The Chicago Blackhawks hold the 4th overall draft selection in the opening round of the upcoming 2026 NHL Entry Draft and have eight total selections to utilize.

Let's examine the history of the 4th overall pick in the NHL. This year marks just the second time in history that the Blackhawks own this exact spot in the first-round, having selected Richie Baynes back in 1964.

There are plenty of examples of other teams hitting the jackpot with the 4th pick and finding key pieces outside of the top-three.

Ron Francis (1981): Francis was selected by the Hartford Whalers and went on to win two Stanley Cups throughout his Hall of Fame Career. The center is second all time in NHL assists and has created a successful front office career for himself, most recently serving as the Seattle Kraken President of Hockey Operations.

Steve Yzerman (1983): Yzerman is one of the most accomplished players in the history of the sport, having won Stanley Cups, a Gold Medal, a Selke Trophy, a Conn Smythe, a Ted Lindsay and many more accolades. The lifelong Red Wing spent 22 years in Detroit and now is the General Manager of the Original Six club he once played for.

Paul Kariya (1993): A speedy forward known for his honorable play, Kariya captained the Anaheim Mighty Ducks for seven campaigns. He averaged exactly a point-per-game throughout his 989 NHL contests en route to the NHL Hall of Fame in 2018.

Roberto Luongo (1997): Luongo was one of the top goaltenders in the NHL for the better part of two decades, spending the bulk of his playing days between the Florida Panthers and the Vancouver Canucks. The Montreal native helped Canada to two Olympic Golds and now works in the Panthers front office.

Nicklas Backstrom (2006): An extremely talented two-way center, Backstrom spent 18 seasons with the Washington Capitals playing the majority of his NHL games alongside Alex Ovechkin. The Swedish forward won the 2018 Stanley Cup and is a two-time world champion with his home country. 

Seth Jones (2013): Jones was selected 4th overall by the Nashville Predators and went on to spend parts of four seasons wearing a Blackhawks' sweater. In his 13th NHL season last year, the defenseman captured the Stanley Cup with Florida.

Mitch Marner (2015): A two-time NHL All-Star, Marner has consistently been one of the best offensive threats in the game since the Toronto Maple Leafs selected the Ontario native. Now playing for the Golden Knights, the forward put together an exceptional postseason during the Vegas run.

Cale Makar (2017): The Colorado Avalanche picked up a franchise cornerstone when the drafted Makar at the four spot. At just 27 years old, the defenseman has already won a Stanley Cup, two Norris Trophies and a Conn Smythe in 2022.

The 2026 NHL Entry Draft takes place on June 26 and June 27 at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo.