The Chicago Blackhawks walked into Tuesday’s 2026 NHL Draft Lottery with high hopes, holding the second-best odds to land the No. 1 overall pick. But the hockey gods had other plans. The ping pong balls didn’t bounce Chicago’s way, dropping the team all the way to the fourth selection—the worst possible outcome for a squad that finished in the bottom three for the fourth straight season.

It’s a tough break for GM Kyle Davidson and his crew, especially with generational talents like Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg likely slipping out of reach. But the draft isn’t a total loss—there’s still plenty of talent at No. 4, and Davidson has already started mapping out potential targets for late June. For more on his reaction and what’s next, check the links below.

In brighter Blackhawks news, there’s a promising update on top prospect Roman Kantserov. With his KHL postseason run for Metallurg Magnitogorsk now wrapped up, the team’s Sporting Director, Evgeny Biryukov, told Championat that Kantserov is “likely” signing with Chicago this summer. That’s a huge boost for a franchise looking to stockpile young talent.

Around the NHL, the Colorado Avalanche are rolling, taking a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Minnesota Wild. The league also unveiled the three Calder Trophy finalists, highlighting the best rookies of the season. Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks are licking their chops at another chance to add to their already stacked prospect pool.

Back in Blackhawks country, Chicago Hockey Now dropped Part 3 of their 2025-26 Season Report Cards, grading veteran forwards Tyler Bertuzzi, Ilya Mikheyev, Andre Burakovsky, and Teuvo Teravainen. And don’t miss the ICYMI: the Rockford IceHogs made a coaching shakeup, relieving assistant Rob Klinhammer of his duties after four seasons behind the bench.

Whether you’re gearing up for draft day or just repping your favorite team, stay locked in for all the latest moves and moments.