Based on pure upside, these are Chicago's 10 best prospects as the 2022-23 season closes. Some are long-term works in progress. Others made be closer to making an impact in the NHL, or at least training camp.
The Blackhawks plan to keep stockpiling draft picks and prospects, and not worry about winning immediately. “We need young assets and we need to build up our prospect base,” general manager Kyle Davidson said.
The Blackhawks current pipeline includes three defensemen – Kevin Korchinski, Ethan Del Mastro and Nolan Allan – from Canada’s winning squad at the 2023 World Junior Championship. Five of Chicago’s current top 10 prospects are D-men.
The plan: Allow youngsters to become as dominant as possible on a step-by-step basis. For instance, star in the minors before starting in the NHL.
“I hate to use the cliché of ‘over-marinading,’ but let’s let these guys gain confidence at the levels they’re and reach the top of that level before we talk about getting to the next level,” said Mark Eaton, Chicago’s assistant GM, development. “We’re not going to rush guys along.”
1) Lukas Reichel. Center/left wing. 20 years old. 6 feet, 176 pounds. Rockford (AHL) and Chicago (NHL). Selected 17th overall (first round) 2020 draft.
Reichel flashed a big jump in on-ice presence during a three-game call-up to Chicago in early January when he scored his first NHL goal in a three-point night with five shots. Then the wiry German returned for 19 games in March and April, adding six goals and six assists.
Still, it was back to Rockford for the AHL playoffs where the Blackhawks hoped Reichel would become a top AHL offensive threat and better defensively as a center.
“It’s all about experiencing being a go-to player on a good team in a good league,” Davidson said. “The AHL is the second-best league we have in hockey and to be able to put some of our prospects in leadership roles, in key roles on that team and in that league is extremely valuable.”
Reichel finished with 20 goals and 31 assists in 51 regular-season games for the Ice Hogs. Good, even great, at times. But not consistently dominant.
In Rockford's five playoff games, Reichel had only one goal (and point), coming in the final seconds of a 4-2 loss to the Texas Stars that eliminated the IceHogs He was a minus-4 in the postseason.
Coach Anders Sorensen called Reichel "inconsistent" one night." Then after the series acknowledged the forward was playing with and injury and "handled it well."
"I feel like I learned a lot," Reichel said. "I think when I had the chance to play for the Hawks I think played well and showed for the first time what I can do in the 'show.' It was a good year, but I've still got a lot to learn."
In his final IceHogs interview, Reichel admitted he needs to get stronger, faster and more explosive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlgHzYXMKTk
2) Kevin Korchinski. Defense. 18 years old. 6-foot-2, 185 pounds. Seattle (WHL). Selected 7th overall (first round) of 2022 draft with pick acquired from Ottawa in Alex DeBrincat trade.
Korchinski is an agile skater, sees the ice well and ranks as one of the top point-producing D-men in the WHL, finishing with 11 goals and 62 assists in 54 regular-season games. He was a plus-50, eighth-best in the league, as a blue line anchor on a powerful Seattle Thunderbird team that was 54-11-1 and won the WHL's Western Conference.
Korchinski has added a goal and 10 assists in 14 playoff contents as Seattle advanced to the WHL finals against Winnipeg. https://whl.ca/bracket/280 He was often paired with Allan in Seattle, giving Chicago a potential “pre-assembled” future blueline tandem.
Korchinski has been steady but now has added some sizzle, starting with moving the puck quickly and efficiently to transition his team from defense to offense.
“He already skates and handles the puck with his head up all the time,” Eaton said. “He surveys the surface of the ice, makes plays and the overall quickness of how he thinks the game is very exciting.”
Like most 18 year-olds, Korchinski is expected to continue to fill out with added strength and grow into his frame.
3) Frank Nazar. Center. 19 years old. 5-foot-9, 175 pounds. University of Michigan (Big Ten). Selected 13th overall (first round) of 2022 draft with pick acquired from Montreal.
Nazar perfectly fits Davidson’s vision for a “high-speed, high-compete” game.” The tenacious, compact Mt. Clemens, Michigan native was buzzing on the ice at the Blackhawks prospect camp last summer.
He’s a high-energy, skilled playmaker who can create space on the ice. Nazar also likes to shoot and can finish.
Nazar was supposed to make a splash at the University of Michigan as a freshman this season after starring in the U.S. National Team Development program. But he already had a hip injury when arrived in Ann Arbor and underwent surgery in October.
