The Chicago Blackhawks were once again sellers at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.
Chicago has been in the midst of a rebuild for years, and that continued this season with the Blackhawks being sellers again. Chicago traded the likes of Jason Dickinson, Connor Murphy, Nick Foligno, and Colton Dach away.
Although the Blackhaws got a good return, NHL analyst Mark Lazerus of The Athletic thinks the team was one of the big losers for not trying to go in and build a contending team around Connor Bedard.
“This is now nine consecutive seasons that the Blackhawks — once perennial buyers — have been on the selling side,” Lazerus wrote. “… At some point, don’t the Blackhawks have to start adding to Connor Bedard, not just continue to take from him? Those brownie points don’t mean much if you never bring anybody of consequence in. …
“There was a 26-year-old top-line forward on the market in Thomas, the pass-first, high-end playmaker Bedard desperately needs. And Chicago has everything St. Louis would want in that trade — an extra first-round pick this year, a slew of good young NHL talents, and a bevy of good prospects. But Davidson, whose very long-term plan has the full faith of ownership and whose job security might be unmatched in the league despite all the losing, sat out the Thomas sweepstakes.”
The Blackhawks decided to punt again and gain even more draft picks. However, when Chicago will actually use those assets to improve their team right now is uncertain, as it appears the Blackhawks’ rebuild will be a long one.
Analyst Questions Blackhawks Moves
Not only were the Blackhawks sellers, but the team is once again trying to build its roster through the draft.
Although the draft is a key part of building a team, Lazerus believes the time is now with Bedard on his rookie deal to be aggressive and take big swings.
“No team has ever successfully built solely through the draft,” Lazerus added. “Every team overvalues its own young players, but at some point, you have to turn picks and prospects and players into assets. A 26-year-old established star in the hand has got to be worth two or three promising lottery tickets in the bush.”
Ultimately, general manager Kyle Davidson decided to be sellers again and continue a long rebuild through the draft.
Chicago is 23-29-10.
Chicago Could Trade Picks for Proven NHL Players
The Blackhawks have an excess of draft picks, and Davidson admits he may need to package some for NHL players.
Although adding prospects to the system is key, Davidson knows not all will play, so there is a thought of starting to use those picks to help the NHL roster.
“Those are things that we have explored, we have attempted,” Davidson said. “The reality of it is really good players, especially really good young players, are so hard to shake loose. … We’ve got the ammo to continue to explore those avenues and try to acquire talent.
“… It’s something you have to plan for and be prepared to execute on if the opportunity arises, and what we can control is being prepared, and we are prepared from that standpoint. We’ve got the capital. We’ve got the assets. It’s just waiting for the right window to open to act on that, but we can’t act if we’re not prepared.”
The Blackhawks have five picks in the first two rounds in 2026.
Analyst Scorns Blackhawks After NHL Trade Deadline