The Chicago Blackhawks finished the 2024-25 season at the bottom of the NHL standings. The finish earned them another Lottery Pick, landing the third-overall selection. The pick resulted in high-end prospect Anton Frondell.
But this upcoming season, the Blackhawks have a powerful reason for a last-place finish: Gavin McKenna. McKenna is the early top pick for the 2026 NHL Draft. He’s considered a generational talent and has drawn comparisons to another Blackhawks legend: Patrick Kane.
The Blackhawks already have a generational talent in Connor Bedard. So, doesn’t it sound tantalizing to add a second one? It’s too much to resist the idea of adding Gavin McKenna to a club already boasting Bedard.
It would be like bringing back Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. Toews and Kane were the cornerstones of the Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup wins in the 2010s. And that destiny could return if Chicago could land the number-one pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
But getting that pick would mean another lost season. It would mean one more year of finishing near the bottom of the standings in order to have a decent chance at winning the NHL Draft Lottery.
Given the circumstances, however, the Blackhawks could embrace the idea of one more “bad” season. The idea of landing Gavin McKenna could be incentive enough to put fans through yet another season of subpar results on the ice.
Just How Good is Gavin McKenna?
Gavin McKenna is about as good as they come. He’s been compared to previous top-overall picks, Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini. Since McKenna is not a center, his most reasonable comparison is Patrick Kane.
Scouting reports praise McKenna for having an elite shot and superior skating skills. He’s fast and can seemingly score at will.
McKenna destroyed the WHL last season with the Medicine Hat Tigers, scoring 41 goals and 129 points in 56 games. That situation prompted him to move from the WHL and join Penn State University of the NCAA in his draft year.
The NCAA should allow McKenna to prove he’s the real deal. A great year will cement him as the top pick in 2026. However, a subpar season could lead to questions about his true value.
Some scouts have even called McKenna the best pick since Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews. That high praise could prompt the Blackhawks to embrace a mini-tank for a shot at McKenna.
Blackhawks Risk Missing Out on McKenna Even with Last-Place Finish
To prevent outright tanking, the NHL implemented the Draft Lottery in the 1990s. The system has evolved to a point where the last-place overall team doesn’t automatically land the top pick.
A good example came this past season. The New York Islanders finished middle of the pack, yet they were fortunate enough to win the Draft Lottery and land the top pick.
Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks, who had the best shot at winning the NHL Draft Lottery, finished second. That’s not a bad outcome. But if a team is specifically looking to tank for a shot at the top pick, there’s always the risk of missing out.
That’s what the Blackhawks face if the team embraces a tank. There’s always the risk that a monkey wrench in the gears leads to another team winning the Lottery. Despite the risks, it’s an intriguing thought that the Blackhawks could land McKenna to play with Bedard.
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