Lightning acquire signing rights to Jack Pridham from Blackhawks

The deal comes hours before the 5 p.m. ET deadline, where Pridham would have to sign with the Blackhawks or become a free agent. Instead, the Lightning won’t have to worry about signing the 20-year-old right away. According to Tampa, Pridham is expected to play college hockey next year, with his school of choice set to be announced in the near future.

Pridham is riding quite the high as of Monday morning. About 14 hours before the trade, the Stoufville, Ont. native was helping the Kitchener Rangers win the Memorial Cup for the third time in franchise history, tied for the most all-time in Canadian Hockey League history. He was a key part of the Rangers’ success in Kelowna, scoring a goal and two assists in the championship game against the Western Hockey League’s Everett Silvertips, leading all skaters with five goals, and finishing tied with teammate and fellow Lightning prospect Sam O’Reilly for eight points in four games. Both were named to the tournament all-star team.

The Memorial Cup was the icing on the cake for a career year for Pridham. In 65 regular-season games, he scored 46 goals and 44 assists for 90 points, leading the team in scoring. He added another 17 points in 18 playoff games, as the Rangers went on to claim the J. Ross Robertson Cup as Ontario Hockey League champions. Pridham won the Leo Lalonde Trophy as overage player of the year.

In 113 regular-season games in the OHL, Pridham potted 73 goals and 71 assists for 144 points, with another 30 points in 34 postseason games.

The Blackhawks originally took Pridham in the third round, 92nd overall, of the 2024 NHL Draft. As a result of the trade, Chicago has 10 picks in the 2027 draft, with two now in the third round.