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The NHL draft begins Friday at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y. — but not for the Chicago Blackhawks, who traded out of the first round with Tuesday’s trade for defenseman Bowen Byram and wing Jordan Greenway from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defenseman Louis Crevier and the Nos. 4 and 45 picks.
The price was worth it, GM Kyle Davidson said.
“This was just a value that we put on a really, really good young player in (Byram) that we felt it was advantageous to move on and acquire for our group,” he said Wednesday.
Follow along as the Tribune tracks all the Hawks’ new additions in the 2026 NHL draft.
2026 Blackhawks picks
Height, weight: 5’11, 163 pounds
Why the Blackhawks drafted him
The 18-year-old blueliner out of the QMJHL’s Blainville-Boisbriand Armada provides extra depth for the Hawks’ defensemen room after trading Louis Crevier to the Buffalo Sabres. The Hawks acquired 25-year-old Bowen Byram with the intention of him being the team’s No. 1 defenseman, so Villeneuve will be another youthful blueliner to learn behind him.
He scored 38 points (six goals, 32 assists) in 37 games in 2025-26.
In his words
“(I’m a) super dynamic defenseman, highly skilled who competes every shift. … The skill set I have I think is pretty rare, without being cocky. I think my footwork and speed will help me (overcome size).”
You should know
Height, weight: 6’4, 216 pounds
Why the Blackhawks drafted him
The Hawks moved up two spots to No. 35 to select the 18-year-old center, dealing their No. 37 and No. 119 picks to the Calgary Flames. Roobroeck towers over other forward prospects and uses his size to bring physicality to every play.
Presumably, the forward will be another center option to develop in Rockford and be another option behind Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar and others. Roobroeck scored 58 points (30 goals, 28 assists) in 49 games last season.
In his words
“(My best attribute is) the offensive abilities. Aside from that, bringing energy is a huge thing for me, too. … (I’m a) power forward (that brings) offense…and energy, using my size to contribute anything I can.”
You should know
Continue reading...
The price was worth it, GM Kyle Davidson said.
“This was just a value that we put on a really, really good young player in (Byram) that we felt it was advantageous to move on and acquire for our group,” he said Wednesday.
Follow along as the Tribune tracks all the Hawks’ new additions in the 2026 NHL draft.
2026 Blackhawks picks
- Round 2, No. 34: Defenseman Xavier Villeneuve
- Round 2, No. 35: Center Ryan Roobroeck
- Round 3: No. 66
- Round 7: No. 194
- Round 7: No. 200
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Round 2, No. 34: Defenseman Xavier Villeneuve, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
Height, weight: 5’11, 163 pounds
Why the Blackhawks drafted him
The 18-year-old blueliner out of the QMJHL’s Blainville-Boisbriand Armada provides extra depth for the Hawks’ defensemen room after trading Louis Crevier to the Buffalo Sabres. The Hawks acquired 25-year-old Bowen Byram with the intention of him being the team’s No. 1 defenseman, so Villeneuve will be another youthful blueliner to learn behind him.
He scored 38 points (six goals, 32 assists) in 37 games in 2025-26.
In his words
“(I’m a) super dynamic defenseman, highly skilled who competes every shift. … The skill set I have I think is pretty rare, without being cocky. I think my footwork and speed will help me (overcome size).”
You should know
- The defenseman has a late birthday of Sept. 29, making him one of the younger prospects of the 2026 NHL draft class.
- Villeneuve will attend Boston University for the 2026-27 season to “work on being ready for the NHL,” but the goal is to be NHL-ready after.
- He compares his game to Montreal Canadiens’ Lane Hutson and said he expected the Hawks to draft him.
Round 2, No. 35: Center Ryan Roobroeck, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
Height, weight: 6’4, 216 pounds
Why the Blackhawks drafted him
The Hawks moved up two spots to No. 35 to select the 18-year-old center, dealing their No. 37 and No. 119 picks to the Calgary Flames. Roobroeck towers over other forward prospects and uses his size to bring physicality to every play.
Presumably, the forward will be another center option to develop in Rockford and be another option behind Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar and others. Roobroeck scored 58 points (30 goals, 28 assists) in 49 games last season.
In his words
“(My best attribute is) the offensive abilities. Aside from that, bringing energy is a huge thing for me, too. … (I’m a) power forward (that brings) offense…and energy, using my size to contribute anything I can.”
You should know
- He said Dallas Stars’ Mikko Rantanen and Edmonton Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl are players “I like to watch a lot.”
- Roobroeck gushed at the possibility of playing with Bedard: “He’s amazing.”
- He will skate with the OHL’s Guelph Storm in the 2026-27 season.
Continue reading...
