Colton Dach – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – The aftermath of the trade deadline, including deals for John Carlson, Brayden Schenn, Conor Garland, Bobby Brink, and so much more!

Scott Cullen — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 15:44:59 +0000

Each week, I dig into the stats to find information that can help you make better fantasy hockey decisions. This week, the aftermath of the trade deadline, including deals for John Carlson, Brayden Schenn, Conor Garland, Bobby Brink, and so much more!

#1 After playing more than 1,100 regular-season games for the Washington Capitals, defenceman John Carlson was traded to the Anaheim Ducks. The 36-year-old blueliner remains highly productive, ranking 11th among defencemen with 46 points (10 G, 36 A) in 55 games this season. He’s been a prolific force on the power play throughout his career but has been doing more damage at even strength this season, with just nine assists on the power play and 37 points at even strength, which ranks fifth among NHL defencemen. In Anaheim, Carlson should get power play time ahead of Jacob Trouba but maybe not ahead of Jackson LaCombe.

#2 The New York Islanders made a big commitment to acquire St. Louis Blues captain Brayden Schenn, who has a relatively modest 28 points (12 G, 16A) in 61 games. He may do a little better with an Islanders team that is having more success, but the value for the Islanders could come from Schenn’s ability to play centre which could help to free up Mathew Barzal, who can move to right wing. Meanwhile, in St. Louis, Schenn’s departure could open up ice time down the middle of the ice, so rookie Dalibor Dvorsky might be worth keeping tabs on in deeper leagues.

#3 Ever since the Columbus Blue Jackets hired Rick Bowness as head coach, they have been making a concerted push for the playoffs, going 13-2-1 in 16 games under Bowness. Because of that surge, the Blue Jackets were buyers at the deadline and acquired right winger Conor Garland from the Vancouver Canucks. Garland has been a reliable secondary scorer throughout his career and has been a solid defensive contributor, too, though he had been struggling in the midst of the Canucks’ awful season, managing 26 points (7 G, 19 A) in 50 games. He should be a second-line winger in Columbus and with Garland moving on, the Canucks can give ice time to players in need of the experience, including Nils Hoglander, Liam Ohgren, and Linus Karlsson. Karlsson is probably the most appealing of those three.

#4 Veteran winger Michael Bunting was traded from the Nashville Predators to the Dallas Stars, and it should be a good opportunity for him to fill a middle six role on a strong Stars squad. Bunting has scored at least 19 goals in each of the past four seasons and had 31 points (13 G, 18 A) in 61 games for Nashville this season. With Bunting gone, perhaps look to Joakim Kemell in Nashville. The 2022 first-round pick had 29 points (10 G, 19 A) in 46 AHL games though he has failed to record a point in five career NHL games.

#5 The Minnesota Wild brought Minnesota native Bobby Brink home via a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers. Brink, 24, had 26 points (13 G, 13 A) in 55 games for the Flyers this season and should fit into Minnesota’s middle six with some second unit power play time. If he lands on Minnesota’s second line, with Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek, that would be an outstanding opportunity for Brink to elevate his production.

#6 Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog has been in fine form since returning from the Olympics, putting up six points (2 G, 4 A) and 15 shots on goal in five games. With Artturi Lehkonen considered week-to-week with an upper-body injury, Landeskog is even more important for the Avs and is skating on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas.

#7 It took some time for Dallas Stars forward Matt Duchene to get back up to speed after he missed more than six weeks with an upper-body injury, but he has been cooking lately. In his past 10 games, Duchene has accumulated 17 points (8 G, 9 A) with 19 shots on goal. He is skating with Jamie Benn and Sam Steel on the Stars’ second line but is also getting first unit power play time, which gives him a better shot at sustaining this offensive surge. Steel has elevated his play, too, putting up 10 points (3 G, 7 A) and 18 shots on goal in his past nine games. He is up to a career-high 29 points (10 G, 19 A) in 61 games.

#8 Columbus Blue Jackets centre Charlie Coyle has been on a tear ever since the Blue Jackets hired Bowness. In 16 games under the new bench boss, Coyle has delivered 21 points (9 G, 12 A) with 48 shots on goal. He’s been dominating at even strength, scoring 17 of those 21 points at evens. While he is getting first unit power play time, Coyle’s current linemates are Cole Sillinger and enforcer Mathieu Olivier.

