Chicago Blackhawks draw the No. 3 pick in the NHL draft lottery — but whom to select?

The Chicago Blackhawks draft position is set: They landed the No.

3 pick during Monday nights NHL draft lottery.The pick itself is more of a mystery.Defenseman Matthew Schaefer of the Ontario Hockey Leagues Erie Otters ranks No.

1 on NHL Central Scoutings list of North American skaters, and hes the consensus projected top pick.

But three or four other prospects also are legitimate contenders.The Hawks had a 13.5% chance of winning the No.

1 pick after finishing with the leagues second-worst record (25-46-11), and they couldnt drop lower than fourth because of lottery rules.The last-place San Jose Sharks (20-50-12) had the best odds of winning the top pick at 25.5%, but the lottery balls lined up for the New York Islanders, who had the 10th-best odds at 3.5%.

The Sharks wound up with the No.

2 pick.The No.

4 pick also defied the odds, going to the Utah Hockey Club, which had the 14th-best chances and moved up the maximum 10 spots.The lottery, broadcast from NHL Networks studio in Secaucus, N.J., set the order for the first 16 picks.

The draft takes place June 27 and 28 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.If there was a year when dropping out of the top two wouldnt be a downer for the second-worst team, it might be this year.

Theres no generational type such as Connor Bedard or Macklin Celebrini on a tier by himself.Central Scouting director Dan Marr said this years draft is more traditional than recent years, with the top-ranked prospect, Schaefer, having only a slight edge on other contenders.Theres three or four players in the mix that youll be very happy to get any one of them, Marr said.

Schaefers the real deal.

Schaefer is the best defenseman in the draft class by a country mile.

(He) plays a style thats going to translate well to the NHL.In addition to Schaefer, Marr name-checked center Michael Misa of the OHLs Saginaw Spirit and Boston College center James Hagens as potential top picks, and he called winger Porter Martone of the OHLs Brampton Steelheads a top-four pick.Hagens and Misa, whoevers picking No.

1, if they take (either of) them No.

1, I dont think anybodys going to bat an eye, Marr said before the lottery.Anton Frondell, a forward for Djurgarden in Swedens second division, overtook teammate Victor Eklund for the top spot in the final international rankings, so hes a strong contender as well.Marr discussed several of the top prospects with the Tribune.1.

Matthew Schaefer, defensemanJulius Miettinen (27) of Team Finland and Matthew Schaefer (25) of Team Canada battle during the IIHF World Junior Championship on Dec.

26, 2024, in Ottawa, Ontario.

(Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)He broke his collarbone while playing for Canada in the World Junior Championship in late December but still posted seven goals and 15 assists 1.29 points per game in 17 games for Erie.Hes 17 years old, so hes got a lot to learn about how to play the game and how to have success at the next level, Marr said.

But he has all the tools and the attributes to where hes a very appealing prospect.Though Schaefer has been compared to the Colorado Avalanches Cale Makar, for us, hes more along the lines of Zach Werenski, Marr said.

Theyre both puck carriers, theyre both guys that can dominate the play when they have the puck on their stick, impact the play.

Smart, skilled, a pretty complete package.Another (comp) is Noah Dobson.

...

These are guys, they go right into the NHL, they play big minutes, big situations, and they contribute.2.

Michael Misa, forwardJack Ivankovic of the Brampton Steelheads makes a save against Michael Misa of the Saginaw Spirit during the OHL Top Prospects Game on Jan.

15, 2025, in Brantford, Ontario.

(Kevin Sousa/Getty Images)Misas 134 points (62 goals) last season tied John Tavares and trailed only Hawks great Patrick Kane (145) in OHL history.

He was granted exceptional player status to enter the OHL early in 2022 and served as the Spirits captain last season.

He also helped them win the 2023-24 Memorial Cup.When we look at Misa, were saying the career that hes going to have, the type of player that he is, the character, the whole thing, hes in the category with Steven Stamkos and Sebastian Aho, Marr said.

Misa is a little bit more cerebral (than Hagens), but the quickness that he executes the play, its very impressive.

He can see the ice and execute the play.Hes doing it at an NHL level now.

But hes not playing with NHL players, so youre not always seeing that finished product out of it.3.

James Hagens, forwardA game official holds back Boston College forward James Hagens after a scuffle during a Beanpot semifinal against Northeastern on April 18, 2025, at TD Garden in Boston.

(Mark Stockwell/for the Boston Herald)Hagens has a nice resume already, winning gold with the U.S.

(along with Hawks prospect Oliver Moore) at this years World Juniors.

His 187 career points rank fifth in U.S.

National Team Development Program history.He plays a pro game right now, Marr said.

But hes going to be coming into the league like a Logan Cooley or Clayton Keller.

Thats not the trajectory that hes on.

Hes just that gifted offensive player.He sees the ice where he automatically is in the right place at the right time.

He might be the best player of being in the right place at the right time.

But by the time the puck is on stick, he already knows what hes going to do and its not on his stick long.But if hes got the chance, he knows how to get open, get to the net, and hes got a finishing touch.4.

Porter Martone, forwardTuomas Uronen of Team Finland and Porter Martone of Team Canada battle during the IIHF World Junior Championship on Dec.

26, 2024, in Ottawa, Ontario.

(Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)He has good size for a winger at 6-foot-234 and 208 pounds.

Martone recorded 37 goals and 61 assists in 57 games last season for Brampton.He views himself as a Matthew Tkachuk, Marr said, but we think hes a little bit more similar to Brady (Tkachuk) and Mark Stone, just because hes the best player taking the puck to the net and scoring this year.

Hes just that power forward.If (a team needs) that Tkachuck-type guy, theyre going to lean toward Martone if theyve already got some more skilled, high-IQ-type players in their lineup.

...

But Im not going to short-change Porter Martone on his skills or his (hockey) sense.

Hes a very motivated guy.

He just doesnt have the speed and quickness that these other two (Hagens and Misa) have right now..

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