Blackhawks acquire Mikheyev, Lafferty and a 2027 2nd-round pick from Canucks for 2027 4th-round pick

Blackhawks general manager talks winning the second overall pick in the NHL Draft lottery

The Chicago Blackhawks aren't picking No. 1 overall. But, they get the next best thing. Hawks GM Kyle Davidson spoke on picking second overall.

The Chicago Blackhawks have acquired forwards Ilya Mikheyev and Sam Lafferty and a 2027 second-round pick from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick.

The Canucks will retain 15% of Mikheyev’s salary as a part of the deal announced Wednesday night.

Mikheyev, 29, had 11 goals and 20 assists in 78 games during the 2023-24 season for Vancouver. He signed a four-year deal with the Canucks in free agency in July 2022 after three seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Meanwhile, Lafferty makes a return to the Blackhawks, who signed him to the two-year deal he just completed this season. Chicago traded Lafferty to Toronto in February 2023 before the Leafs moved him to Vancouver in October 2023.

The 29-year-old had 13 goals and 11 assists in 79 games for the Canucks this past season and is now a pending unrestricted free agent.

The NHL free agent signing period begins on Monday.

This is the start of a busy week fort