How do the Sharks' rebuild and Blackhawks' rebuild compare?

The Sharks appear to have a slight edge in forward prospects, with players like Celebrini, Smith, and Misa performing well, although the Blackhawks have a larger pipeline of forwards.

Will Connor Korchinski make the Blackhawks' opening day roster next season?

Given that Korchinski will not be waiver-exempt next season, he is expected to be on the opening day roster unless the Blackhawks make an unexpected offseason move.

What are the conditions on the Panthers' 2027 first-round pick for the Blackhawks?

The Panthers' 2027 first-round pick, which the Blackhawks hold, is top-10 protected; if Florida finishes outside the bottom 10, the pick slides to 2027 and counts as a Panthers lottery win, not impacting Chicago's own lottery rules.

Home / Sports / Blackhawks vs. Sharks: Rebuild Race Heats Up

Blackhawks vs. Sharks: Rebuild Race Heats Up

13 Feb

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Summary

Sharks and Blackhawks have similar draft positions in 2026.
Sharks' top prospects Celebrini, Smith, and Misa lead forward group.
Blackhawks have more forwards in their pipeline than Sharks.

Blackhawks vs. Sharks: Rebuild Race Heats Up

The rebuild trajectories of the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks are under scrutiny, with the Sharks showing early signs of sustainable success.

While both teams possess similar high draft positions for 2026, the Sharks appear to be ahead in their forward prospect development, notably with Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and Michael Misa. Celebrini, in particular, is currently outperforming Blackhawks' star Connor Bedard.

Conversely, the Blackhawks possess a larger overall pool of forward prospects, potentially offering a different long-term outlook. On defense, Chicago has prioritized defensemen with early draft picks, while San Jose's defensive corps relies more on a mix of established players and prospects.