#9 It has not been an easy season in Winnipeg, so the Jets need to take the good news where they can get it. Winger Cole Perfetti is starting to heat up as he takes on a bigger role. In his past eight games, Perfetti has seven points (3 G, 4 A) with 29 shots on goal while averaging 18:32 of ice time per game. That shot rate is very encouraging and he’s not only playing first unit power play time, but Perfetti is skating on a line with Adam Lowry and Gabriel Vilardi at even strength.

#10 Carolina Hurricanes left winger Taylor Hall has been a solid secondary scorer for the ‘Canes this season and he has six points (2 G, 4 A) in his past four games, but he is also consistently generating shots. In his past seven games, Hall has 19 shots on goal and seems to have a good thing going on a line with younger players Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake.

#11 New York Islanders captain Anders Lee plays more of a supporting role for the team than he did in his prime years, but he can still be a force in front of the net. In his past five games, Lee has scored four goals with 16 shots on goal. He is skating on a line with Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Simon Holmstrom at even strength and he’s a second unit power play guy, with only six of his 35 points this season coming via the man advantage.

#12 The Winnipeg Jets have activated defenceman Josh Morrissey so he should be available for Saturday’s game against Vancouver. It isn’t a moment too soon, either, after the Jets traded Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn to Buffalo, the Jets were looking rather lean on the blueline. Morrissey has 42 points (10 G, 32 A) in 56 games this season, despite being held off the scoresheet in seven straight games prior to the Olympic break.

#13 The San Jose Sharks have been very prudent in their deployment of rookie centre Michael Misa this season, perhaps even conservative, but it’s starting to look like the freshman pivot is ready to play a bigger role down the stretch as the Sharks push for a playoff spot. In four games since the Olympic break, Misa has contributed five points (2 G, 3 A) with seven shots on goal. He is in a good situation with the Sharks now, skating on a line between William Eklund and Tyler Toffoli, so it should come as no surprise if Misa, the second pick in last summer’s draft, continues to ascend late in the season.

#14 It is practically impossible to trust that Buffalo Sabres centre Josh Norris will stay healthy – he has played more than 56 games in a season once in his career – but when he’s in the lineup, he can make a difference. Norris has five points (3 G, 2 A) and 10 shots on goal in five games since the Olympic break and has 22 points (9 G, 13 A) in 24 games this season. On a strong Sabres team, Norris is getting first unit power play time and skating between Noah Ostlund and Josh Doan at even strength.

#15 It is probably too soon to give out a recommendation for St. Louis Blues rookie defenceman Logan Mailloux, but he’s worth keeping an eye on, especially after Justin Faulk was traded to the Detroit Red wings. Mailloux only has five points (3 G, 2 A) in 46 games this season, but he has goals in back-to-back games and has 13 shots on goal. He has gone over 20 minutes of ice time in each of the past three games, the first times that he has crossed that threshold with the Blues. Faulk figures to be a solid addition in Detroit. The veteran blueliner had nine assists and 20 shots on goal in his last 10 games for St. Louis. In Detroit, he should continue to play 20+ minutes per game and have a role on the second power play.

#16 It shouldn’t move the needle that much when a 40-year-old right winger is traded, but Corey Perry had been having a strong season when the Los Angeles Kings traded him to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Perry had zero points and 12 shots on goal in his last eight games for the Kings, but he still has 28 points (11 G, 17 A) in 50 games. If he can continue at that rate, it would be his best points per game since 2017-2018. Perry is likely to have a fourth line role in Tampa Bay, with some second unit power play time sprinkled in for good measure.

#17 This year’s trade deadline was decidedly underwhelming, with few big names moving, there were a bunch of veteran forwards on the move. Nick Foligno joining his brother in Minnesota, David Perron back to Detroit, Warren Foegele to Ottawa, Nicolas Roy to Colorado, Nic Dowd to Vegas, Andrew Mangiapane to Chicago with Colton Dach and Jason Dickinson going to Edmonton. It’s entirely possible that none of those players will have fantasy value for the rest of this season.

