According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Carolina Hurricanes have traded the 29th overall pick of the 2025 NHL Draft to the Chicago Blackhawks for the 34th and 62nd overall picks, plus a fifth-round pick in 2027. With their third first-round pick of the evening, the Blackhawks have selected Mason West from the USHL’s Fargo Force.
West, who will be joining the NCAA’s Michigan State University Spartans in the fall of 2026-27, is an intriguing prospect for a few reasons. He’s a towering forward, considering his talent, standing at 6’6″, 218lbs. Although he finished the year with USHL Fargo, he spent much of the year with Edina High School in Minnesota, scoring 27 goals and 49 points in 31 games.
Once he transitioned to Fargo toward the end of the year, he scored one goal and nine points in 10 games. The most fascinating part about West is that he’s never been a full-time hockey player. Throughout his time with Edina, West doubled as a premier high school quarterback and could receive D1 scholarships if his senior season this autumn goes well.
Because of his non-zero chance of cracking an NFL roster someday, West was projected to fall into the second round, anywhere between the 45th and 55th overall picks. The Blackhawks see potential in West and believe he will continue his professional hockey career.
Alot of higher ranked players dropping, Canes benefitting from that.
Wild pick this one is
Hawks gave up too much to move up 5 spots.
Probably could have drafted him 5 spots below
How will they ever recover from giving up that 2027 5th round pick?
The Hawks have way too many draft picks than they need. Hell, in ‘26 they have two 1st and three 2nd’s. So using some to move up isn’t a horrible idea. I would rather get some established players with those, but it takes two to tango.
They can’t! The loss of that 5th round pick in two years from now is too much for any team to over come!
This could be a genius move by Davidson. This kid could be special.