The 2026 NHL Entry Draft is officially in the books. For the Chicago Blackhawks, we already know they gave up their No. 4 and No. 45 picks in the blockbuster trade for Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway, leaving them with six selections in all. However, they also traded their fourth-round pick to move up in the second round. This left them with five picks; two in the second round, one in the third, and two in the seventh round. Once it was all said and done, the organization selected three defensemen and two forwards in this year’s draft class.
Let’s take a look at each of these five selections, and what they can bring to the Blackhawks.
Blackhawks No. 34 Overall Selection: Xavier Villeneuve (D)
The Blackhawks got their 2026 draft started in the second round, selecting defenseman Xavier Villeneuve with the 34th pick. Villeneuve is a bit of a risky pick in that he’s only 5-foot-11, 162 pounds. But the Blackhawks think he still has plenty of room to grow and bulk up. They also feel he makes up for it with his dynamic style of play.
The left-shot D-man spent the last three seasons with the Blainsville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL. A hip injury limited Villeneuve to just 37 games last season, but be registered six goals and 38 points nonetheless. In his 2024-25 campaign he posted 12 goals and 62 points in 61 games. He’s committed to Boston University next season.
General manager Kyle Davidson also seemed super impressed with the Laval, Quebec native’s passion and drive from when he met him at the recent scouting combine earlier this month. Said Davidson, “He was one of those guys that really popped for me when I met him in person. I just loved the passion … that gives you a good belief he’s going to do everything possible in his power to become the player he can be.”
we. are. excited!! pic.twitter.com/T0NK18G9yN
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 27, 2026
Director of Amateur Scouting Mike Doneghey also added his two cents. “He’s an offensive play-driver, creator. He’s got a high IQ. His skating, it’s high end … his IQ & skillset was probably top of the class.”
Many pundits were surprised Villeneuve was still available in the second round, so the Blackhawks were happy to acquire him.
Blackhawks No. 37 Overall Selection: Ryan Roobroeck (LW)
The organization must’ve really wanted this next pick, because they traded their No. 37 and No. 119 selections to the New Jersey Devils to move up two spots to the 35th pick. With it, they selected left winger Ryan Roobroeck.
Roobroeck is a big body at 6-foot-3, 209 pounds, and it appears he knows how to put the puck in the back of the net. He’s spent the last three seasons with the OHL Niagara IceDogs. In the 2025-26 season, the London, ONT native recorded an impressive 30 goals and 58 points in 49 games. Said Doneghey, “When he was 15, he was under consideration for exception status, so he’s been on everyone’s radar for a long time. And he can score. Not a lot of guys that are 6-foot-3 and can score like he scores.”
Ryan Roobroeck YOU are a Chicago Blackhawk 🫵 pic.twitter.com/zl8tpaauHv
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 27, 2026
Additionally, Roobroeck captured a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship, registering four goals and nine points in seven games.
Blackhawks No. 66 Overall Selection: Samu Alalauri (D)
The Blackhawks held one pick in the third round, which they used to select another defenseman, Samu Alalauri. The Finnish native also has good size to him, at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds. The right-shot blueliner contributed six goals and 25 points in 40 regular season games with the Pelicans U20 of the U20 SM-sarja league in Finland.
Samu checking in from Finland 👋🇫🇮
see you soon!! pic.twitter.com/FnU1bmluoW
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 27, 2026
I don’t know about you, but I want to be on that beautiful lake where Alalauri is! Per Doneghey, “He can skate all day, he can handle the puck.” The Blackhawks’ scouting director further elaborated that Alalauri was one of two go-to defensemen on the Finland team. He’ll be attending UMass next season, which is the same college another Blackhawks’ prospect, Vaclav Nestrasil, was in last season. The Blackhawks seem to like this program, so they know Alalauri will be in good hands.
Blackhawks No. 194 Overall Selection: Alexander Ivanov (D)
Since the Blackhawks gave up their No. 119 pick (fourth round) to move up in the second round, they didn’t pick again until the seventh round. With the No. 194 selection, they enlisted a third defenseman in Alexander Ivanov.
with the 194th pick in the 2026 NHL Draft the Chicago Blackhawks select Alexander Ivanov‼️ pic.twitter.com/GsNzDO221b
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 27, 2026
This Russian D-man is a left shot and plays for the Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL. He measures in at 6-foot-2, 181 pounds. Doneghey talked about Ivanov being more of a long-term project, which makes sense since he’s a seventh-rounder. “It could be 3 years, four years (development). We have time with him.”
But Doneghey said it would be up to Ivanov to compete and prove his worth.
Blackhawks No. 200 Overall Selection: William Sorbrand (C)
Finally, the Blackhawks used the 200th pick to select Swedish center William Sorbrand. This is another big body; Sorbrand is 6-foot-3 and 203 pounds. He posted 10 goals and 18 points in 28 games with Timra IK (U20 Nationell) of the SHL last season, as well playing in five games with the higher tiered Timra IK.
welcome to the Chicago Blackhawks, William Sorbrand ❤️ pic.twitter.com/EhoerywfBW
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 27, 2026
Per Doneghey, “He can skate, he plays heavy. Secondary skill, like he chips pucks in from net front. He’s strong along the boards … he’s got a physical element too.”
With the exception of Villeneuve, the Blackhawks 2026 draft class featured some size. This should make fans happy, since many feel their current roster lacks size, strength and physicality.
Development camp commences on Monday (June 29), where we’ll have even more of an opportunity to get to know these new draftees, plus draftees from previous years who haven’t yet made the NHL ranks. For the first time in three years, the Blackhawks will be conducting on-ice practices during camp. GM Davidson indicated they’re doing this to create more of a development program for each player to take away.
Additionally, the NHL free agency period starts on Wednesday (July 1). Beyond the Byram trade, does Davidson have anything else up his sleeve in making some big additions to the roster?!
Keep it here at The Hockey Writers as we’ll have full coverage of development camp, free agency and all other offseason news and analysis. Never a dull moment with the Blackhawks!
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