Blackhawks Could Trade Fourth-Overall Pick as Nhl Trades Open
The Blackhawks could move the fourth-overall pick in nhl trades to add immediate roster help as the offseason opens after Carolina's Stanley Cup run. Chicago reached the 70-point mark for the first time in six years in 2025-26, but it also has 11 first-round picks over the past four years and three more first-round picks in 2027.
Chicago's Fourth-Overall Pick
That draft capital gives Chicago room to be aggressive. The Blackhawks hold the fourth-overall pick, and the idea is to use that asset if the top two forwards are gone, then try to bring in a player who can help the roster sooner.
Connor Bedard sits at the center of that thinking. If Ivar Stenberg is still available, the Blackhawks could pair him with Bedard, a move that would keep the pick in Chicago's hands while still aiming at immediate offense.
Carolina Opens The Offseason
The offseason officially opened Sunday night when the Carolina Hurricanes won their first Stanley Cup in two decades after a 16-3 postseason run. The NHL Draft is scheduled for June 26-27, and free agency is expected to follow a few days later, which gives teams a short window to sort out their trade plans before the market moves again.
Most teams are no longer dealing with cap issues, so the market should allow more creative deals than usual. Calgary also enters the picture with the sixth-overall pick, while Chicago's flexibility comes from the volume of first-round talent it has already added and the extra picks still coming in 2027.
Viggo Bjorck In The Mix
Viggo Bjorck is another name in that draft range. The Swedish forward and center had a strong season in Sweden's top league, then added six points in eight games at the senior men's world championship. At five-foot-nine and 180 pounds, he would be another option for a team weighing whether to keep its pick or turn it into help for the present.
For Chicago, the decision will come down to whether the fourth-overall pick is best spent on another prospect or used to bring in a player who can support Bedard sooner. With the draft only days before free agency, the Blackhawks have a clear chance to act while the market is still open and the premium picks still have value.