#18 It has been a difficult season for defenceman Mackenzie Weegar, who had been one of the league’s most reliable blueliners over the previous five years. The Utah Mammoth acquired Weegar from the Calgary Flames, where he had 21 points (3 g, 18 A) in 60 games, but he had 99 points (28 G, 71 A) in 163 games across the previous two seasons, so he does have more offensive potential than he has shown this year. He’s not a sure thing for power play time in Utah, especially if Mikhail Sergachev and Sean Durzi are healthy, but it will be worth monitoring Weegar in his new home.

#19 One of the more surprising stories of the season is that of Calgary Flames goaltender Devin Cooley. The 28-year-old netminder had played a total of six NHL games prior to this season and it was a couple of years ago when he had a .870 save percentage for the San Jose Sharks, so expectations for Cooley were not high coming into the season. In 22 games, however, Cooley has a sparkling .923 save percentage, and he’s earning more action in the Flames crease. There may not be a lot of wins for Flames goalies over the rest of this season, but Cooley is changing the trajectory of his career and could have some value late in the season, at least when the Flames have more favorable matchups.

#20 As the New York Rangers’ season circles the drain, captain J.T. Miller has landed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. With Vincent Trocheck also out, the Rangers have Mika Zibanejad followed by journeyman Jonny Brodzinski, rookie Noah Laba, and Juuso Parssinen, who was just called up from the AHL. That’s an uphill fight down the middle of the ice every night so the Blueshirts might be in full tank mode. Just something to keep in mind for a rebuilding team that may not be offering a whole lot of support to its best players down the stretch.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #2

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 16:43:27 +0000

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 02: Oliver Moore #11 of the Chicago Blackhawks controls the puck during overtime against the Colorado Avalanche on April 2, 2025 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)

Prospect System Ranking – 2nd (May 2025 - 4th)
GM: Kyle Davidson Hired: October 2021
COACH: Jeff Blashill Hired: May 2025

Connor Bedard’s brilliance is undeniable, but even a player of his caliber can’t single-handedly lift a team. The 2024-25 season made that clear, as the Chicago Blackhawks finished 31st in the NHL and missed the playoffs for the fifth straight year; and the seventh in eight seasons. Still, beneath the losses lies a promising foundation.

Frank Nazar may be the biggest reason for optimism. After tearing up the AHL with 24 points in 21 games, he jumped into Chicago’s lineup for 53 games and proved he belonged. He looks poised to stay full-time in 2025-26. On the back end, Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov both made strong early impressions. Levshunov split time between the AHL and NHL in his draft-plus-one season, while Rinzel arrived from the University of Minnesota and chipped in five assists across nine NHL games. Having two young, right-shot defensemen maturing simultaneously is a rare luxury for Davidson’s rebuild.

In Rockford, a wave of near-ready talent continues to push forward. Ethan Del Mastro and Colton Dach are trending upward, while Drew Commesso is on the verge of battling for NHL crease time. Further down, high-octane scorers Nick Lardis (117 points, fourth in OHL scoring) and Marek Vanacker (42 points in 45 games despite injury) are both primed to join the AHL ranks and extend the pipeline’s offensive depth.

The 2025 draft brought even more firepower, with three first-rounders added to the system. Headlining the class is Anton Frondell at third overall, followed by late-first selections Vaclav Nestrasil and Mason West—both ranking among the organization’s top 15 prospects.

With Bedard, Nazar, and Levshunov forming the nucleus, and waves of support talent developing behind them, Chicago’s rebuild is tracking toward its next phase. The results have been painful, but the Blackhawks’ prospect depth and draft capital suggest brighter days are not far off.

Chicago Blackhawks Top-15 Prospects

1 - Artyom Levshunov

It’s hard to envision a scenario where Artyom Levshunov doesn’t become an all-situations number one defenceman at the NHL level. From a pure talent perspective, all the qualities are there; he can distribute the puck and make plays, he’s a very mobile player at all ends of the ice, he can utilize his strength to play a strong physical game, and he is a capable defender (although this is very much still a work in progress at the pro level). It’s hard to expect a young defensive prospect to be able to play heavy minutes in the AHL as a teenager, but there were many nights last season when Levshunov looked like he was miles ahead of the rest of the players on the ice. Levshunov does have to continue to work on his physical game, and the offensive numbers will improve with more reps at the pro level, but he is a can’t-miss prospect who should make the full-time jump to the Chicago Blackhawks next season.

