{"id":620570,"date":"2026-07-12T01:33:55","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T01:33:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/620570\/"},"modified":"2026-07-12T01:33:55","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T01:33:55","slug":"blackhawks-2025-26-player-grades-sam-lafferty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/620570\/","title":{"rendered":"Blackhawks 2025-26 Player Grades: Sam Lafferty"},"content":{"rendered":"

Returning for a second stint on the ice with the Chicago Blackhawks, Sam Lafferty is the subject of our next player grade. <\/p>\n

Perhaps one of Kyle Davidson\u2019s favorite players in the league, the Chicago Blackhawks<\/a> brought Sam Lafferty<\/a> back for a, technically, third time before last season. Now, he ventures to Florida and joins the Florida Panthers<\/a> on a one-year deal. However, lets look back at his season. <\/p>\n

Story of the Season<\/p>\n

\"NovNov 12, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Sam Lafferty (24) shoots and scores against the New Jersey Devils during the third period at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Sam Lafferty<\/a> was the only move the Blackhawks made on July 1, 2025. He came to Chicago via trade, as the Buffalo Sabres<\/a> moved Lafferty back to the Windy City for a 2026 sixth-round pick<\/a>. Clearly, Davidson has always valued what Lafferty brings as a professional, having originally acquired him from Pittsburgh, acquired his rights from Vancouver with Ilya Mikheyev<\/a>, and then acquire him again from Buffalo. <\/p>\n

Unfortunately for Lafferty, he didn\u2019t see the ice much in 2025-26. The veteran suited up for 29 games<\/a>, tallying just one goal and one assist. In addition, when Lafferty was in the lineup, he averaged under nine minutes of ice time. There simply wasn\u2019t a lot of space for Lafferty. However, moving down to Florida could be huge for him, as they\u2019ll need some of their inexpensive forwards to suit up on the fourth line. <\/p>\n

Nonetheless, Lafferty was the ultimate team guy. He even played defense for one game against the St. Louis Blues. When searching for a team guy, Lafferty is an obvious choice. <\/p>\n

Player Grades<\/p>\n

Blackhawks Cowboy\u2019s Grade: C-<\/p>\n

Sam Lafferty<\/a>\u2019s impact will not be found on the box score. After being re-acquired by the Blackhawks, Lafferty saw very limited playing time. However, just like his play, his value went deeper. In articles and peeks behind the curtain, its clear to see that Lafferty is a mentor to many a young players, especially Connor Bedard<\/a>. After the trade deadline, Lafferty was an important veteran presence in a very young locker room.<\/p>\n

Story continues below.<\/p>\n

More Sports News<\/p>\n

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Tony Marchese\u2019s Grade: C<\/p>\n

The original TWTW and grit guy, as we like to say on Four Feathers Podcast, found himself pretty much as healthy scratch all season, but when he did find ice time he served his purpose. Definitely won\u2019t be able to forget the time he found himself as a starting defenseman for the Chicago Blackhawks<\/a>. Solid C for Sam.<\/p>\n

Ron Luce\u2019s Grade: C<\/p>\n

As noted by Tony, the ORIGINAL TWTW and grit guy, it was fun seeing Sam Lafferty<\/a> return to the Blackhawks over the summer. That said, fans didn\u2019t get to see much of the original TWTW player. In fact, Lafferty served more as a pro\u2019s pro for the young guys, and even played a game on defense. Two points in 29 games isn\u2019t all that impressive, but Lafferty\u2019s veteran presence was important to a young Blackhawks team.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s On Tap Next?<\/p>\n

Lafferty moves on to a competitive environment in Florida, but his impact on the Chicago Blackhawks<\/a> will not be understated. <\/p>\n

Tell us if you agree with our grades! What would you give Sam Lafferty<\/a>? Let us know at @FourFeathersPod on\u00a0X<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Next Up: Wyatt Kaiser<\/a><\/p>\n