The Chicago Blackhawks boast an embarrassment of riches in the 2027 NHL Draft, owning three first-round picks next summer. “If everything goes right this season and the Blackhawks are battling for a playoff spot at the trade deadline, they could create enough cap space and trade one of those picks for a rental,” Powers wrote on Thursday. There’s even the possibility that they could use the first-round picks to add a deadline player, add a long-term player after the season and still make a first-round selection. “There are a lot of different ways to use those draft picks, but I’d be surprised if the Blackhawks don’t trade at least two of them to help improve their NHL roster.” If the Blackhawks remain in the playoff race by March, those first-round picks could quickly become some of the NHL's most valuable trade chips — and the key to accelerating the franchise's turnaround.