While the Chicago Blackhawks have had a relatively low-key offseason, they’ve still made a few notable moves—one of which includes reacquiring a familiar face, Sam Lafferty.
The Blackhawks brought him back in a deal with the Buffalo Sabres, giving up a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
This marks the third time Chicago has traded for Lafferty, demonstrating their continued belief in his potential.
Interestingly, the Blackhawks had already acquired Lafferty’s signing rights from the Vancouver Canucks last offseason, along with forward Ilya Mikheyev and a 2027 second-round pick.
However, the two sides failed to reach a contract agreement before July 1, allowing Lafferty to test free agency and sign with Buffalo.
Now, just a year later, Chicago has circled back to bring him into the fold once again.
Lafferty’s lone season with the Sabres didn’t go as hoped. The 6-foot-2 forward struggled to make an impact offensively, tallying only four goals and three assists in 60 games, along with a minus-15 rating.
Given the underwhelming production, it wasn’t too surprising to see Buffalo move on from him this summer.
Now, Lafferty will look to rediscover his form in more familiar territory with the Blackhawks.
There’s reason for optimism in Chicago that Lafferty could rebound.
During the 2023–24 season with the Vancouver Canucks, he hit a career-best 13 goals and finished with 24 points over 79 games.
Sam Lafferty
That followed a 2022–23 campaign where he recorded 27 points—also a career high—in 70 games split between Chicago and Toronto.
Sam Lafferty
These flashes suggest that, in the right role, he’s capable of contributing solid secondary offense.
If Lafferty can regain his scoring touch while maintaining his trademark physical play, he could become a valuable piece in the Blackhawks’ bottom-six forward group.
As the 2025–26 season approaches, Chicago will be watching closely to see if he can deliver and reestablish himself as a dependable depth forward.
