As it turns out, it won\u2019t be possible for the Chicago Blackhawks to have two top-ten selections in the 2026 NHL Draft. At least, not with the picks they currently possess.<\/p>\n
Nearly one full year after the Blackhawks traded Seth Jones and a fourth-round pick to the Florida Panthers, NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported on Friday that the 2026 first-round selection sent to Chicago along with Spencer Knight is top-ten protected. Both Blackhawks and Panthers fans alike were caught off guard by the report, as neither side was aware of the stipulation in the trade.<\/p>\n
Also in Blackhawks news, prospect Vaclav Nestrasil didn\u2019t suit up for UMass on Friday, while Jack Pridham continued his chase for Marek Vanacker\u2019s top spot.<\/p>\n
Around the league, more news broke on the Gavin McKenna situation, Charlie McAvoy\u2019s agent had some choice words for George Parros & Co., while the Los Angeles Kings reportedly wanted more than just Artemi Panarin from the Rangers.<\/p>\n
All that & more in the Daily!<\/p>\n
Chicago Blackhawks Recap, News & Tidbits<\/p>\n
Chicago Hockey Now: NHL insider Frank Seravalli rocked the Chicago Blackhawks<\/a> fanbase on Friday, as the Florida Panthers have seemingly dodged a bullet. According to Seravalli, the 2026 first-round pick Chicago received from Florida in the Seth Jones trade, which happened LAST MARCH, is actually a top-ten protected selection. There was no reporting of this over the last 11 months. How did that slip through the cracks?<\/p>\n More CHN: To make matters worse, Blackhawks star forward Connor Bedard<\/a> was also snubbed recently, as Hockey Canada chose Seth Jarvis from the Carolina Hurricanes as Brayden Point\u2019s injury replacement for the 2026 Winter Olympics. GM Doug Armstrong has bypassed Bedard once again.<\/p>\n In NCAA news, 2025 first-round pick Vaclav Nestrasil did not play for UMass on Friday night against UMass-Lowell after getting hurt in the previous matchup between the two teams last Sunday. Nestrasil took a high hit into the boards in the first period and did not return to that game. Lowell forward Libor Nemec was penalized for interference on the play.<\/p>\n No V\u00e1clav Nestra\u0161il for UMass tonight vs. Lowell. He was injured in Sunday’s game<\/p>\n \u2014 Mark Divver (@MarkDivver) February 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n In OHL news, prospect Jack Pridham tallied his 32nd goal of the season in the Kitchener Rangers\u2019 6-2 win over the Guelph Storm, which secured their postseason spot. Pridham is tied for second in the league in goals and is only three behind fellow Blackhawks\u2019 prospect Marek Vanacker for first place. Pridham also added an assist in the win and is third in the OHL with 65 points.<\/p>\n Over in the WHL, Nathan Behm netted his 29th goal of the season in the Kamloops Blazers\u2019 6-3 loss to the Everett Silvertips on Friday. Behm is now fifth in the league with 71 points through 50 games this season. His teammate, JP Hurlbert, a projected 2026 first-round pick, leads the WHL with 81 points.<\/p>\n NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now<\/p>\n WJACTV: The major hockey news of the day, projected 2026 No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna had his felony charges withdrawn<\/a> by Pennsylvania prosecutors on Friday. After reviewing the video evidence, prosecutors believe that McKenna \u201cdid not act with the intent to cause serious bodily harm nor did he recklessly act with extreme indifference to the value of human life.\u201d It always felt like a felony was an extreme punishment, especially if the stories coming out are true.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Dan Kingerski from PHN broke down all that was learned about the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> over the final week leading up to the Olympic break. There were also some funny stories shared from inside the locker room, including Tommy Novak needing Duo-Lingo for his new Russian linemates.<\/p>\n Forever Blueshirts: New York Rangers<\/a> captain JT Miller and head coach Mike Sullivan are headed to Milan together in hopes of winning a Gold Medal for the Red, White, & Blue. But over the next 20-ish days, Miller and Sullivan also need to figure out how to get the proper message across for when they return to the Big Apple.<\/p>\n NHLtraderumors.me: The Los Angeles Kings were looking to acquire more than just Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers ahead of the Olympic roster freeze. According to Elliotte Friedman, the Kings also made a run for 32-year-old center Vincent Trocheck<\/a>, but it\u2019s believed that he would prefer to remain on the East Coast if traded.<\/p>\n It\u2019s safe to say that Charlie McAvoy isn\u2019t happy that Florida Panthers forward Sandis Vilmanis went unpunished for the illegal elbow he threw in Wednesday\u2019s game. The NHL Department of Player Safety left Vilmanis walk away from the incident without any repercussions.<\/p>\n On Friday afternoon, McAvoy uploaded a selfie on social media, showing the effects of Vilmanis\u2019 elbow. Yikes.<\/p>\n Less than an hour later, McAvoy\u2019s agent, and one of the best in the business, Allan Walsh, took to social media to call out Senior Vice President of Player Safety George Parros and his \u201cgang of Kangaroos\u201d for the lack of a response by the NHL. LOL.<\/p>\n Truly, what do you say you do here, Mr. Parros? The NHL DoPS has been a joke for far too long. It was ridiculous that Vilmanis didn\u2019t even receive a fine for the hit.<\/p>\n For more Blackhawks news, visit Chicago Hockey Now<\/a> and like our Facebook Page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow us on X:<\/p>\n @chihockeynow<\/a>, @JackBushman2<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t