Overview
- The Blackhawks traded up on Saturday to the No. 35 pick, sending picks No. 37 and No. 119 to the New Jersey Devils to select Ryan Roobroeck.
- Roobroeck is a big goal scorer with a heavy shot, posting 58 points in 49 OHL games this past season and previously posting 87 points in 64 games in 2024–25.
- Scouts flagged recurring lapses in in-game compete and effort that, together with a season-ending lower-body injury in February, drove wide variation in his draft rankings.
- Roobroeck was dealt to the Guelph Storm and is expected to play the 2026–27 OHL season there while Chicago monitors his recovery and development.
- The pick fills a clear organizational need for a physical finisher to complement Connor Bedard and gives the Blackhawks a high-upside but risky winger to add to their prospect pool.