2 - Sam Rinzel

Sam Rinzel showed consistent growth and improvements in all areas of his game compared to his freshman season. Aggression and great stick-checking ability have continued to be excellent, demonstrating an active presence in all three zones. His skating and puck-handling at high speeds are strengths, enabling him to break up plays and contribute offensively by pinching at the blue line and joining the rush, all while having the elite creativity and puck skills. His defensive positioning has been a concern in moments, as he occasionally vacates the net front and relies on his stick over physicality, leading to mixed success in board battles. Under pressure, he has improved a lot with his puck movement and decision making. Same can be said for his reads off pinches while joining and creating offence. While his offensive instincts were already evident, he has proven this season how effective he can be on defence as well. With further development in physical engagement, he projects as a mobile, two-way defenceman with offensive upside, capable of playing in all special teams situations in a top four role. His strong finish to the year at the NHL level suggests he’s already ready for a full-time role.

3 - Anton Frondell

Kyle Davidson & the Blackhawks got their guy at third overall this past draft. While that may have been a surprise to some, it’s easy to see why Frondell was so highly regarded. Firstly, it isn’t easy to find guys who play with the heaviness AND the soft scoring touch that Frondell possesses. He’s got quick hands in tight and a tactical mind for playmaking. He reads the game at a very high level. He’s the type of player who can play with anybody and make their life easier. By all accounts, he’s a terrific teammate and leader in the dressing room - perfect for a rebuilding team like the Hawks. The only big question mark is how high his ceiling truly is. He lacks the high-end skill-speed combo that your typical NHL 1C possesses. It also limits his effectiveness in transition. Now, he could put those concerns to bed this coming year in the SHL after a full offseason of training uninhibited by injury. If not, Frondell could still probably play center in the middle six. However, he might be an even better complimentary top six goal-scoring winger. Think on the wing of Connor Bedard.

4 - Sacha Boisvert

Boisvert showed notable offensive growth throughout the season, progressing as a skilled playmaker with good skating and great puck-handling abilities. His vision and passing creates space and scoring opportunities for teammates, particularly in offensive zone setups and off the rush. Early in the season highlighted his reliable 200-foot game, good back pressure, and defensive support, suggesting top six potential. However, as the season progressed, concerns emerged regarding his compete level and defensive consistency. We hope to see much higher levels of compete and consistency at Boston University this upcoming season, after transferring from North Dakota. Strengths include his offensive awareness, puck protection, and distribution, making him a threat in the offensive zone. Weaknesses center around his inconsistent engagement in puck battles and defensive play. Boisvert currently projects as a middle six offensive forward with the potential to contribute on a second power play unit. His future development will hinge on addressing compete level and two-way reliability. Expect him to spend at least another year at the college level.

5 - Oliver Moore

Oliver Moore is a dynamic, high-speed forward with excellent skating ability, making him a dangerous offensive threat in transition. His acceleration and edgework allow him to create separation, drive play, and pressure defenders effectively. Throughout the season, Moore demonstrated strong two-way play, using his speed to track back defensively and contribute to the forecheck. His offensive instincts and playmaking have steadily improved, showcasing a growing ability to distribute the puck and finish scoring opportunities. Despite his elite skating, Moore can refine his puck handling in tight spaces and continue developing his ability to play through physical pressure. While not the most imposing forward, his compete level and tenacity make up for any size disadvantage. Projecting forward, Moore has the tools to develop into a top six NHL forward with a focus on speed-driven offence and strong defensive responsibility. Continued work on his finishing and puck protection will be key to maximizing his pro potential.

6 - Nick Lardis

What a momentous year for Lardis. 71 goals. First player to hit that plateau since John Tavares nearly two decades ago. Mostly healthy this past year (save for a knee injury in the playoffs), the transformation in Lardis’ game was huge. He went from a high-end complementary piece to a player who could take over games with the puck on his stick. He wasn’t just a threat on the power play. He scored at will at even strength too. He consistently created his own scoring chances by using his speed to attack the middle of the ice, showcasing greater strength on the puck to fight through contact to get shots off. Of course, you don’t score 70 plus without a few weapons in your shooting arsenal either. Lardis owns both a wickedly quick and deceptive wrister and a heavy one timer that he unleashes from both the slot and the flank. Moving to the pro level next year, the focus for Lardis will be on conditioning to ensure that he can withstand the rigors of the pro game and remain healthy. After a year or two in the AHL, he should be a great scoring option for the Hawks, perhaps even alongside Connor Bedard.

