Pridham has gone from under-the-radar overager to one of the more surprising late-blooming prospects in hockey. The winger erupted for 46 goals and 44 assists with the Kitchener Rangers this season. He has showcased a pro-caliber shot, improved pace, and growing offensive confidence. While some will rightly question how much of that production was driven by age and physical maturity, his strengths are becoming difficult to ignore. Now in the Tampa Bay system, Pridham’s combination of size, finishing ability, and upward development trajectory gives him a legitimate chance to outperform his draft pedigree and emerge as a middle-six NHL scoring threat following his 2026-27 season with the University of Denver.

Pridham’s NHL rights were traded from Chicago to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a 2027 third-round draft pick.

Jack Pridham confirmed at Blackhawks development camp that he has decommitted from Boston University and will return to the Kitchener Rangers if he does not make Chicago’s roster out of camp. Pridham is coming off an impressive OHL rookie season with 27 goals and 27 assists in just 48 games, showing off the scoring touch that made him a breakout name. Opting to stay in Kitchener signals a focus on development in a system with a solid NHL track record. Pridham’s game is trending in the right direction, and the Blackhawks will be keeping a close eye as he looks to push even closer to a full-time pro role.

Pridham was selected 92nd overall by the Chicago Blackhawks.

The headliner for the BCHL, Pridham draws his appeal by being this big, mobile neutral zone menace. He’s got great spatial awareness and uses it to forecheck at crucial moments, such as just before an opposing defender can create a breakout pass, so he can turn it the other way. Combine this opportunistic style with some good finishing and you have Pridham. He doesn’t have the best hands or passing yet and is more of a skate and shoot type of guy as a result, but his willingness to play a 200-ft game gives a bit of balance to his stock. If he can develop a more multi-dimensional offensive game then there’s some good grounds to believe in his NHL upside.