With football fully in the rearview mirror, West arrives at Michigan State for his NCAA debut after a 25-point USHL campaign with Fargo. The physical tools remain the headline – at 6-6 with impressive mobility for his size and genuine hockey sense, West is among the more intriguing long-term project picks of the 2025 class. The USHL performance was functional rather than dominant for a first-round pick, and there is a reasonable question about whether his multi-sport background has slowed the development of hockey-specific skills his peers have been building for years. At Michigan State he may find himself in a depth role on a talented roster, which is not where you’d expect a 29th overall pick at this stage. Now fully hockey-focused, this year will be telling. A long-term dynasty hold requiring real patience.

West was one of the boldest swings in the draft, a 6-foot-6 dual-sport athlete with numerous Division I football offers who is now fully committed to hockey. His skating is impressive for his size, and the raw tools suggest real upside. Chicago’s betting on long-term growth. West will finish his senior football season before joining the USHL, and the Blackhawks have the time to be patient. If the skill continues to catch up to the athleticism, there is a solid a middle-six center ceiling here. It is definitely a project pick, but the size-speed combo gives it a shot at real value down the line.

Selected 29th overall, Mason West is now a member of the Chicago Blackhawks after a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes for the 34th overall and 62nd overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, along with a 2027 fifth-round pick.

Virtually ignored for much of the season, West surged onto the scene with a doubt-assuaging arrival to the USHL. While Edina-HS-West was looked un-engaged (or even bored), Fargo-Force-West looked like a whole different beast. West is a gifted athlete and—even at 6-6—his posture, acceleration, and mobility all look strong, with minor mechanical issues that can easily be improved or mitigated. However, his intelligence, creativity and physicality are what round out West as one of the draft’s most interesting profiles. Some areas (especially his shot) are a work in progress, but now that he has officially chosen hockey over football, he can now invest his entire focus into shoring up these deficiencies.

After weighing his options, West has chosen to pursue hockey over football. He has yet to commit to a program.

Final Rankings – Mason West is a last-minute riser that just cracked our 1st round. The hulking 6-7 forward will finish his HS football career at Edina before switching full time to hockey. West is incredibly raw and will require refinement in many areas, but it’s hard not to see a bottom 6 winger here.—