7 - Drew Commesso

Commesso is a solid goalie who specializes in skating. He’s quick and precise on his feet. Back it up with solid positioning, and you have someone who can always be in the right place at the right time. Outside of those aspects, he doesn’t excel elsewhere. He isn't overly athletic and can sometimes lose his structure in various areas, often looking to struggle in a butterfly. This area of weakness has led to being scored on five hole a few too many times when faced with chaotic situations. He also has been shown to get beat pretty easily on clean rush shots where his hands weren’t active enough. His skating is easily good enough to take him to the NHL, whether he finds much success won’t be as easily determined. Without being super athletic, he will have to perfect his structure and work on bettering his hands to be impactful at the next level.

8 - Roman Kantserov

Despite missing the start of the season due to injury, Roman Kantserov had an impressive second KHL season. After a bottom six checking role last year, he was given much more offensive freedom this season, scoring 38 points in 47 games. Known for his quick hands and shifty play during his draft year, he started to showcase that skill again while maintaining the hard-working style he developed in his checking role. His high pace of play often catches opponents off guard, and his ability to shield the puck helps him create numerous scoring chances. However, he still struggles with overhandling the puck, leading to turnovers, and sometimes forces flashy plays that put him in bad spots. Kantserov will take another KHL season before joining Chicago’s system but projects as a high-energy, third-line grinder with the potential to contribute offensively. There are areas that need refinement, but his development has been very promising.

9 - Marek Vanacker

It was a bit of a strange year for Vanacker, as his production dipped significantly on a strong Brantford team. The explanation for that is twofold. Firstly, he got a late start to the year following offseason shoulder surgery last season and never really seemed to find his stride. Secondly, with the explosion of Lardis and Patrick Thomas duo, Vanacker found himself off the top power play unit. Should Hawks fans worry? We would say no. Next year, he’ll be fully healthy, and he and Jake O’Brien can continue to build off their chemistry as the top duo on what should be another strong Brantford team. He still has the work rate and the scoring chops to be a quality middle six NHL player in the future. Next year will be more telling as to the likelihood of that upside occurring.

10 - Ethan Del Mastro

Ethan Del Mastro is a strong, physical defender with sound positioning, good mobility for his size, and fierce competitiveness. For these reasons, it’s not hard to envision a scenario where Del Mastro enjoys a long career as an NHL defender. Del Mastro played very well in heavy minutes last season for the Rockford IceHogs, despite putting up lower offensive numbers than he did in his rookie season. This was due in part to the addition of Artyom Levshunov, as he got many of the reps Del Mastro had been receiving the prior season, but Del Mastro also spent time with the Blackhawks, which can make it difficult for a prospect to gain offensive traction. Nevertheless, Del Mastro will make his millions in the NHL as a player that plays defence first, so it’s not too alarming that his offensive numbers dipped as a sophomore pro. Del Mastro looks ready for consistent minutes at the NHL level and should be on the Blackhawks this season.

11 - Colton Dach

Dach is the prototypical power forward in the NHL. He blends speed, physicality, and a good shot, which makes slowing him down nearly impossible. Dach earned the call up to the NHL at the turn of the year last season and looks to build on that again this year. His unique blend of size and skill makes him a versatile forward who can just as easily fill the net as he can run people over.

12 - Vaclav Nestrasil

Nestrasil has top six finesse and some bottom six grit. He’s a big guy who is a smooth skater, has a snappy shot, and isn’t afraid to lay the body. He has the offensive and defensive skills to play on both special teams' units. Nestrasil isn’t the best playmaker, though. He doesn’t drive the offence himself yet can complement just about any center he plays with. He’ll be a big-minute player for UMass next season, playing in all situations for the Minutemen.

13 - Mason West

There aren’t many players at 6-foot-6 who have as much finesse as Mason West has. West is a great skater whose playmaking shines above the rest. Still a raw prospect, West will get plenty of opportunity to hone his physical game as well as his skills against tougher competition in the USHL. Once his football season comes to an end, West will look to continue his development as an integral piece of the Fargo Force.

