Blackhawks will select 4th in the NHL draft. Here are 5 prospects they should consider.

CHICAGO — The Chicago Blackhawks didn’t get lucky in the NHL draft lottery, dropping two spots to the No. 4 pick. It puts them in a weird spot — they might not be able to draft the game-changer they were hoping for, but general manager Kyle Davidson didn’t exactly jump at the idea of trading down.

Still, Davidson said all options are on the table regarding the pick and that the Hawks are in “best player available” mode. While top prospects Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg likely will be gone when they’re on the clock, the teams in front of them — the Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks and Vancouver Canucks — do have other needs to address: The Leafs and Sharks desperately need defensemen while the Canucks need … everything.

Here’s a closer look at five prospects — including Stenberg — whom the Hawks should consider with the fourth pick:

Chase Reid, RHD, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

This draft class is full of quality defensemen, and a young, high-potential blue-liner is rarely a bad choice. You can pick and choose who’s the best among a handful of defensemen this year, but Reid, 18, may be the standout.

He missed six weeks after suffering an undisclosed upper-body injury in February, briefly halting an impressive season. He didn’t lose any steam upon his return and finished with 48 points (18 goals, 30 assists) in 45 regular-season games, plus six points in 10 playoff games. In 2024-25, he led all OHL rookies with 33 assists.

Reid has a knack for killing opposing breakaways and retrieving loose pucks, which makes up for not being the most physical defenseman at 6-foot-2, 187 pounds. It isn’t his main selling point, but retrieving those pucks could keep possessions alive for a Hawks team that struggled mightily in 5-on-5 this past season.

His skating and playmaking put him above other defenseman prospects. The idea is tempting that he could one day quarterback a Hawks power play that finished 29th in the NHL at 16.9%.

Reid has been committed to Michigan State since August 2024 and is expected to play for the Spartans in 2026-27. It would be an interesting pick for the Hawks, who are already right-handed-heavy on defense with Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel and Louis Crevier.

Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

Hawks forward Nick Lardis was teased during his exit interview about pressuring Davidson into drafting additional talent from Brantford. Lardis piled up 117 points (71 goals, 46 assists) in the 2024-25 regular season for the Bulldogs and recently attended one of their playoff games, so he saw that Malhotra is picking up where he left off.

Malhotra, 17, quickly raised his draft stock with a red-hot postseason, totaling 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) in 15 games. The eye-opening stats complemented his 84 regular-season points (29 goals, 55 assists) in 67 games.

He leans on his 6-2, 183-pound frame as an aggressive but smart center who can play in any situation. His two-way game would make for an easier transition to a young, rebuilding team.

Malhotra is committed to Boston University for the 2026-27 season.

“What a player he is,” BU coach Jay Pandolfo told The Athletic. “I’ve watched most of his playoff games, and you can still see that the strength portion for him will show up more at this level than it does in the OHL, but his sense and everything that goes along with it.”

If the Hawks do pick Malhotra at No. 4, he likely would start out as the third- or fourth-line center when he gets to the NHL — with Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar ahead of him, plus Anton Frondell if he stays at center— or else he could flip to a wing spot.

Carson Carels, LHD, Prince George Cougars (WHL)

If you need a defenseman who can cosplay as a forward, Carels might be your guy.

In his second full WHL season, he totaled 73 points (20 goals, 53 assists) in 58 regular-season games, with 10 more points in 10 playoff games. He was fourth among WHL blue-liners in points and fifth in goals.

His rapid decision-making accentuates the effectiveness of his shot, and he gains speed quickly. Carels, 17, didn’t have the best showing for Canada in the IIHF World Junior Championship, with just one assist in five games and getting healthy scratched in two, but he’s growing as a player.

Carels is scrappy for his age, as evident in his 66 penalty minutes with the Cougars this past season, and he’s not afraid to lay a hit or use his stick. Cleaning up his overall game would be a priority if the Hawks select him.

Veteran Matthew Grzelcyk will be a free agent this summer, potentially opening a spot on the left side behind Alex Vlasic and Wyatt Kaiser. Restricted free agent Kevin Korchinski is expected to re-sign with the Hawks, so Carels likely would be looking at some time in Rockford for his first pro experience.

Keaton Verhoeff, RHD, North Dakota (NCAA)

Another right-handed defenseman, but Verhoeff’s 6-4, 212-pound frame would be a scary sight bulldozing at an opposing NHL player. He uses his stature for more than hitting people — although he does that too. He’s active in the neutral zone and shuts down lanes, ending offensive opportunities before they start.

The offensive numbers aren’t jaw-dropping — 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 36 games as a freshman — but Verhoeff, 17, was notably the third-youngest player in Division I hockey last season. Decision-making is a weakness; there were plays in which his execution resulted in ugly sequences.

He won’t turn 18 until June 19, so there’s time for him to polish things up — especially with another season at North Dakota.

Ivar Stenberg, LW/RW, Frölunda HC (SHL)

Hawks fans saw the lottery ping-pong balls come out in favor of the Leafs and Sharks and promptly buried their hopes for Stenberg. But despite that initial disappointment, it’s not impossible that the Swedish winger could fall into the arms of Davidson and the Hawks, as some mock drafts have both the Sharks and Canucks taking defensemen.

Stenberg made noise in the 2025-26 Swedish Hockey League season with 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 43 games, plus four assists in six playoff games. While his numbers were lower than those of McKenna and Malhotra, his poise and ability to produce in a professional league opened eyes. He’s active with his stick and produces on defense or offense — one way or another — every game.

He played alongside Frondell in the World Juniors this past winter, totaling 10 points (four goals, six assists) in seven games during Sweden’s gold-medal run. If Frondell’s play with the Hawks this spring is indicative, Stenberg’s adaptation to the NHL should be smooth — important for a Hawks team with some pressure to perform sooner than later.

A Stenberg-Bedard-Frondell top line might equate to a large tally of goals. But as nice as that sounds, it remains unlikely that Stenberg will fall out of the top three.

____