The Chicago Blackhawks made a quiet but very calculated move, acquiring the contract of Ryan Ellis, defenseman Jake Furlong, and a 2028 fourth-round pick from the San Jose Sharks. Heading the other way are defenseman Nolan Allan, goaltender Laurent Brossoit, and a 2028 seventh-round pick.
On the surface, this trade isn’t about today’s lineup. It’s about cap management, roster flexibility, and depth chart reality — and the Blackhawks checked all three boxes.
Ryan Ellis: A Contract, Not a Player
Ryan Ellis is effectively retired, but his contract is very much alive. The deal carries a $6.25 million cap hit through the 2026–27 season, and that’s exactly why Chicago targeted it.
The Blackhawks needed help reaching the NHL salary floor without blocking a roster spot or rushing a young player into minutes they haven’t earned yet. By taking on Ellis’ contract, Chicago adds cap hit without adding a player who needs ice time. From a rebuild perspective, this is smart business.
Ellis won’t play — but his contract plays a role.
Jake Furlong: A Depth Defenseman with Time
Jake Furlong, who turns 22 on March 4, is a left-shot defenseman who has logged 78 AHL games over the past two seasons. He’s not a headline piece, but he fits the organization’s timeline.
Furlong’s contract also runs through 2026–27, giving the Blackhawks another controllable defenseman who can provide organizational depth in Rockford while the blue line continues to sort itself out at both levels.
Laurent Brossoit: A Chapter That Never Opened
Laurent Brossoit is the biggest name leaving Chicago in this deal. The veteran goaltender spent time rehabbing in Rockford, and the Blackhawks worked behind the scenes to find him an NHL opportunity.
It never came.
Brossoit did not appear in a single NHL game for the Blackhawks, making his time with the organization a short and frustrating chapter. This trade finally gives him a fresh start elsewhere.
Nolan Allan: A Victim of the Depth Chart
Nolan Allan, 22, was the Blackhawks’ first-round pick (32nd overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft. He appeared in 43 NHL games last season, recording one goal and seven assists.
Allan is a steady, stay-at-home defenseman — reliable, positionally sound, and responsible. The problem wasn’t his play. It was timing.
Chicago’s blue line got deep, fast.
In Rockford, the left side already features Ethan Del Mastro and Kevin Korchinski. At the NHL level, Alex Vlasic, Wyatt Kaiser, and Matt Grzelcyk currently occupy left-shot roles. There simply wasn’t a clear path for Allan to climb the depth chart.
Sometimes good players get squeezed out. That’s what happened here.
The Big Picture
This trade isn’t flashy — and it isn’t supposed to be.
The Blackhawks:
- Add a $6.25M cap hit to help reach the salary floor
- Gain a fourth-round pick in 2028
- Create more clarity on the blue line
- Move players who no longer fit the roster picture
In a rebuild, these are the kinds of moves that matter. Quiet. Intentional. Forward-thinking.
Chicago didn’t just move contracts. They moved one step closer to flexibility — and that’s a win.
Another Roster Move
During the day, the Blackhawks also made another roster move, assigning defenseman Ethan Del Mastro to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League.
Del Mastro, 22, appeared in two games with Chicago during the 2025–26 season. He has recorded 11 points (1G, 10A) in 27 games with Rockford this year.
The Blackhawks return to action tomorrow night at the United Center against the Washington Capitals at 7 p.m. CT.
So, did they send Del Mastro down to activate Bedard?
KD does a great job of not listening to the outside noise. I keep hearing how you can’t build a hockey team through the draft and you have to wheel and deal….
I’m glad he’s creating his own path in rebuilding. Trading Allan tells me they believe Kaiser is a part of the future, i think KK will play Grecz??? role very soon, and SJ needs a lot help on the blue line.