3 options for the Chicago Blackhawks if they win the NHL Draft Lottery

The Chicago Blackhawks will find out where they will be selecting in the first round on Monday when the NHL Draft Lottery takes place. For the first time, the lottery drawing will take place live.

The Blackhawks go into Monday's lottery with the second-best odds of winning the No. 1 overall pick. However, it would be in the Hawks' best interest not to win the lottery.

One reason would be that the Blackhawks could not move up in the draft for the next two years. While the hope is that the team is making the playoffs during that time, it would be nice to have the flexibility to move up in the 2026 draft when Gavin McKenna is expected to be the player every team tanks for next season.

The other reason is that defenseman Matthew Schaefer is considered the best prospect in the draft. The Blackhawks already have an abundance of young defensive prospects. They need a forward talented enough to skate with Connor Bedard for the next ten years more than they need another young defensive player.

However, taking Schaefer is one of three options the Blackhawks have if they do win the NHL Draft Lottery.

It can never hurt to have another defenseman who projects to be a top-pair blueliner. Imagine a defensive group of Schaefer, Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel, Kevin Korchinski, Alex Vlasic, and Ethan Del Mastro.

That could be a better group than when the Hawks had Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Johnny Oduya.

Plus, the Hawks still have Wyatt Kaiser and Nolan Allan, who are still talented young defensemen.

Also, it could never hurt to have another high-ceiling defensive prospect since sometimes a young player does not pan out--at least with the team that drafts him.

Nick Leddy had to go somewhere else to carve out a career. Adam Boqvist never panned out. Additionally, if there is plenty of high-quality young depth, it can be a source to build a trade to get an impact forward.

Drafting Michael Misa is the second option.

While draft experts may have Schaefer No. 1 on their board, it will come down to who the Blackhawks have at the top of their board.

It could be Michael Misa. The big, highly skilled, fast-skating forward is the player who would be ideal to pair up with Bedard on the top line for years to come.

Maybe, the Blackhawks deem him the best player available, especially since his skating ability is highly regarded. That is a trait the front office craves in a prospect.

Also, the Hawks could copy what the Anaheim Ducks and Columbus Blue Jackets have done and buck the prognosticators. The Ducks stunned the draft world in 2023 when they took Leo Carlsson with the second-overall pick. That was the draft everyone believed Adam Fantilli was the second-best prospect and a guarantee to go second.

They then chose Beckett Sennecke with the No. 3 overall pick in last year's draft over Ivan Demidov, who many thought the Blackhawks should have taken No. 2 overall. The Blue Jackets also passed Demidov at No. 4 when they stunned many by taking Cayden Lindstrom.

That is why you cannot always think the consensus top prospects will be the ones taken according to the order a publication lists them. This draft also does not have a surefire generational talent like the last two ones, so it is not radical to just take Misa over Schaefer.

Trade down is the final option.

The Blackhawks may have what feels like a 1000 draft picks, but it cannot hurt to draft a few spots down and pick up some more draft capital.

The key is obviously not moving too far down. Maybe one of the other teams in the top four desperately wants Schaefer. The Hawks should take advantage and see if they could move a few slots down while still being in a position to pick up Misa.

James Hagens would also be a nice consolation prize. He could be available at the third or even fourth overall pick. While he is not as big as Misa, he is highly skilled. The Hawks could slide down a few spots, pick up some more premium picks, and still come away with a highly talented prospect.