Blackhawks acquire ex-player from the Oilers organization in exchange for a 24-year-old defenseman

The IceHogs announced on Saturday that they acquired Pitlick from the Bakersfield Condors in exchange for defenseman Tyson Feist, giving Rockford a familiar and productive forward option.

Pitlick, a 28-year-old center drafted 76th overall by the Nashville Predators in 2016, has a varied NHL and AHL resume. He's appeared in parts of four NHL seasons with the Predators, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, and Chicago Blackhawks, totalling 123 games and 54 points before his Rockford stint.

Chicago originally acquired Pitlick from the Pittsburgh Penguins in January 2024 for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2026 draft. He made his Blackhawks debut in a 2-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers soon after that trade, skating on the first line with Philipp Kurashev and Taylor Raddysh.

Fans in Rockford will remember Pitlick's offensive touch from his previous time with the IceHogs, where he showed he can drive play and contribute on the scoresheet at the AHL level.

His experience gives Rockford an edge as the IceHogs push to climb in a tight playoff picture, and it gives the Blackhawks organizational depth should injuries strike again.

The Condors, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers, get a young defenseman in Tyson Feist, a puck-moving blueliner who can help their back end and bring skating and transition play to their lineup. This cross-organization move underscores how NHL clubs use their AHL affiliates to shuffle talent and fill organizational needs quickly.

Pitlick's path since leaving Chicago saw him waived and assigned back to the IceHogs earlier in 2024, where he found his stride offensively with 33 points, including 14 goals in 27 games, before becoming a free agent.

Now, reunited with Rockford in mid-December, Pitlick gives Blackhawks fans a reminder of his versatile scoring ability and gives the Oilers' farm system a new piece to develop on the blue line. This kind of inter-affiliate trade shows how NHL organizations manage depth and opportunity across both leagues.