Blackhawks would do well to target forwards in 2nd round of 2026 NHL Draft

The Chicago Blackhawks remedied part of their organizational needs by acquiring Bowen Byram from the Buffalo Sabres this week. That situation mean jettisoning the fourth-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. That said, we’re operating under the assumption that GM Kyle Davidson will just keep the picks he has and bring in yet another high-end prospect, if some should become available in the second round.

The club has two picks in the second round, leading off with No. 34 and then No. 37. Those picks could allow the Blackhawks to potentially pick players with first-round talent that somehow slip through the cracks of the first round.

With Byram in the fold, it would make sense for the Blackhawks to target forwards with their two second-round selections. One such forward is Casey Mutryn out of the US National Development Program.

Mutryn has size at 6'3" and 203 pounds. He has the makings of the a power forward, even if his numbers aren't overly spectacular. Mutryn notched 18 goals and 46 points in 62 games this past season with the U18 squad. However, it remains to be seen if he can find similar success in the NCAA.

Yes, there is a sense of urgency regarding a top-line winger. The Blackhawks are clearly looking to contend this upcoming season. After all, that was the whole point of the Byram trade.

But beyond the immediate need for a top-six caliber winger, Chicago can't lose sight of the ultimate goal: Building a successful contender for years to come. And if that means delaying such a player's arrival, so be it. The long-term impact is much more important than short-term gains.

Another player to keep an eye on is Yegor Shilov. The Russian forward is a center, brimming with promise. Like Mutryn, he'll be heading to the NCAA with Penn State this upcoming season.

Shilov lit up the QMJHL this past season, scoring 32 goals and 82 points in 63 games with the Victoriaville Tigers. Granted, QMJHL numbers should come with a grain of salt. But they're still impressive enough to warrant close attention.

While the Blackhawks could sort of go against the grain here and take a defenseman, loading up with the potential NHL-caliber forwards does something crucial for the organization: It builds additional trade capital.

As implausible as it may seem, the Blackhawks should utilize their draft picks and prospects to potentially create the sort of capital needed to land crucial players to round out the team's young roster.

Since free agency won't offer much in the way of star power, the trade market will be the best path forward to land the sort of pieces the club wants to target. So, it remains to be seen what the Blackhawks will do as the team moves toward the next phase of its rebuild.

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