Blackhawks to Lose Another Prospect as Jack Pridham Refuses to Sign

The Chicago Blackhawks are on the verge of losing a forward prospect, as Jack Pridham, as of May 31, has yet to sign his entry-level contract (ELC) with the organization. 

This isn’t the first time they have found themselves in this situation, as just last year, around this time, Dominic James had a foot out the door. James, a sixth-round pick in 2022 who greatly exceeded expectations when he was a prospect himself, went to the University of Minnesota-Duluth. James, the year he had to sign his ELC, decided he didn’t want to sign with the Blackhawks, and on July 1, became a free agent and signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning instead. Pridham’s situation is different, though. 

Pridham’s Impressive Run So Far

Pridham was selected in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft by Chicago. Going into the draft, he was touted as a powerful skater who had a ton of speed, which fit the bill for what general manager Kyle Davidson is trying to build in the future, with the Frank Nazar selection in 2022 and the Oliver Moore selection in 2023. 

Pridham, the year after he got drafted in the 2024-25 season, tallied 54 points in 48 games with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). That was enough to turn some heads towards his direction, and maybe even create a fantasy lineup that had him slotted into it. However, he didn’t even reach his full potential last season. 

This past season, Priadham put 46 goals and 44 assists on the board, adding up to 90 points in 65 games played. On top of that, he led the Rangers through the OHL Playoffs as they won the J. Ross Robertson Cup (OHL Championship) by sweeping the Barrie Colts in four games. In that run, he tallied 17 points in 18 games, showing he doesn’t shy away on the big stage, along with his teammate Sam O’Reilly. The Rangers will meet the Western Hockey League (WHL) champions, Everett Silvertips, in the Memorial Cup Final on May 31. Pridham proved that he can be a phenomenal player and looks to make more of an impact. 

Where the Blackhawks and Pridham Stand 

Pridham has yet to sign an ELC with the Blackhawks. If he doesn’t sign by June 1, which is highly likely, he will no longer belong to the Blackhawks organization, and they will lose his rights. Instead of him signing, there is a chance that he will be able to re-enter the draft under the new rules and be drafted for a second time. This will be the first time that event happens.

This will be the second forward prospect with a generally high ceiling that the Blackhawks will lose in the span of a year. James, after being picked up by Tampa Bay, started off the 2025-26 season with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League (AHL), but didn’t stay down there long, as he only spent four games there. He played 43 games in the NHL and had 15 points, and in the playoffs, he put three points on the stat sheet in seven games, including a huge goal in Game 5 to even the score at one. 

James, 23 years old, would have fit nicely on the Blackhawks roster this past season and would have been a gem to have in the future. Pridham would’ve fit nicely, too, with the speed and the goal scoring ability the Blackhawks desperately need right now. But, you can’t really blame them, as Chicago is loaded with young forward talent and their prospect pool is heavy with it. Plus, the expectation of another top forward being added at the 2026 Draft in June. The kids are going to be hesitant to sign and are going to look elsewhere for a bigger role, which is unfortunate but understandable.