2023-24 NHL Prospect Pool Overview: Chicago Blackhawks

It's a new era for the Chicago Blackhawks, but there's much more to their prospect pool than Connor Bedard. Prospect expert Tony Ferrari analyzes the strengths, weaknesses and more about their future NHL players.

During the summer, prospect expert Tony Ferrari goes through each prospect pool in the NHL, continuing today with the Chicago Blackhawks.

In this series, Tony digs into each team’s strengths and weaknesses, their latest draft class, where their positional depth chart stands, and who could be next in line for a shot at the NHL. Note that a player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer considered a prospect for the purposes of these exercises unless mentioned otherwise.

Let’s not put it off: Connor Bedard is the best prospect in hockey since Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid were teenagers. 

With the current roster that Chicago is projected to ice, Bedard may be the team's best player on opening night. The new cornerstone is a generational talent who has an all-world shot and an understanding of how to pick his opponents apart that only the most elite players possess. He has dominated every level he’s played at, setting records every chance he’s been given.

Bedard is going to change the game for Chicago as it looks to turn the page from the Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane Era. The biggest question is, who could be the Robin to his Batman?

Thankfully, the Hawks have done a nice job filling out their prospect pool over the last couple of years. They had one of the best drafts this year, but the players they selected in 2022 are high-end prospects with a boatload of potential. 

Frank Nazar missed a large chunk of the season and didn’t debut with the University of Michigan until February. While he never really got back to 100-percent health after the hip surgery, he improved with every game and looks to be an integral piece for the Wolverines this upcoming season, stepping into the No. 1 center spot.

Paul Ludwinski also dealt with injuries this year and struggled to get himself going, but he plays a smart 200-foot game. Even when he’s not scoring, he matches up with the opponent’s top players. 

Ryan Greene can dangle defenders to open up space for himself and put his playmaking to good use. His 31 points in 38 games as a freshman at Boston University showed his game could translate up a level from the USHL. He will now look to take a step and become a true difference-maker at the NCAA level.

Chicago’s blueline is quite strong, with last year’s seventh overall pick, Kevin Korchinski, headlining the group. The 19-year-old oozes potential as an exceptional skater while being one of the best offensive creators from the blueline. The Hawks have lacked a defensive prospect of his caliber for years. As we saw at the WHL level this year, he’s taken an even bigger step in his development as he rounds out his game defensively. Korchinski is right near the top of the list when it comes to defensive prospects outside of the NHL.

Ethan Del Mastro was one of the top defensive defensemen in the CHL last season and was instrumental in Team Canada’s World Junior Championship win. He developed his offensive game in a big way this past year, showing much more confidence as a puck carrier and power-play quarterback in the OHL. At the next level, he likely settles in as a defensive foil to an offensive partner.

The pipeline on the blueline is littered with intriguing players beyond those top two as well. Sam Rinzel is a toolsy defender who has shown some impressive flashes of offensive skill. The 19-year-old is heading to the University of Minnesota, where he can develop his defensive game more fully. Wyatt Kaiser was drafted out of high school and developed at the University of Minnesota-Duluth over the last three years. He hasn’t figured out how to be a highly productive offensive player, but he is a skilled passer, an evasive skater in his own end and an excellent decision-maker with the puck. He found his way into a few NHL games after signing at the tail end of last season and looked comfortable in the NHL in limited minutes.

Round 1, 1st overall - Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL)

Round 1, 19th overall - Oliver Moore, C, U.S. NTDP (USHL)

Round 2, 35th overall - Adam Gajan, G, Chippewa (NAHL)

Round 2, 44th overall - Roman Kantserov, RW, Magnitogorsk (MHL)

Round 2, 55th overall - Martin Misiak, RW, Youngstown (USHL)

Round 3, 67th overall - Nick Lardis, RW, Hamilton (OHL)

Round 3, 93rd overall - Jiri Felcman, C, Langnau (Swiss Jr.)

Round 4, 99th overall - Alex Pharand, C/W, Sudbury (OHL)

Round 5, 131st overall - Marcel Marcel, LW, Gatineau (QMJHL)

Round 6, 167th overall - Milton Oscarson, RW, Orebro (SHL)

Round 7, 195th overall - Janne Peltonen, LD, Karpat (U20 SM-liiga)

We’ve talked plenty about Connor Bedard already. He’s an absolute stud. The kid is going to change the future of the franchise, and 30 to 40 goals certainly aren’t out of the question. The biggest uncertainty is just how much help from teammates he will get. Taylor Hall is a nice addition, but is that enough to get Bedard to eclipse 80 points and make him the first rookie since Mathew Barzal to eclipse the mark?

