Sacha Boisvert, the second of three first round draft picks by the Blackhawks in 2024, talks about his aggressive style of play.

The Chicago Blackhawks have a good amount of young talent in the NHL now and a lot more developing in the AHL, whether they have been called up or not yet. Beyond that, the Blackhawks are rich with talent in the NCAA and they will be flooding into the organization soon enough.

Some of the top players the Blackhawks have playing in college or university will sign contracts this season and might get some games in at the NHL level, but others still have some time left at school before turning pro.

The group of players Chicago has playing in the NCAA include Sam Rinzel, Aidan Thompson, Sacha Boisvert, Oliver Moore, Ryan Greene, Dominic James, and Adam Gajan. Let's see how they're doing and who the Blackhawks can expect to make the jump to pro this season.

Rinzel has already been touted as the best Blackhawks defensive prospect and he is likely going to end up on the top pairing. The 20-year-old was drafted 25th overall in 2022 and has nine goals and 25 points in 30 games for the University of Minnesota. There is a good chance he is in his last NCAA season and potentially gets a game or two in at the end of the season for the Blackhawks. If not, he may get some time in the AHL next season before getting the call to the NHL like Frank Nazar.

This is the third consecutive season that Thompson has impressed in the NCAA for the University of Denver and is looking like a steal from the end of the third round in 2022. He is currently tied for seventh in NCAA scoring with 35 points and has 16 goals in just 28 games. He is right there with known top NHL prospects like Ryan Leonard, Gabe Perreault, Jimmy Snuggerud, and Isaac Howard. Thompson is going to be a player for the Blackhawks and I can see him jumping right into the NHL. If not, he'll be playing in the top league soon enough.

Boisvert was just drafted last year at 18th overall and the 18-year-old jumped right into university to play for North Dakota where he is impressing. He is young compared to everyone else playing in the NCAA, but still has nine goals and 20 points in 27 games. Even with how well he's playing as a rookie, I expect him to stay there for another 1-2 years before making the jump over.

Moore is a year older than Boisvert, being drafted 19th overall in 2023 and he's having a solid season in the NCAA as well for the University of Minnesota. This is Moore's second season at university, so there is a better chance he makes the jump to at least the AHL after the season. He might need or want one more year with Minnesota before signing though. He has seven goals and 23 points in 28 games. I don't think he's ready to jump right into the NHL.

Oliver Moore celebrates a goal for Minnesota last season with

Yet another draft pick from 2022, the Blackhawks chose Greene late in the second round. This is his third season at Boston University and he continues to take steps forward and is impressing more and more. The 21-year-old has 11 goals and 26 points in 27 games and he is set to put up career highs in university this season. He may turn pro after the season, but I could also see him playing one more season and spacing out his arrival to the Blackhawks from some other of the top talent.

James is looking like a real steal, even if he doesn't have a long NHL career. The Blackhawks drafted him in the sixth round in 2022 and he is coming off a season in which he missed all but two games for the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He has come back strong with 10 goals and 21 points in 25 games. Since he missed a year, there's definitely a good chance he stays in university for another season after this one and then spends time in the AHL.

Gajan is a high pick for a goalie and was drafted at the start of the second round in 2023. What is a little concerning is his struggles this season. Seen as the top Blackhawks' prospect in net, he has a 3.64 GAA and .878 SV% through 13 games for the University of Minnesota-Duluth as well. He is just a rookie and will still spend another couple years in university, but Chicago hopes to see positive development and less struggles soon.

The Blackhawks are overflowing with talent. Although not every one of the better prospects will play for the Blackhawks or even in the NHL, there is a lot to choose from and there are going to be some more hits with the talented group the team has to choose from.

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