14 - Ryan Greene

For every flashy, high skill forward, teams want a shutdown guy too. That’s what the Chicago Blackhawks hope they have in Ryan Greene. While posting near point-per-game numbers with Boston University, Greene has developed as a playmaker and strong defensive center. Depending on how NHL-ready Greene looks in training camp, he could start the year in the NHL as another young Chicago forward or be the first-line center in Rockford.

15 - Aidan Thompson

Not many players make a 20-point jump in production between their sophomore and junior seasons at the NCAA level. Thompson did just that after netting 55 points in 44 games with Denver. Thompson’s sizable jump got him to the AHL level, but another significant improvement all around will be required for him to get NHL minutes. He’ll be a responsible winger on both ends of the ice for Rockford, where he’ll likely bounce around the top six.

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #4 CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS– Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 12:37:30 +0000

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 06: Sam Rinzel #6 of the Chicago Blackhawks controls the puck during the first period against the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 6, 2025 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)

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Chicago 25 Prospects

2025 NHL PROSPECT REPORT: Top 200 NHL Affiliated Prospects (Top 50 Free) – Biggest risers in 2024-25

Brock Otten — Tue, 13 May 2025 11:36:55 +0000

You will find at the bottom of this article a chart with the top 50 prospects in the NHL currently. Comparing the current ranking of prospects in our report to their previous ranking in our summer yearbook (which is a top 300), these are the affiliated prospects who have improved their stock the most this season. 25 Risers for 2025. Subscribers can access the top 200 prospects with links to the players page and full profiles here.

We are releasing our team rankings in descending order from the worst prospect pool to the best on our site over the next few weeks. Subscribers can read the full profiles and the team overview and learn about the future stars of your favourite team. If you would like to subscribe you can link here.

RALEIGH, NC - APRIL 12: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Scott Morrow (56) looks to pass the puck during the NHL game between the New York Rangers and the Carolina Hurricanes on April 12, 2025 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire)

Scott Morrow - Defense - Carolina Hurricanes

Previous Ranking: 65, New Ranking: 20

In his first full pro season after signing out of UMass, Morrow has been an immediate impact player. He was one of the top offensive defenders in the AHL and has since performed very well in a late season call up with the Hurricanes.

Tristan Luneau - Defense - Anaheim Ducks

Previous Ranking: 84, New Ranking: 32

The rich get richer. After missing most of last season due to injury, Luneau has returned with a vengeance this season. He’s been a two-way standout at the AHL level and should push for a full time roster spot in the very near future…even with Anaheim’s incredible U25 depth.

Liam Greentree - Wing - Los Angeles Kings

Previous Ranking: 87, New Ranking: 35

A late first round selection of the Kings last year, Greentree was one of the best players in the OHL this past season, helping the Windsor Spitfires go from worst to first. The power winger continues to improve his skating and looks the part of a future NHL standout.

Cole Hutson - Defense - Washington Capitals

Previous Ranking: 246, New Ranking: 44

Few affiliated prospects in the game improved their stock more than Cole Hutson this year. Look at the resume: One of the highest scoring defenders in the NCAA as a freshman, A WJC gold medal and a spot on the tournament all-star team, and a National Championship appearance with Boston University.

Owen Pickering - Defense - Pittsburgh Penguins

Previous Ranking: 131, New Ranking: 49

Sure, the Penguins prospect pool is hurting and that’s given Pickering a chance to perform at a high level with significant ice time as a rookie pro, but he’s handled it extremely well and looks the part of a longtime top four defender for Pittsburgh.

Sam Rinzel - Defense - Chicago Blackhawks

Previous Ranking: 125, New Ranking: 51

Rinzel has always been considered a long-term project, the Hawks knew this when they drafted him in the first round out of Minnesota High School hockey in 2022. But the pick is bearing fruit now. Rinzel was one of the top defenders in the NCAA this year and he looks near NHL ready.

Oliver Kapanen - Center - Montreal Canadiens

Previous Ranking: 142, New Ranking: 52

One of the biggest risers in our yearbook this past summer, thanks to a strong performance at the World Championships for Finland, Kapanen continues to rise. He nearly made the Canadiens full time this year and then was a near point per game player in the SHL. An intelligent two-way center, he looks like an NHL lock.

