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The Chicago Blackhawks made a splash ahead of the NHL trade deadline, acquiring a 2027 first-round pick from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach. This marks the second significant trade between the two clubs in one week, following Connor Murphy’s move to Edmonton earlier.
General Manager Kyle Davidson orchestrated the deal by making several concessions, including taking on Andrew Mangiapane’s contract and retaining 50% of Dickinson’s $4.25M cap hit — using Chicago’s final retention slot for the season. Mangiapane, who has seen a decline since his 35-goal season in 2021-22, carries a cap hit of $2.45M in 2025-26 and $2.375M in 2026-27.
Draft pick protection is key: The 2027 first-rounder comes with top-12 protection, meaning if Edmonton’s pick lands in the top 12 overall, it will slide to 2028. However, if the Oilers trade their 2028 first-round pick before the 2027 deadline, the top-12 protection is removed and Chicago receives the pick unconditionally.
With Dickinson and Dach departing, Landon Slaggert’s role will grow, particularly on the penalty kill and in physical matchups. The Blackhawks may also call up a player from Rockford to supplement the roster.
The trade reflects Chicago’s ongoing strategy: maximize future assets while creating room for prospect development and maintaining roster flexibility. By acquiring a high-potential first-round pick and gaining additional organizational depth, the Blackhawks are positioning themselves to build around their young core while preparing for next season’s opportunities.
