NHL Prospect Pool Overview 2024-25: Chicago Blackhawks' Pipeline Bursts with Talent

The Chicago Blackhawks' deep prospect pool is encouraging, but patience is key. In his in-depth look at the group, Tony Ferrari also points out one area for improvement.

It's time for the Chicago Blackhawks to get a deep dive in this NHL prospect pool overview series.

Tony Ferrari examines the strengths, weaknesses, top players and positional depth in Chicago's prospect pool, including its newest draft picks and the candidates to jump to the NHL next season. 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, except in very specific cases.

Chicago was fortunate enough to win the lottery last year, which awarded the team franchise-altering center Connor Bedard. 

The rookie phenom lived up to the hype, winning the Calder and leading all rookies in scoring with 22 goals and 61 points in 68 games. He elevated everyone he played with and showed exactly why he is the best prospect we’ve seen in years. 

The Hawks' prospect pool is bursting with talent, but Chicago will be patient and allow the players to force their way into the lineup.

Frank Nazar jumped into the lineup after his NCAA season, and he looked like one of the fastest players on the ice. Nazar had some highlight-reel plays throughout the college season, attempting and pulling off moves that most players would never even think of. Whether it was between-the-legs cross-seam passes on a 2-on-1 or dangling around multiple defenders before burying a shot from in tight, Nazar was one of the most entertaining players to watch in college hockey. Now, he will look to bring the show to the big leagues.

Another speed demon Chicago has in its system is Oliver Moore. The intelligent center frequently looks to create advantages for himself with his feet, winning puck races or beating defenders to space. He took a big step upon returning to the University of Minnesota after the World Junior Championship. If he can continue to play at that level heading into next season, he could get some Hobey Baker love in what’s sure to be a strong group.

Although his upside is limited, Landon Slaggert saw some NHL time last season and could factor into the bottom six this upcoming campaign. He is relentless in pursuit of the puck. 

Another potential bottom-six option with more scoring upside is Martin Misiak, who will play in his first full AHL season. He is a menace on the forecheck and a nuisance to puck carriers. Offensively, he can rip a puck and clean up chances all around the net.

Nick Lardis didn’t take quite the step many wanted to see from him this year, stagnating statistically, but he brings many tools. With a better supporting cast than he had in Brantford this season, he could really pop off. Lardis is quick on his feet and has a heavy shot. He could stand to be a bit more engaged defensively at times, but he made strides in that area this season.

Ethan Del Mastro and Nolan Allan are defensive blueliners who spent last season in the AHL, getting used to pro hockey after their junior careers ended. Del Mastro earned a call-up to the NHL for a pair of games and looked steady enough to keep his head above water. Neither projects to be a high-end puck-mover, but both could find roles in the NHL by locking things down, bullying their opponents physically and playing key minutes when the team defends a lead.

The wild card among their blueline crop is Sam Rinzel. He had a strong freshman season at the University of Minnesota and helped Team USA win gold at the world juniors. He has lots of raw tools, from skating to passing to physicality, but he sometimes makes questionable decisions when he tries to be a difference-maker. Refining some of his habits in college could go a long way for Rinzel.

The Blackhawks also have a pair of intriguing young netminders in Drew Commesso and Adam Gajan. 

Commesso played his rookie season in the AHL and looked solid for the Rockford IceHogs, posting a 2.65 goals-against average and .906 save percentage in 38 games. Commesso has put up excellent numbers wherever he's played, whether in his three seasons in college, the AHL or internationally for Team USA. 

Gajan, on the other hand, has built his reputation on outstanding international play for Slovakia. He was fantastic at the world juniors in each of the last two years, earning the best goaltender honor in 2022-23. He’s heading to the University of Minnesota-Duluth in the fall, and hopefully, he can put his game on display there. He’s struggled with inconsistencies with the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers.

Connor Bedard (C), Kevin Korchinski (LD), Frank Nazar (RW), Landon Slaggert (LW), Lukas Reichel (W), Alex Vlasic (LD)

Round 1, 2nd overall - Artyom Levshunov, RD, Michigan State (NCAA)

Round 1, 18th overall - Sacha Boisvert, C, Muskegon (USHL)

Round 1, 27th overall - Marek Vanacker, LW, Brantford (OHL)

Round 3, 67th overall - John Mustard, C, Waterloo (USHL)

Round 3, 72nd overall - AJ Spellacy, RW, Windsor (OHL)

Round 3, 92nd overall - Jack Pridham, RW, West Kelowna (BCHL)

Round 5, 138th overall - Joel Svensson, C, Vaxjo Jr. (Swe.)

