2026 Draft Thread - Hawks with 4th overall pick

[Castle8130]

Although I think Bjorck is the best player available after Stenberg, I no longer want Bjorck for our team specifically. Thought more about our current players and Bjorck is a bad fit even if he does turn out to be the stud I think he will be. For the Hawks, my preference in order is;

Mckenna

Stenberg
Reid
Malhotra
Smits
Carels
Rudolph

Bjorck
Verhoeff

How I have them ranked as BPA;

Mckenna
Stenberg
Bjorck
Smits
Reid
Malhotra
Carels
Rudolph
Verhoeff

 

[bwanajamba]

https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/nhl/san-jose-sharks/2026-nhl-mock-draft/1942979/?amp=1

Interesting project here from San Jose beat writer Sheng Peng, who contacted a bunch of beat writers from other teams for a top 20 mock draft. He has the Sharks taking Reid and interestingly enough, Nucks writer Thomas Drance, who in my limited experience seems very plugged in, still thinks they're going with Malhotra.

"I think he represents a lot from a character, work ethic, positional value perspective that they want to be about in this next rebuild, despite some of the associated awkwardness of hiring Manny [as head coach], and then potentially drafting his son. The sense I get is that it'll be very difficult for them to pass on him, even if Ivar Stenberg remains on the board.”

If there's a smokescreen then he could certainly be in on it, but thought it was worth a mention

(Our boy Ben Pope took Stenberg at 4)

 

[TLEH]

If they pass on Stenberg and he’s there I’ll have real questions about what we’re doing here.

 

[Rumpus Boston]

If they pass on Stenberg and he’s there I’ll have real questions about what we’re doing here.

Is there a possibility that Toronto goes galaxy brain and takes Reid?

 

[10YearsAfter]

Although I think Bjorck is the best player available after Stenberg, I no longer want Bjorck for our team specifically. Thought more about our current players and Bjorck is a bad fit even if he does turn out to be the stud I think he will be. For the Hawks, my preference in order is;

Mckenna

Stenberg
Reid
Malhotra
Smits
Carels
Rudolph

Bjorck
Verhoeff

How I have them ranked as BPA;

Mckenna
Stenberg
Bjorck
Smits
Reid
Malhotra
Carels
Rudolph
Verhoeff

Why take reid,malhotra over your BPA Smits ? thinking too hard - perhaps

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Is there a possibility that Toronto goes galaxy brain and takes Reid?

Nope

They are taking McKenna and there is no doubt

 

[Castle8130]

Why take reid,malhotra over your BPA Smits ? thinking too hard - perhaps

All very close. If the Hawks had a future powerplay defenseman or a 200 foot centerman, I'd have Smits above them. I have Reid as a near dead tie with Smits and feel Reid would be better for our team long term. Smits is a great player, but I'm not confident in his long term power-play abilities and I don't like Levshunov or Rinzel as a PP QB

 

[MicronMega]

McKenna is a lock at #1. But, after that its anyones guess. SJ media is saying to take Reid, Vancouver media wants Malhotra and Chicago media wants Stenberg. The question is, who do the scouts and GM's want?

If Chicago ends up with Stenberg it will be a perfect storm. I am more confident that SJ takes Reid than I am Vancouver passing on Stenberg. Malhotra is a tough pass for Vancouver because of the Dad, but coaches usually don't get a say in who gets drafted.

12 days and we find out who the next piece of the puzzle is.

 

[Kevin Musto]

If they pass on Stenberg and he’s there I’ll have real questions about what we’re doing here.

Smits over Stenberg makes a lot of sense

 

[giza]

I don't see Smits fighting.....Carels brings it all.

 

[Kevin Musto]

I don't see Smits fighting.....Carels brings it all.

I'm all for Carels being the pick, but I ain't drafting someone 4th overall for their ability to fight

 

[Cashman]

I don't see Smits fighting.....Carels brings it all.

The boy is country strong!

 

[deytookerjaabs]

All very close. If the Hawks had a future powerplay defenseman or a 200 foot centerman, I'd have Smits above them. I have Reid as a near dead tie with Smits and feel Reid would be better for our team long term. Smits is a great player, but I'm not confident in his long term power-play abilities and I don't like Levshunov or Rinzel as a PP QB

We got 3 cups with Keith on the power play. Some teams with great offensive playmaking D can't get a power play going. Some teams have forwards QB a power play. A lot of great power plays weren't build on elite vision but quick movement, chemistry and using individual player's best assets.

