It looked like the Chicago Blackhawks were done for the night. They secured a key part of their future by taking Anton Frondell with the #3 overall pick, adding another talented piece to their young core. With the 25th pick, they opted for some size, taking Vaclav Nestrasil from the Czech Republic. Everybody agreed the team was done for the night. However, it seems GM Kyle Davidson had a surprise in store. With the 1st round winding down, he swung a late trade with the Carolina Hurricanes to snag the 29th overall pick.
Chicago gave up the 34th, 62nd, and a 5th rounder in 2027 to make the deal happen. What player was so important to justify this move? It was Minnesota native Mason West. The big 6'6 forward is widely considered the best high school prospect in the draft. Scouts love his stick handling, hand-eye coordination, aggressiveness, vision, and passing skills. His time as a quarterback undoubtedly helps with that.
Some will say the Blackhawks unnecessarily reached with West. The problem is that those people said the same thing about Sam Rinzel in 2022. He had an exciting debut last season with five assists in nine games.
The Chicago Blackhawks are betting on sky-high potential.
West was made to play a physical sport. No fewer than 11 college football programs are trying to recruit him. However, he wants to play hockey. He will return for his senior year of high school and begin his journey afterward. The Chicago Blackhawks seem more than willing to wait for him, which is a sign they see a possible star in the making. He finished with one goal and eight assists in ten games last season. His sense for finding the right pass on the ice is impossible to ignore. Having facilitators like that is incredibly valuable. He still has some growing to do. The good news is the Blackhawks are more than capable of letting him do that. They won't need him for the next few years, as they are already flush with young talent.