Luca Cagnoni - Defense - San Jose Sharks

Previous Ranking: 231, New Ranking: 60

We’re approaching the “sometimes you’re just wrong on a prospect” space with Cagnoni, a player that we’ve been skeptical about previously. But, he’s made the leap to the pro level just fine, with his offensive talent translating effortlessly.

Isaac Howard - Wing - Tampa Bay Lightning

Previous Ranking: 157, New Ranking: 61

The former first round selection exploded in his junior season with Michigan State and was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker. Improvements to his strength and conditioning have done wonders for his play with the puck. The question is…will he sign with Tampa Bay?

Owen Beck - Center - Montreal Canadiens

Previous Ranking: 132, New Ranking: 65

You could probably make the argument that Beck has looked better as a first year pro in the AHL than he did over his three OHL seasons. His game just screams long time NHL standout thanks to his speed, tenacity, and IQ. But the skill has translated better than expected.

Dmitri Buchelnikov - Wing - Detroit Red Wings

Previous Ranking: 134, New Ranking: 66

Year to year improvement is the hallmark of a strong prospect and Buchelnikov has done just that. He was one of the top rookies in the KHL two years ago. This past year, he emerged as an offensive star. Next stop NHL? Detroit will have to wait because he still has contract time left with his KHL team.

Nick Lardis - Wing - Chicago Blackhawks

Previous Ranking: 152, New Ranking: 69

Putting a wrist injury behind him, Lardis exploded in his final junior season to be the first OHL player to score 70 goals since John Tavares. He was dominant in every fashion. Lardis is such a dangerous player because of the combination of his skating ability and shot. His progression this year has given him a more optimistic outlook as a top six contributor for the Hawks.

Igor Chernyshov - Wing - San Jose Sharks

Previous Ranking: 185, New Ranking: 72

Talk about meeting the hype of a long-awaited debut. When Chernyshov’s shoulder rehab finally finished and he suited up for the Saginaw Spirit (OHL), he immediately became one of the OHL’s elite players, leading the league in points per game this season.

Leevi Merilainen - Goaltender - Ottawa Senators

Previous Ranking: 196, New Ranking: 90

Merilainen has really turned things around after a couple disappointing post draft years. He’s improved every year as a pro and has been fantastic in limited starts for the Senators this season. Have the Senators finally found their netminder of the future?

Ilya Protas - Wing - Washington Capitals

Previous Ranking: Outside Top 300, New Ranking: 91

One of two prospects to go from being unranked previously, to inside of our top 100. Protas was one of the best players in the OHL this season with Windsor. His skating does still need work, but everything else about his game is top notch. Protas is a highly intelligent player.

Colton Dach - Center - Chicago Blackhawks

Previous Ranking: 227, New Ranking: 96

Even if injuries continue to be an issue (a recent elbow injury has limited his NHL participation), he’s had a terrific season split between the AHL and the NHL. The big, power pivot is the ideal middle six pivot for the Hawks rebuild.

William Stromgren - Wing - Calgary Flames

Previous Ranking: Outside Top 300, New Ranking: 99

The other prospect to climb from outside of the top 300 to inside the top 100, Stromgren is an elite skating winger whose offensive skill set has finally caught up to his feet. He’s been one of the best players in Calgary’s system this year and has put himself in contention for a roster spot next year.

Ilya Nabokov - Goaltender - Colorado Avalanche

Previous Ranking: 250, New Ranking: 102

Nabokov has proven this year that he’s no fluke, after coming out of nowhere to capture the KHL rookie of the year and KHL playoffs MVP awards last year. He’s been equally strong in Russia and Colorado may look to bring him into the fold sooner, rather than later.

Luca Del Bel Belluz - Center - Columbus Blue Jackets

Previous Ranking: 238, New Ranking: 103

A strong shooting and creative pivot with a center lane mentality, Del Bel Belluz had a terrific second pro season in the Jackets system. Not only was he a standout at the AHL level, but he’s produced offensively when called upon by the Blue Jackets.

Roman Kantserov - Wing - Chicago Blackhawks

Previous Ranking: 230, New Ranking: 104

An undersized, but highly skilled winger, Kantserov exploded offensively in the KHL this season, more than doubling his output from the previous year. He has another year on his KHL contract, but after that? He could be a big part of Chicago’s rebuild.

