a good piece for the Blackhawks in future seasons.
But for now, the team will focus on the upcoming season, looking to improve their standing in the Western Conference.
The Blackhawks' draft selections have the potential to make a significant impact on the team's performance, and fans will be watching closely to see how they develop.
So the future looks bright for the Chicago Blackhawks, with a mix of experienced players and new talent.