2025-26 NHL Trade Preview: Chicago Blackhawks

Welcome to our NHL Trade Preview series as we creep closer to the start of the 2025-26 season. For our first stop on the trade market, we'll head to the windy city, and visit in with the Chicago Blackhawks.

GM Kyle Davidson hasn't been shy making bold moves the past few seasons, and with Connor Bedard's window to win opening up, the pressure is on Davidson to surround Bedard with proven talent, or a ton of potential, so the Blackhawks' superstar can push his team back into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Andre Burakovsky was brought in during an offseason trade, as Davidson emphasized the trade market a little more this season, as appose to signing a bunch of free agents, which didn't seem to two work a couple of years ago. 

When it comes to potential trade candidates off of the Blackhawks this season, keep an eye on their draft picks. Davidson has two first-round picks, and three second-round picks at the 2026 NHL Draft, and if Chicago is even remotely close to a playoff spot, look for Davidson to sell off a couple of those second-round picks.

Off the roster, the likes of Ilya Mikheyev, Jason Dickinson, Nick Foligno, Sam Lafferty, Lukas Reichel, Connor Murphy, and Laurent Brossoit are all considered players to watch off the Blackhawks. Each of them are in the final season of their contracts, with Mikheyev and Murphy leading the charge when it comes to most likely to be traded at some point next season.

The Blackhawks aren't progressing as fast as many hoped when Bedard became the face of their franchise, but they are managing to put together some core pieces around him, and it's going to take a little more time before they take the next step. The only way to expedite the rebuild would be if Spencer Knight shines in his first full season in Chicago, and puts the team on his back. 

For now, all eyes are on Bedard and seeing if he can get off to a strong start next season and make a push to make Team Canada's Olympic team.

Photo credit:  Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images