Oliver Moore may have made the Blackhawks’ front office even more excited than the Bedard pick since they knew they were getting Bedard for a long time. Moore falling to them after they attempted to trade up to select him had GM Kyle Davidson over the moon. Moore is the best skater in the draft class and elevated every player he played with at the NTDP. He centered the second line and played with players far less effective than Will Smith had on the top line and still produced at a very impressive rate. His game is predicated on speed and intelligence, and with Bedard ahead of him on the depth chart, the ability to settle in as a No. 2 center – just as he was with the NTDP – allows him to take the pressure off and play to his strengths.

The second round is where goalies seem to find their place among the draft hierarchy, and the Hawks made Adam Gajan the top netminder selected. After an impressive performance at the World Junior Championship, he saw his stock rise meteorically. His numbers weren’t mind-blowing, but he’s shown the ability to perform in big spots, a trait teams value in net.

Chicago had two more picks in the second round, selecting a pair of wingers in Roman Kantserov and Martin Misiak. Kantserov is a tactical forward who uses his excellent edges to evade pressure. The young Russian has excellent puck skills and he’s a great passer. He mainly needs to round out his off-puck game. Misiak, meanwhile, is a strong forechecker who understands the off-puck game at an advanced level. He plays a power game in the offensive zone, using his strength and experience against pros to drive to the middle of the ice. Both wingers need refinement in different ways, but there is plenty of upside with both.

Nick Lardis was one of the best players in the OHL after his trade to Hamilton from Peterborough. His speed and goal-scoring were impressive. The Bulldogs unleashed him with an increased opportunity, showcasing the fact he had the impact goal-scoring that Peterborough was looking to trade him for. He does need to get stronger and needs defensive development, but nabbing him outside of the top two rounds is great value.

The Hawks then took 6-foot-4 center Jiri Felcman at the tail-end of the third round, adding size and playmaking ability to their pipeline. He was a good performer for the Czech U-18 squad last year, but his lack of dynamism limits his offensive upside. Soon after Felcman, the Hawks added Alex Pharand. Another big center, Pharand plays a forward-thinking game built on positioning and using his size to his advantage. He isn’t afraid to do the dirty work and excels when playing with skilled linemates.

A team rarely has the center depth in their prospect pool that Chicago does, and it’s even more rare when the centers project to play down the middle at the NHL level. Bedard will be the team's best center next season, without a doubt, but the pipeline runs deep. Nazar is also a legitimate candidate to be a game-breaker at the next level. He blends speed and skill into a rare form of controlled chaos that makes him such a special player, but he could be the most likely to wind up on the wing.

Moore could wind up as their second-line center long-term. He plays with speed and excellent habits at both ends of the ice, and he would be an excellent leader of the second wave behind Bedard. Ludwinski projects as an intelligent bottom-six pivot. Ryan Greene is a wild card who has played some wing on his development path, but he has the skill to play down the middle as well. Overall, Chicago has a great pool of centers to work with.

They attempted to fill the void of talent on the wings with a few really nice picks, such as Nick Lardis and Martin Misiak, but they still lack some high-end scoring talent on the side. The Hawks have Lukas Reichel in the NHL already, which helps curb the need for skill, and if Nazar does move to the wing, this weakness becomes a much less glaring hole.

No one doubts that Bedard will be on the team on opening night, but the more interesting candidate at “Next Man Up” is defender Wyatt Kaiser. 

The former NCAA blueliner is the kind of player with the escapability against forechecks that allows him to play a panic-free game and make plays look much simpler than they truly are. His high-level four-way mobility allows him to get out of trouble regularly. Oftentimes, you watch him and wonder why his tools don’t translate to more offensive production, but he is excellent at being an escape valve on the back end and an excellent transition defender. He should find his way into the lineup on opening night.

LW: Colton Dach, Michal Teply, Samuel Savoie, Marcel Marcel

C: Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore, Paul Ludwinski, Ryan Greene

RW: Martin Misiak, Nick Lardis, Roman Kantserov, Gavin Hayes, Ryder Rolston

LD: Kevin Korchinski, Nolan Allan, Wyatt Kaiser, Ethan Del Mastro

RD: Sam Rinzel, Michael Krutil

G: Drew Commesso, Adam Gajan, Arvid Soderblom

For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook, Prospects Unlimited and Future Watch print editions of The Hockey News.