Blackhawks and Lightning make a last minute trade.

We have a trade deal to report and it sounds like it is one that comes in right under the wire.

According to an official announcement from the Tampa Bay Lightning, they have acquired the rights to 20 year old forward Jack Pridam from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a 3rd round draft pick at the 2027 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

How this works out for the Blackhawks

On the Blackhawks side of the equation this is an easy one to explain. The Blackhawks originally drafted Pridham at the 2024 National Hockey League Entry Draft, selecting him in the third round (92nd overall) so with this trade they are effectively getting a do-over on that pick. It sounds like Pridham was planning on returning to college and would not have signed with the Blackhawks, which would have meant he could re-enter the draft and the Blackhawks would lose him for nothing.

How this works out for the Lightning

The Lightning on the other hand get the deal done just before today's signing deadline with Pridham either signing or declaring which school he will be playing for in the NCAA next season. It does sound like Pridham is expected to return to college even despite the trade, so this appears to be more of a long term play on the part of the Lightning.

That said Pridham is coming off of a breakout season with the Ontario Hockey League's Kitchener Rangers, one that saw him eclipse his previous career highs in goals, assists and points. In just 65 games this past season Pridham had 46 goals and 44 assists for a very impressive 90 points.

It's also worth noting that Pridham comes from a hockey family with his father Brandon Pridham working within the Maple Leafs organization for the better part of the last 2 decades before leaving the organization earlier this summer.

There are a lot of reasons for the Lightning to see potential here, whether or not Pridham will deliver on that remains to be seen.