Chicago Blackhawks prospect Mason West, selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, is a multi-sport athlete. Alongside hockey, the Minnesota native also plays quarterback for his high school football team. In his season opener, he threw four touchdown passes, catching the attention of both hockey and football circles.
The question arises: should Blackhawks fans be worried that West might follow the path of Kyler Murray, who famously chose football over baseball despite being drafted by Major League Baseball’s Oakland A’s? Murray initially planned to pursue baseball, but after winning the 2018 Heisman Trophy, he entered the NFL Draft and became the Arizona Cardinals’ top pick in 2019.
West, however, is in a very different position. Unlike Murray, he is not already on a college football track. Even if his football career gained momentum, he would still be years away from being NFL draft eligible. On the hockey side, West is committed to play at the University of Michigan, where the time demands of college hockey and development camps will occupy much of his future.
Financial considerations also set the two cases apart. Murray’s choice was influenced by the quicker and larger financial opportunities in the NFL compared to the slower, minor league route of MLB. West has no immediate college football placement, meaning the “NFL money” incentive is far less realistic at this stage.
For now, West looks more like a well-rounded high school athlete than someone on the verge of switching sports. With the USHL, college hockey, international tournaments, and Blackhawks development activities ahead, it seems unlikely that football will pull him away from hockey anytime soon.
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