Nazar finally debuted with the Wolverines on Feb. 10, 2023. He netted two goals and five assists in 13 games as Michigan reached the NCAA Frozen Four before losing to Quinnipiac. Nazar will play another college season in 2023-24.
4) Sam Rinzel. Defense. 18 years old. 6-foot-4, 180 pounds. Waterloo (USJHL). Selected 25th overall (first round) of 2022 draft with pick acquired from Toronto.
From the Twin Cities suburbs, the rangy Rinzel has ample upside, but is a long-term project.
Rinzel completed his second USJHL season, finishing with nine goals and 27 assists in 58 games. He'll join the University of Minnesota in 2023-24 as a freshman, then is expected to play at least a couple of collegiate seasons.
Scouts and coaches rave about Rinzel’s skating that enable him to beat opponents one-on-one in the USJHL. He’s a talented puck-mover and handler who sees the ice well and has sound offensive instincts. He shoots well mechanically and has the potential to become a threat from the blue line.
Rinzel has a way to go with strength and consistency.
5) Drew Commesso. Goal. 20 years old. 6-foot-2. 180 pounds. From Boston University (Hockey East). Selected 46th overall (second round) of 2020 draft.
Commesso, one of the Blackhawks two top goalie prospects along with Arvid Söderblom, could make an impact in Chicago's 2023 training camp. On April 11, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Blackhawks and a PTO with Rockford.
As junior at BU last season, the Commesso continued to hone his angles game as the No. 1 goalie on a powerhouse team. The Massachusetts native led the Terriers to the NCAA Frozen Hour before they lost to Minnesota.
Commesso had to overcome a hamstring injury and illness last season, as well as a couple of shaky starts, but finished with a 24-8-0 record, 2.46 goals-against average and .913 save percentage. He uses his frame and mechanics to let pucks strike him, although Commesso can come up with the flashy save.
The IceHogs released Commesso from his professional tryout, and he joined Team USA at the 2023 IIHF World Championship in Tampere, Finland and Riga, Latvia from May 12 to May 28.
Beside tending nets for BU in 2021-21, Commesso made two starts for the 2022 U.S. Olympic team in Beijing.
Summary of Prospects 6-10
Colton Dach. Center. 20 years old. 6-foot-4, 196 pounds. Seattle (WHL). Selected 62nd overall (second round) 2021 draft. Dach, Kirby's younger brother, was hampered by concussions early in the season. He got knocked out the WJC (Canada) with a shoulder injury. His forte is his shot.
Dach finished with 12 goals and 15 assists in 27 WHL regular season games (with Seattle and Kelowna, where he started). He has come on strong in the playoffs for the Thunderbirds with three goals and nine assists in their first 14 postseason contests.
Ethan Del Mastro. Defense. 20 years old. 6-foot-4, 210 pounds. Sarnia (OHL). Selected 105th overall (fourth round) of 2021 draft. A mobile, physical D-Man in the WJC and OHL, Del Mastro started his season with Mississauga then was traded up to Sarnia. In 52 total junior games, he finished with seven goals and 52 assists.
Del Mastro’s next step is minor pro where Eaton says he “can play against men.”
Nolan Allan. Defense. 19 years old. 6-foot-2, 195 pounds. Seattle (WHL) Selected 32nd overall (second round) 2021 draft. A physical, defense-first blueliner who has improved quick, efficient puck movement to transition to offense. Allan had 11 goals and 16 assists in 57 regular-season WHL games (plus-22) and added two goals and five assists (plus-17) in Seattle's first 14 playoff games
Alex Vlasic. Defense. 21 years old. 6-foot-6, 200 pounds. Rockford (AHL) and Chicago (NHL) Selected 43rd overall (second round) 2019 draft. The Wilmette, Illinois native joined the Blackhawks for six games in March and April after skating in 15 with Chicago in 2021-22. Sorensen said Vlasic made great improvement in Rockford in 2022-23 as he worked on puck handling and joining rushes.
Ryan Greene. Center. 19 years old. 6-foot-1, 180 pounds. Boston University (Hockey East). Selected 57th overall (second round) 2022 draft. One of the top NCAA freshmen, Greene recorded nine goal and 22 assists in 38 games for the talented Terriers. From Newfoundland, the playmaker was both a Hockey East player and rookie of the week.