Round 6, 163rd overall - Ty Henry, LD, Erie (OHL)

As the NHL draft drew near, the Blackhawks seemed settled on Levshunov at No. 2. Levshunov’s charisma and personality were factors in the decision, but the upside and potential he brings to the Hawks' blueline won the management team over.

Early in the year, Levshunov was a run-and-gun blueliner who attacked downhill off the blueline and looked to score and affect the game offensively. As the season progressed, he reined in his game a bit and looked for the right time to jump into the play. His defensive game improved quite a bit as a result. 

For as talented as Levshunov is, he is still quite raw and unrefined. He signed his entry-level contract, and although the Hawks may be tempted to put him in the lineup right away, an AHL season might be exactly what he needs.

Chicago's second first-rounder, Sacha Boisvert, is incredibly talented and brings a blend of power and skill with true dual-threat ability. That said, his play can come and go. Consistency and engagement are his big issues, but when he is engaged, the Muskegon center is fully dialled in.

The Blackhawks then traded up to make one more pick in the first round, selecting Marek Vanacker. He is a hard worker who attacks his opponents when he sees the opportunities arise. He gets in on the forecheck, works hard on the backcheck and shows agility and speed to get behind a defender. Vanacker is an excellent complementary forward who could fit in with any number of the offensive drivers the Hawks have collected in recent years.

John Mustard is an intriguing prospect. He is fast up the ice and has a very good shot. He is a transition machine with the puck. His ability to score off the rush will be valuable as he matures. He can play with blinders on at times, passing on opportunities to get teammates involved, but that should change as he develops.

Everyone knew AJ Spellacy would be a mid-round pick, but just how high he would go was the question. Chicago didn’t want to risk missing out on the 6-foot-3 speedster and took him in the third round. 

Heading into his draft year, Spellacy came off a season-ending injury to his leg, and recovery wasn’t easy. He struggled to produce on a woeful CHL club in Windsor, but he always seemed so close to making big things happen. He hit his stride – literally and figuratively – late in the year and showcased what he could be with the tools he possesses. Spellacy is one of the best pure athletes in the class, so taking a swing on him makes a ton of sense for Chicago.

Jack Pridham was an interesting third-round pick. He is one of the older players in the draft, wasn’t quite a point-per-game player in the BCHL and doesn’t have a standout trait. He’s a very good skater, and there are moments in which his playmaking is a sight to behold, but he hasn’t really blown the doors off. He’s heading to Boston University, so there will be plenty of time for him to elevate his tools around his skating.

Chicago took a couple of swings with their final two picks, taking a quality finisher in Joel Svensson in the fifth round and towering defender Ty Henry in the sixth. Each of them brings one premier trait to the table – finishing for Svensson and booming physicality for Henry – but they have plenty to figure out to become legitimate NHL prospects.

The Blackhawks have a surplus of talent up front. Even though many of the players they have in the system won’t reach their top-end potential, there are so many quality forwards that they will be injecting youth up front for years to come. 

Bedard will lead the way, but with a supporting cast that could include Nazar, Moore, Boisvert and Vanacker, it’s a great spot to be in. If one or two of the next tier of players, such as Mustard, Lardis, Spellacy or Misiak, come close to their ceilings, Chicago could be loaded with forward talent.

Even after adding Levshunov, the Blackhawks' defense pipeline is still a weakness. It’s certainly improved over the last couple of years, but there is still work to do in terms of adding talent. 

Korchinski and Vlasic are already on the NHL roster, but neither look like true top-pair D-men, and Levshunov more than likely tops out as a No. 2. The Hawks could use a true No. 1 defender.

We got a glimpse of the electricity Nazar could bring to the lineup last year after his NCAA season ended, and he should be in the NHL lineup to start this season. 

Nazar thrives when playing with an element of chaos. His speed and shiftiness with and without the puck make him a lethal offensive threat. He has increased his work rate on the defensive side of the puck this year as well. 

There were games last season when Nazar took over for Michigan. His high-end puckhandling, creativity with the puck and playmaking are all major assets for the Blackhawks as they figure out who can play with Bedard.

LW: Gavin Hayes, Marek Vanacker, Jalen Luypen, Victor Stjernborg, Landon Slaggert, Nick Lardis, Samuel Savoie

C: Oliver Moore, Sacha Boisvert, John Mustard, Paul Ludwinski, Ryan Greene, Colton Dach, Alex Pharand, Aidan Thompson

RW: Frank Nazar, Martin Misiak, AJ Spellacy, Ryder Rolston, Roman Kantserov, Jack Pridham

LD: Ethan Del Mastro, Nolan Allan, Wyatt Kaiser, Ty Henry

RD: Arytom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel

G: Drew Commesso, Adam Gajan

For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Future Watch and upcoming Yearbook print editions in The Hockey News. And what stands out to you the most about Chicago's prospect pool? Let us know at our forum.