Blackhawks select Mason West No. 29 overall in 2025 NHL Draft
The Chicago Blackhawks selected center Mason West of the USHL’s Fargo Force with the No. 29 overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday night.
The Blackhawks acquired the pick from the Carolina Hurricanes. In exchange, the Hurricanes received the 34th and 62nd overall picks in this year’s draft, as well as a fifth-round pick in the 2027 draft.
For West, the hulking pivot began the 2024-25 campaign at the high school level in Minnesota, seeing 31 contests with Edina High in which he dominated to the tune of 49 points, including a team-leading 27 goals with 22 assists and 10 penalty minutes. Overall, through three seasons at the high school level, West registered 114 points, counting 51 goals and 63 assists, through 91 career contests.
West then joined the Force in the latter half of the season. Despite his entry into a new league, West was an early adopter and nearly finished with point-per-game production, coming up with one goal and eight assists in 10 outings. Not yet finished, West then saw two more appearances in the postseason.
Standing 6-foot-6, the hulking pivot uses his imposing frame to overpower the opposition and create scoring opportunities. Given West’s willingness and high compete level, his size and presence up the middle, and his ability to decorate the scoresheet, there is a lot to like for talent evaluators. What’s more is that the 17-year-old native of Edina, Minn., also possesses many attributes often not found with larger players, like a fluid skating stride, quick hands, and hockey sense, often a must and the top trait looked for from the scouting community.
A multi-sport athlete, West has also shown his athletic talents on the gridiron as a massive quarterback at the high school level who was sought after to take his talents to Division 1 football. Alas, West’s top passion remains at the rink, and next season he will continue his development in the collegiate ranks after committing to the NCAA’s Michigan State Spartans.
SPONSORED BY bet365