Just go read the Korchinski profiles, high risk and can't play defense but considered a bonafide stud power play guy with high end vision. It's all fun and games until you prove you can do it against the best.

 

[Blackhawks]

Unless we get very lucky with Stenberg, KD is gonna manage to find the bust of this draft and grab him

 

[Toews2Bickell]

We got 3 cups with Keith on the power play. Some teams with great offensive playmaking D can't get a power play going. Some teams have forwards QB a power play. A lot of great power plays weren't build on elite vision but quick movement, chemistry and using individual player's best assets.

Just go read the Korchinski profiles, high risk and can't play defense but considered a bonafide stud power play guy with high end vision. It's all fun and games until you prove you can do it against the best.

would love to see Crevier get some PP time with that shot

 

[Giovi]

would love to see Crevier get some PP time with that shot

Watch Gostisbehere distribute from the point on the pp and tell me you've seen anything that would indicate to you that Crevier has the vision and hockey iq to do anything like that. He rarely even makes any kind of decent breakout pass. He just doesn't have that in him.

It's about more than the shot for a pp point man.

 

[pvr]

We got 3 cups with Keith on the power play. Some teams with great offensive playmaking D can't get a power play going. Some teams have forwards QB a power play. A lot of great power plays weren't build on elite vision but quick movement, chemistry and using individual player's best assets.

Just go read the Korchinski profiles, high risk and can't play defense but considered a bonafide stud power play guy with high end vision. It's all fun and games until you prove you can do it against the best.

The Hawks’ power play during those years was disappointing. Kane et al. would have had better stats if it functioned as well as it should have.

 

[Muffinalt]

Don’t remember being this relaxed before a draft, basically ever.

Whoever the pick ends up being between Malhotra, Stenberg and Reid I will be equally happy and excited, just for different reasons.

Even the ‘fall back options’ in Carels and Smits sound wonderful.

Was never a McKenna fan, so this is perfect for me. Just no Verhoeff.

Gotta trust they pick the best guy!

 

[Dead Meat]

Watch Gostisbehere distribute from the point on the pp and tell me you've seen anything that would indicate to you that Crevier has the vision and hockey iq to do anything like that. He rarely even makes any kind of decent breakout pass. He just doesn't have that in him.

It's about more than the shot for a pp point man.

Can we settle for him on the 5 on 3 advantage just ripping death threats at anybody in the way?

 

[ColbyChaos]

I dont think it is a slam dunk at all he would break camp with the Hawks.

He very much would

 

[ello]

Don’t remember being this relaxed before a draft, basically ever.

Whoever the pick ends up being between Malhotra, Stenberg and Reid I will be equally happy and excited, just for different reasons.

Even the ‘fall back options’ in Carels and Smits sound wonderful.

Was never a McKenna fan, so this is perfect for me. Just no Verhoeff.

Gotta trust they pick the best guy!

In a way KD got lucky we fell to 4

 

[Hull2Roenick2Kane]

In a way KD got lucky we fell to 4

its only lucky because whos in front. SJ needs a d and this is a D heavy draft. Van just decided to full rebuild and usually you want a 200ft center to start off. If they decide to galaxy brain, well good luck to them.

 

[Northernhawk]

How about this?

Instead of HOPING Stenberg is still available at #4 why not trade with San Jose and guarantee getting him at #2

My proposal…

Hawks trade 2026 #4 and #45 to Sharks for #2 and #62…

The Sharks can still get the top defenceman they want at #4 and move a second rounder up 17 spots…

 

[Mjul Qvist]

2026 NHL Draft Ranking - HockeyProspect.com

HockeyProspect.com has produced NHL Draft Rankings for eligible draft prospects for the NHL Draft since 2004.

hockeyprospect.com

Viggo Björk number one. I love it and I love Viggo! Hockeyprospect is probably one of the best if not the best one out there when evaluating draft prospects.

 

[ndgt10]

How about this?

Instead of HOPING Stenberg is still available at #4 why not trade with San Jose and guarantee getting him at #2

My proposal…

Hawks trade 2026 #4 and #45 to Sharks for #2 and #62…

The Sharks can still get the top defenceman they want at #4 and move a second rounder up 17 spots…

Wouldn't be enough.