The Blackhawks have a strong pool of youngster and could see two more top-10 prospects earn a spot on the team next season.

The Chicago Blackhawks will keep integrating young players into their lineup in 2024-25 and the team has a ton of talent on defense to be able to do so.

Alex Vlasic, who turns 23 this summer, and Kevin Korchinski, who turns 20, already have cemented spots on the Blackhawks' blue line. 

Without making assumptions on where veteran UFA defensemen Jarred Tinordi, Nikita Zaitsev, and Jaycob Megna end up this offseason, the Blackhawks have Wyatt Kaiser, Ethan Del Mastro, Nolan Allan, Louis Crevier and Isaak Phillips who all are 23 years old age or younger and arguably ready for a real shot.

So even if general manager Kyle Davidson adds a veteran D-man for stability in the offseason, there will be some spirited competition in 2024 training camp for jobs.

Three of these defensemen — Kaiser, Allan and Del Mastro — are considered top-10 prospects in the Blackhawks organization by THN's Future Watch. After great camps in 2023 and strong seasons in the AHL, two of them can once again earn their shot in the NHL next season.

Allan, the eighth-ranked prospect, and Del Mastro, the ninth-ranked prospect, are on the cusp of breaking through, and early. These two were D-partners in the AHL this season as well and have made their mark in a big way. They also are buddies.

Allan is more of a stay-at-home defenseman who was one of the final cuts in training camp last year at the age of 20. Davidson spoke about Del Mastro and his chance to play in the NHL next season in the end-of-season presser.

Del Mastro was recalled from AHL Rockford for two games late in the 2023-24 season for his NHL debut. The 6-foot-4 21-year-old skated in just over 18 minutes in each of the contests. 

Davidson said Del Mastro's call-up was a reward for a solid season with the IceHogs. Del Mastro was an AHL All-Star in his first year pro, a huge step after three seasons in the OHL.

Davidson said there will be open competition for roster spots on the Blackhawks next season. This applied not only to Del Mastro, but Allan, who was right beside him all season until suffering a lower-body injury in April.

Davidson saw an impressive step from junior to the AHL from Del Mastro, but emphasized the "AHL to NHL is a different story. That's a big jump. So it's going to be tough just to make sure that he does enough to make that jump and for us to feel comfortable to put him in there full-time."

Allan has the skating ability to keep up in the NHL, but hasn't gotten a chance to play a game in the NHL yet. It may take a little more work for him to really make his mark in training camp again in 2024, but that's not taking away from his ability and possibility of being a strong NHLer in the near future.

Some chemistry might eventually come in to play here: Allan often was paired with Korchinski as a junior D-man with the WHL Seattle Thunderbirds in 2022-23. Allan, Korchinski and Del Mastro all skated on Canada's goal medal-winning 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship team — with Connor Bedard and Colton Dach as forwards.

Either Del Mastro and/or Allan can make the Blackhawks with how they've progressed over the past year. But even if both don't stick with Chicago out of 2024 training camp, that doesn't mean either can't have another great AHL season and force the team's hand.

Injuries, performances from these two and others, and trades will all play a part for 2024-25. Regardless, Del Mastro and Allan are both solid pieces for the future of the Blackhawks.

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