PUBLICATION

Sam Walker
February 9, 2026  (12:54)



Nov 12, 2023; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) celebrates his goal against the Florida Panthers with teammates on the bench during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena.

Photo credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

Frank Seravalli dropped a Chicago Blackhawks bomb, and the Florida Panthers’ 2026 first-round pick is top-10 protected, the rebuild math just got messy.

At the time, nobody obsessed over the fine print. Florida was chasing a third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final, so the pick felt like a clean, future asset.

That vibe is gone now. The Panthers have been hammered by injuries, and they entered the Olympic break sitting 23rd overall, with a slim chance at making the playoffs.

Seravalli’s update last week mattered because it changes what Chicago can actually bank on. Top-10 protection means the Panthers can keep that 2026 pick if things really crater.

“The Panthers’ first-round pick acquired by the Blackhawks in the Seth Jones trade is top-10 protected, per multiple insiders. Florida’s pick is currently projected inside the top 10, which would result in the Blackhawks receiving the Panthers’ 2027 first-rounder instead.

This information is breaking today — 342 days after the trade was initially reported.”

– BlackhawksFocus

If Florida’s 2026 first lands in the top 10, Chicago automatically receives Florida’s unprotected 2027 first instead, voiding a first round pick for the Blackhawks in this summers draft. That’s the safety valve Florida quietly built in.

So yes, the Blackhawks could lose the 2026 first-rounder they were circling as a potential jackpot. It’s still a first, but it shifts the timeline and the certainty.

Seth Jones makes Florida Panthers’ pick a roller coaster

From a roster view, it underlines why protection exists. A contender can eat one down year and move on, while a rebuilding club needs those high-end swings.

Chicago still owns its own 2026 first, so the draft cupboard is not empty. But two bites at the top of the board always felt like the dream scenario.

For Florida, the logic is simple. If injuries turn a contender into a lottery team, you cannot hand over a top-10 ticket for free.

The next stretch after the break matters for both sides because every Panthers loss drags that pick closer to the danger zone.

Keep your eyes on the standings, not the headlines. This one will only feel real when the draft order locks in.

Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider

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Chicago Blackhawks at risk of losing 2026 first-round draft pick to the Florida Panthers

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