Roobroeck was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks with the third selection in Round 2 (35th overall) in the 2026 NHL Draft.

While as a late ’07 Roobroeck didn’t have the chance to beef up his stock at the Hlinka, that shouldn’t matter much: he’s been a household name for some time. The 6-4 forward is coming off a sparkling DY-1 in the OHL, putting up 40 goals and just shy of 90 points for Niagara. His heavy shot, downhill handling ability, and improved footspeed made him a force to be reckoned with.

Preliminary Rankings-It was a very close race between Chase Reid and Ryan Roobroeck at the five and six spot. Ultimately, Reid won out but, with Roobroeck, there is still a special player.

He has a very projectable frame along with the foundations of a good two-way game, though his ability to be aggressive on the puck, especially while forechecking, is inconsistent. At his foundation, Roobroeck is a highly skilled player with an elite dual threat game. He can make high end plays with the puck all over the ice, hitting open teammates and creating prime scoring opportunities. On top of this, he has arguably one of the best shots in the draft, as evidenced by his 41 goal DY-1 campaign.

Roobroeck made the decision to stay with the embattled IceDogs though both his DY-1 and DY. With new NCAA eligibility rules, this decision is becoming an increasingly unusual one and may demonstrate a desire for Roobroeck to prove himself. As an older player, he may indeed need to prove that he has another level he can reach, but with his pedigree, there is no reason he can’t.