Blackhawks Eyeing a Swap with Sharks at No. 2 — Here’s What It Would Cost Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks hold the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, but league chatter suggests general manager Kyle Davidson might try to jump ahead by two spots. The target: the San Jose Sharks’ No. 2 overall selection.

According to The Athletic’s Scott Powers, Davidson and Sharks GM Mike Grier are expected to talk about a potential swap this summer in Buffalo. Moving up just two slots doesn’t sound dramatic — but in a draft where talent drops sharply after the top tier, it could mean everything.

Why Chicago Wants In

The Blackhawks are believed to have their eye on Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg, a prospect many scouts rank among the top two. If they sit at No. 4, Stenberg could easily be gone. By moving to No. 2, Chicago locks in the player they value most — a move that fits a rebuilding team impatient to accelerate its timeline.

Powers reported that a deal sending the No. 2 pick to Chicago would likely require the Blackhawks to part with their No. 4 pick plus a future first-rounder (probably from Edmonton or Florida in 2027) and a 2026 third-round pick, based on PuckPedia’s draft pick valuation tool.

Why San Jose Might Say Yes

San Jose’s roster is loaded with young forwards. What they lack is a top-tier defenseman in the pipeline. By sliding back two spots, the Sharks could still land a blue-chip blueliner — Sault Ste. Marie’s Chase Reid is the name most often linked — while picking up extra draft assets. “If the Sharks are targeting a defenseman, as many people assume, it could make sense for them to obtain the Blackhawks’ pick, gain another draft pick or two and still get the player they want,” Powers wrote.

It’s a classic win-now-for-the-future scenario: San Jose fills a positional need and restocks its pick pool, while Chicago targets a specific forward without waiting until June.

Rare but Possible

Trades inside the top five don’t happen every year in the NHL. But Powers noted that this is a situation worth monitoring as draft day approaches. “That type of NHL trade doesn’t happen that often, but it could make sense. We’ll see. It might not be discussed until days or hours before the draft.”

Neither team has confirmed anything, and the conversations could still fall apart. But if the Blackhawks get serious about Stenberg, this trade could be the move that reshapes the first round — and sets up two franchises for very different futures.