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Blackhawks trade back into first-round to gamble on intriguing two-sport athlete

The Chicago Blackhawks made a late first-round trade to select Mason West, a dynamic two-sport athlete set for his high school football season.
ByJim Lynch|
Jun 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Mason West is selected as the 29th overall pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft at Peacock Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Jun 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Mason West is selected as the 29th overall pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft at Peacock Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Chicago Blackhawks traded back into the first-round for an interesting player, someone Blackhawks fans definitely cheer for.

Mason West was selected 29th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks late Friday night at the 2025 NHL Draft. The Blackhawks acquired the pick in a late trade with the Carolina Hurricanes—sending two 2nd round picks and a 2027 5th round pick to the Hurricanes in the deal.

Mason West is not the typical Blackhawks prospect

Blackhawks fans watching the draft might have noticed something different when West's name was called. "From Edina High School, the Blachkawks select Mason West."

West is not the typical draft prospect fans are used to. The two-sport athlete registered 49 points, including 27 goals, with Edina High in 2024-25. He also played in 10 games with the Fargo Force of the USHL, where he registered nine points. A two-sport athlete, West is set to finish his high school football career this fall.

Sometimes you forget that these professional athletes, starting their professional careers, are still youngsters. Here is what West said at the combine about returning to Edina High School for the football season this fall.

"I'll play football in the fall and then head to Fargo (of the United States Hockey League)," West said to NHL.com. "It was really important for me to play football as a senior with my friends. I always set goals for the year, and that was to win a state high school hockey championship and also a football championship. I haven't done it in football so I kind of want to achieve that and stay loyal to my team because I think they need me."

Can't argue with that. West plays quarterback at his high school and stands at 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds. This is an interesting selection from the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks' selection of Vaclav Nestrasil and now West brings some much-needed size to the forward group. Plus, with both players expected to take some time before they are NHL-ready, the Hawks are showing they are not going to rush this rebuild.

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