Chicago Blackhawks trade rights to Jack Pridham, a 2024 3rd-round pick, before deadline to sign him

The Chicago Blackhawks traded the signing rights to forward Jack Pridham, their third-round draft pick in 2024, to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick.

The Hawks faced a Monday deadline to sign Pridham, 20, to an entry-level contract or else risk losing his rights if he didn’t commit to a college program and reentered this year’s draft.

Pridham now will play college hockey next season, with a commitment announcement expected soon. That will extend the Lightning’s rights to him by two years.

The right wing didn’t show signs of wanting to be a part of the Hawks’ large prospect pool, and now he can join a Lightning organization with a chance of potentially getting an NHL roster spot quicker. He’ll enter college with momentum after a career-best year in the Ontario Hockey League.

Pridham, selected at No. 92 in 2024, scored 46 goals this season for the Kitchener Rangers - second in the OHL behind Hawks prospect Marek Vanacker (47) - and totaled 90 regular-season points, then added 17 points in the playoffs. He scored a goal in Kitchener’s 6-2 victory Sunday over the Everett Silvertips to win the Memorial Cup.

The Stouffville, Ontario, native originally was committed to Boston University but decided last summer to stay in the OHL for another season to further develop his skills after a 54-point rookie season.

Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson was able to get a quality return for Pridham’s rights. The timing of the 2027 third-rounder could be useful as the Hawks hope to have taken steps toward building a contending roster by then.

The Hawks' draft rights to center Riku Tohila, 22, also are expected to expire Monday. He was a seventh-round pick in 2022.

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.

This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 11:28 AM.