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Chicago Blackhawks, Connor Bedard, at severe risk of losing first round pick to football
Photo credit: NHL.com
The Blackhawks took Mason West with the 29th pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, but his interest and prowess in the sport of football could prevent him from ever suiting up in a Chicago sweater.
The Chicago Blackhawks had more than a single pick in the 1st round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, not only taking Anton Frondell with the 3rd overall pick but also taking Mason West with the 29th overall pick.
But there is a chance that West could choose another sporting vocation, as he's currently a quarterback at Edina High School in Minnesota despite having already committed to play hockey for the NCAA's Michigan State Spartans.
Analyst Michael Augello said recently that it's going to be up to West to make a decision about his sports future.
«At a certain point, [West] is going to have to make a decision,» Michael Augello said on The Wraparound podcast. «It's just of what that's going to be. If he has an opportunity to go to a big school as a quarterback, I have a feeling the Blackhawks are going to lose out on a guy who they drafted at the end of the first round.»
His scouting report via Elite Prospects reads as follows:
Beyond his imposing frame, West is a fluid skater with effortless extension, and the reach and skill combination to make high-level plays. A natural shooter, he loads his shots from the hip, using upper-body torque and frame transfer to generate power.
Is Mason West going to play football instead of hockey?
West has already demonstrated he has a flair for football, recently throwing 4 touchdown passes in a recent victory for his team.
Per a recent report from 247Sports, West is listed as the 13th best high school quarterback in the state of Minnesota and already has multiple offers from D-I football programs.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 8 | 146 ANSWERS Chicago Blackhawks, Connor Bedard, at severe risk of losing first round pick to football Would it be a major loss for the Blackhawks if Mason West never plays a game in a Chicago sweater? | ||
| Yes | 85 | 58.2 % |
| No | 61 | 41.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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