Blackhawks 2025-26 Player Grades: Sam Lafferty

Sam Lafferty was the only move the Blackhawks made on July 1, 2025. He came to Chicago via trade, as the Buffalo Sabres moved Lafferty back to the Windy City for a 2026 sixth-round pick. 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, and then acquire him again from Buffalo.

Unfortunately for Lafferty, he didn’t see the ice much in 2025-26. The veteran suited up for 29 games, 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’t a lot of space for Lafferty. However, moving down to Florida could be huge for him, as they’ll need some of their inexpensive forwards to suit up on the fourth line.

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.

Player Grades

Blackhawks Cowboy’s Grade: C-

Sam Lafferty’s 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. After the trade deadline, Lafferty was an important veteran presence in a very young locker room.

Tony Marchese’s Grade: C

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’t be able to forget the time he found himself as a starting defenseman for the Chicago Blackhawks. Solid C for Sam.

Ron Luce’s Grade: C

As noted by Tony, the ORIGINAL TWTW and grit guy, it was fun seeing Sam Lafferty return to the Blackhawks over the summer. That said, fans didn’t get to see much of the original TWTW player. In fact, Lafferty served more as a pro’s pro for the young guys, and even played a game on defense. Two points in 29 games isn’t all that impressive, but Lafferty’s veteran presence was important to a young Blackhawks team.

What’s On Tap Next?

Lafferty moves on to a competitive environment in Florida, but his impact on the Chicago Blackhawks will not be understated.

Tell us if you agree with our grades! What would you give Sam Lafferty? Let us know at @FourFeathersPod on X and Instagram!

Next Up: Wyatt Kaiser