Going into the 2023 NHL Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks knew they were selecting Connor Bedard with the first pick.In 2024, they went into the draft knowing they’d select Artyom Levshunov second.Last year, there was some intrigue about what the San Jose Sharks would do with the second pick, but the Blackhawks were pretty sure they’d be taking Anton Frondell with the third pick, and they were right.With roughly two weeks until the 2026 draft, the Blackhawks are prepared to take the best player available with the fourth pick, but they have much less certainty of how things will play out before them.Let’s get into that and more about the draft on June 26 and 27.1. There will be a conversation between Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson and Sharks general manager Mike Grier about whether San Jose is open to flipping its No. 2 pick for the Blackhawks’ No. 4 pick. 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.According to PuckPedia’s draft pick calculator, the Sharks’ No. 2 pick is equivalent to a package of the Blackhawks’ No. 4 pick, another first-round pick in the No. 15-32 range (likely either the Edmonton Oilers’ or Florida Panthers’ 2027 first-round pick), and a 2026 third-round pick. Perhaps the Sharks would ask for the two first-round picks and a prospect or some other combination.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.2. There is a chance Ivar Stenberg will fall to the Blackhawks at No. 4. The Blackhawks don’t seem to be that confident in that, but others are. But even if that is a possibility, Blackhawks fans aren’t going to blame Davidson if he’s overly aggressive and gives up too much, at least on paper, while trying to acquire the Sharks’ No. 2 pick to ensure he can select Stenberg. Outside of Gavin McKenna, there’s not another player who fits what the Blackhawks could use more than Stenberg.3. If the Blackhawks draft Stenberg, I assume Davidson will be less likely to sign and/or acquire another top-six forward unless he can largely do it with draft pick assets. Stenberg would jump into the Blackhawks’ NHL lineup next season, as Roman Kantserov will do. Adding Frondell, Kantserov and Stenberg to their top six in a short span would be significant. Add Nick Lardis to that top-six mix, and those are four important players who weren’t on the Blackhawks’ season-opening roster a season ago. There might be development bumps, but fans would be understanding.Drafting Stenberg could impact how the Blackhawks build their lineup for the upcoming season. The Blackhawks would be at about 14 roster forwards if Stenberg is added to a list that already includes Kantserov, Frondell, Lardis, Bedard, Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore, Ryan Greene, Tyler Bertuzzi, Ryan Donato, Landon Slaggert, André Burakovsky, Teuvo Teräväinen and Andrew Mangiapane. That could mean Ilya Mikheyev is less likely to re-sign. It doesn’t sound as though the Blackhawks are considering any buyouts. That could change, depending on who is on the roster and where they stand with the salary-cap floor.