The Chicago Blackhawks made waves Friday night in Los Angeles by selecting Mason West in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, trading up to ensure they didn’t miss out on the big-bodied, high-upside forward from Minnesota at pick 29 overall.
Chicago completed a deal with the Carolina Hurricanes to move up, sending the 34th and 62nd overall pick and an additional 2027 fifth round pick,…a clear signal of how high they were on West. While many draft pundits had the Edina product projected in the late second or even later, the Blackhawks weren’t willing to take that risk.
West now joins fellow Minnesotans Sam Rinzel (Chaska) and Oliver Moore (Mounds View) as recent Blackhawks first-round selections (2022, 2023). Moore and Rinzel made his NHL debuts last season, making good first impressions, with Rinzel showing he could be a legitimate top-pair prospect.
Like Rinzel, West has faced his share of skepticism. But also like Rinzel, he brings tools you simply can’t teach, size, hockey sense, and long-term upside. A dual-sport athlete and starting quarterback for Edina, West’s background shines through in his spatial awareness and decision-making. At 6’6″ with a powerful frame, he’s just scratching the surface of what he can become.
What West might lack in polish, he makes up for in potential.
Once again, Chicago is betting on ceiling,… and betting on Minnesota. And with their recent track record, it’s a bet that’s hard to question.
The Blackhawks aren’t just building a roster,… they’re building a Minnesota pipeline. And Mason West is the latest cornerstone.