Could the Blackhawks get Ivar Stenberg at 4th overall?
According to most, Ivar Stenberg likely won't fall further than second overall. However, anything can happen on draft day.
Photo credit: Sweden forward #15 Ivar Stenberg (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)
The NHL Draft Lottery has come and gone, and the Chicago Blackhawks find themselves picking fourth overall after finishing the season with the second-worst record in the NHL. While it is easy to be disappointed with the results, at the end of the day, the Blackhawks are still going to have the chance to draft a really good prospect to add to their already fully stocked cupboard.
With the first overall pick, the Toronto Maple Leafs are likely to select forward Gavin McKenna. McKenna is the consensus number one pick this year, and while the gap between one and two isn't as large as we have seen in previous years, most scouts have McKenna as the clear-cut choice. So let's assume McKenna goes number one.
The San Jose Sharks own the second overall pick, and to me, this is the wildcard that could leave the Blackhawks with a chance to take the Swedish winger. The Sharks and Blackhawks have two of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, but the main difference between them is that the Sharks are top-heavy. They have a plethora of forwards and not many defensemen. Stenberg is likely the best player available at second overall, but does Sharks General Manager Mike Grier value position over skill, given the circumstances? With defensemen like Chase Reid, Albert Smits, and Carson Carels probably still on the board, they may look to add a future superstar to their back-end.
If the Sharks do go with a defenseman, then that leaves the Vancouver Canucks with a difficult choice at third overall. Now, Vancouver could certainly sprint to the podium to take Stenberg if the Sharks pass on him. History tells us that they love their Swedish players and always find ways to draft one. However, Caleb Malhotra almost seems like a perfect fit for Vancouver.
Malhotra is the only center at the top of the draft board and has potential first-line upside. The Canucks are in desperate need of center depth. However, that isn't the only reason Vancouver might be interested. Former Canuck Manny Malhotra (who happens to be Caleb's father) is currently the Head Coach of Vancouver's AHL team, the Abbotsford Canucks, and may find himself behind the bench in Vancouver in the near future. If the senior Malhotra has any pull within the organization, he may tip the scales in his son's direction.
I realize this scenario is unlikely, but it isn't impossible. The draft is always filled with surprises, and players can fall or rise in rankings at any given time. If the Blackhawks find themselves in a position to draft Ivar Stenberg, that would alleviate some of the pressure to find a long-term top-six winger for Connor Bedard this offseason.
