On March 1st of last year, the Chicago Blackhawks traded defenseman Seth Jones and a fourth round pick to the Florida Panthers for Spencer Knight and a 2026 first round pick. Not only did it look like the Blackhawks got their future goaltender, but possibly another lottery pick in the upcoming draft. The Panthers’ pick is sitting at the 10th spot heading into the Olympic break.
Today, reports indicate that the Panthers’ pick is top-10 protected. Hockey insider Frank Seravalli initially reported it, only to be confirmed by The Athletic’s Blackhawks beat Scott Powers. First, the Chicago Bears get jipped by the Ian Cunningham saga, and now Blackhawks fans are scratching their heads nearly one year after the Jones deal. This condition was agreed upon by the two teams, but it was not made clear to the public.
The Florida Panthers' first-round pick is top-10 protected, as @frank_seravalli reported.
So what happens if the Panthers do pick that early? That and more about the Blackhawks' 2026 draft possibilities ⤵️ https://t.co/N224JzBCv9
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) February 6, 2026
What does this mean for the Blackhawks?
When it was unclear that Florida’s pick was not top-10 protected, the hope was simple: the Panthers lose as many games as possible this year. Now that it appears the pick is protected, the Panthers would not have to surrender their pick to the Blackhawks if they are in the top-10 lottery picking. Per Powers, a first round pick would go to the Blackhawks in 2027 if that were the case. The Blackahwks get Florida’s pick this year if it’s outside of the top-10 lottery pickings.
It’s worth noting that when the trade went down last year, hockey insider Pierre LeBrun initially reported a condition that the Panthers 2026 selection was going to the Blackhawks if they still had the pick. That was because of the Matthew Tkachuk trade with Calgary in 2022. So if the Panthers had a top-10 lottery pick in 2025 (which was conditional), their 2026 pick would have gone to Calgary and the 2027 pick to the Blackhawks.
This condition did not seem like a big deal, as it was pretty clear at that point that the Panthers were not going to be a top-10 lottery pick. Unless another deal was made before the draft, it seemed like the Blackhawks were simply getting a 2026 first rounder from Florida.
Chicago Blackhawks draft outlook going forward
Now, a Blackhawks fan can either root for the Panthers to win to get an inferior first round pick this year, or hope that the 2026-2027 Panthers lose as many games as possible to get a lottery pick from them in 2027. Powers confirmed the 2027 first rounder would have no protection.
Either way, it’s a pretty big change in what people thought could happen with the Blackhawks draft this year. The idea of having two lottery picks in the upcoming draft in a season in which the team’s youth movement is taking a step forward is pretty exciting. But, alas. Rooting for a lottery pick from the Panthers next season, while not impossible, feels like a Hail Mary hope for fans.
Chicago Blackhawks add two talented players in the first round of this 2026 NHL mock draft
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