Chicago Blackhawks 2025-26 Player Grades: Sam Lafferty

But Lafferty had an admirable mindset. He kept putting in the work. He showed up at the optional skates. At practices, he would sometimes play defense to help balance the pairs, and he even played defense against the St. Louis Blues on April 11, when Ethan Del Mastro was a late scratch due to injury.

He was commended all season for doing whatever it took to help the team, and it showed. He was beloved in the locker room, and on the ice, he mainly played a bottom-six role. He could slot in as a fourth-line center, where his FO% was the best among centers who played 20-plus games, or play wing. His one goal against the New Jersey Devils was one to remember.

Quotable Quote

Lafferty was a fun player to ask about because, whether it was head coach Jeff Blashill or his teammates, everyone was eager to talk about him.

Connor Bedard shared with me, “He’s one of the best people I’ve ever met.” Meanwhile, Landon Slaggert said, “Your day is better when Sam Lafferty’s a part of it.”

The quote I want to highlight came from a March conversation I had with Lafferty about his role. At the time, he had only played in 19 of 61 games.

“Well, first of all, it’s great to be a Blackhawk. I’m loving my time here. Like you said, every experience you go through in this league is a little bit different. This year, obviously, we have the youngest team in the league, and we’re trying to figure out how to take that next step to be a really good team. And my role is pretty fluid this year. Obviously, haven’t played as much as I would like to, but at the same time, you know, sometimes that’s the way it goes. And just try to find the things you can do to help the team, and be a good teammate. Whether it’s playing around the lineup, you know, different spots, or practicing in different spots, kind of whatever is asked for you. You just want to do it to the best of your ability. That’s ultimately what you can control at the end of the day.

And yeah, so it’s definitely been a different experience for me this year. But at the same time, it’s been really fun and really rewarding. And I love this group of guys, and I absolutely love being a Blackhawk. It’s an absolute privilege just to be in the NHL, let alone to play for this organization. Every day is a new day, and whether it’s a practice day, game day, you just want to enjoy it and make the most of it.”

Lafferty’s Final Grade: C+

If I were grading just based on professionalism and influence, he would get an A-plus. How he carried himself was a great example of how to be an NHL pro.

On the ice, he was fine with the time he got.

Overall, Lafferty might not have had the biggest role on the ice, but he might have had one of the most significant presences on the team. He likely won’t be back with the Blackhawks next season, but he will have left a positive mark on his teammates.