\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 9, 2026\u00a0\u00a0(12:54)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t ![\"Nov](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/640864.webp.webp\" "\\"Nov")
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Photo credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Seravalli\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
“The Panthers\u2019 first-round pick acquired by the Blackhawks in the Seth Jones trade is top-10 protected, per multiple insiders. Florida\u2019s pick is currently projected inside the top 10, which would result in the Blackhawks receiving the Panthers\u2019 2027 first-rounder instead.<\/p>\n
This information is breaking today \u2014 342 days after the trade was initially reported.”<\/p>\n
– BlackhawksFocus<\/p>\n
If Florida\u2019s 2026 first lands in the top 10, Chicago automatically receives Florida\u2019s unprotected 2027 first instead, voiding a first round pick for the Blackhawks in this summers draft. That\u2019s the safety valve Florida quietly built in.<\/p>\n
So yes, the Blackhawks could lose the 2026 first-rounder they were circling as a potential jackpot. It\u2019s still a first, but it shifts the timeline and the certainty.<\/p>\n
Seth Jones makes Florida Panthers’ pick a roller coaster<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The next stretch after the break matters for both sides because every Panthers loss drags that pick closer to the danger zone.<\/p>\n
Keep your eyes on the standings, not the headlines. This one will only feel real when the draft order locks in.<\/p>\n
Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider<\/p>\n
POLL<\/p>\n
10 HOURS AGO|44 ANSWERS<\/p>\n
Chicago Blackhawks at risk of losing 2026 first-round draft pick to the Florida Panthers<\/p>\n
Should the Chicago Blackhawks worry about losing the Florida Panthers 2026 first-round pick?<\/p>\n
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