The move saves the Hawks $5.5 million next season, bringing their salary-cap space to approximately $36.31 million. It’s now the fourth-most cap space in the NHL, giving them wiggle room in contract talks with 20-year-old Connor Bedard, 25-year-old Bowen Byram and a potential trade acquisition.
The addition of the sixth-round pick gives the Hawks 11 selections in next year’s NHL draft — including three in the first round. The Hawks have six selections in this year’s draft, which takes place Friday and Saturday in Buffalo, N.Y. On Tuesday they traded the Nos. 4 and 45 picks to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defenseman Byram and wing Jordan Greenway.
How will the Chicago Blackhawks navigate this weekend’s NHL draft after trading their 1st-round pick?
Burakovsky, 31, came to the Hawks in July via a trade with the Seattle Kraken. He struggled on the top line with Ryan Greene, 22, and Bedard, scoring just two goals after the calendar flipped to 2026. He scored 11 goals and added 22 assists in 75 games last season, with his few offensive sparks overshadowed by turnovers, errant passes and an obvious lapse in confidence.
Coach Jeff Blashill kept the veteran as Bedard’s right wing before making the switch upon Anton Frondell’s arrival. Burakovsky spent some time on the third line with Ryan Donato on the left and Frank Nazar centering.
In a road loss to the Edmonton Oilers on April 2, Burakovsky was stripped of the puck on a line change early in the second period, leading to a goal from center Adam Henrique. The Hawks would lose that game 3-1, eliminating them from playoff contention.
With their postseason hopes dashed, Blashill demoted Burakovsky to the fourth line April 4 in Seattle while the coach experimented with lines to end the season. Burakovsky was a healthy scratch in the Hawks road finale against the San Jose Sharks.
A change of scenery could be exactly what Burakovsky needs to return to 2021 form, when he registered 61 points (22 goals, 39 assists) with the Colorado Avalanche en route to a Stanley Cup championship. The Washington Capitals selected the winger with the 23rd pick in 2013, and he has 420 points (164 goals, 256 assists) in 12 seasons with the Hawks, Capitals, Avalanche and Kraken.
The Hawks and Senators will meet in Düsseldorf, Germany, for the NHL Global Series on Dec. 18 and 20.