Elias Pettersson - Defense - Vancouver Canucks

Previous Ranking: 300, New Ranking: 106

Not every high-end defensive prospect needs to be a world beater offensively. Pettersson has climbed the prospect rankings thanks to his attention to detail at both ends and his outstanding upside as a defensive stalwart. He hasn’t looked out of place as an NHL player this season.

Mikhail Yegorov - Goaltender - New Jersey Devils

Previous Ranking: 253, New Ranking: 110

It’s no exaggeration to suggest that Yegorov may have saved Boston University’s season, after making the jump from the USHL at midseason. He shored up their shaky netminding, helping them reach the National Championship.

Alex Bump - Wing - Philadelphia Flyers

Previous Ranking: Outside Top 300, New Ranking: 120

A breakout star in the NCAA with Western Michigan, Bump may just be one of the most underrated affiliated prospects in hockey. He’s a dynamic creator in transition and could be a real diamond in the rough for the Flyers.

Jesse Kiiskinen - Wing - Detroit Red Wings

Previous Ranking: Outside Top 300, New Ranking: 133

The Andrew Gibson for Kiiskinen swap between the Predators and Red Wings has worked out incredibly well in Detroit’s favor after Kiiskinen’s breakout season in Liiga, where he was a near point per game player as a U20.

Tarin Smith - Defense - Anaheim Ducks

Previous Ranking: 269, New Ranking: 144

Drafted in the third-round last year, Smith’s offensive upside was considered a major strength and he’s shown that this year, emerging as one of the WHL’s most dangerous scoring blueliners with Everett. As he continues to improve defensively, the sky is the limit.

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	Acquired	TM - 2024-25 Stats	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Ivan Demidov	Mtl	RW	19	5-11/180	`24(5th)	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	65	19	30	49	22
2	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	20	5-11/190	`23(8th)	Boston College (HE)	37	30	19	49	46
3	Sam Dickinson	SJ	D	18	6-3/205	`24(11th)	London (OHL)	55	29	62	91	39
4	Artyom Levshunov	Chi	D	19	6-2/205	`24(2nd)	Rockford (AHL)	52	5	17	22	59
5	Berkly Catton	Sea	C	19	5-10/175	`24(8th)	Spokane (WHL)	57	38	71	109	30
6	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	23	6-4/215	`20(69th)	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	61	17	29	46	32
7	Yaroslav Askarov	SJ	G	22	6-3/175	T(Nsh-8/24)	San Jose (AHL)	22	11	9	2.45	0.923
8	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	20	5-11/170	`22(15th)	Abbotsford (AHL)	36	19	9	28	0
9	Beckett Sennecke	Ana	RW	19	6-2/175	`24(3rd)	Oshawa (OHL)	56	36	50	86	66
10	Zeev Buium	Min	D	19	6-0/185	`24(12th)	Denver (NCHC)	41	13	35	48	44
11	Zayne Parekh	Cgy	D	19	6-0/180	`24(9th)	Saginaw (OHL)	61	33	74	107	96
12	Anton Silayev	NJ	D	19	6-7/210	`24(10th)	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	63	2	10	12	37
13	Tij Iginla	Uta	C	18	6-0/190	`24(6th)	Kelowna (WHL)	21	14	18	32	13
14	Daniil But	Uta	LW	20	6-5/203	`23(12th)	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	54	9	19	28	16
15	Axel Sandin-Pellikka	Det	D	20	5-11/180	`23(17th)	Skelleftea AIK (SHL)	46	12	17	29	22
16	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	21	6-1/175	`22(24th)	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	46	13	12	25	10
17	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	19	6-1/200	`23(10th)	Springfield (AHL)	61	21	24	45	22
18	Matthew Savoie	Edm	C	21	5-9/180	T(Buf-7/24)	Bakersfield (AHL)	66	19	35	54	28
19	Brad Lambert	Wpg	C	21	6-0/180	`22(30th)	Manitoba (AHL)	61	7	28	35	28
20	Scott Morrow	Car	D	22	6-2/195	`21(40th)	Chicago (AHL)	52	13	26	39	47
21	Bradly Nadeau	Car	LW	19	5-10/165	`23(30th)	Chicago (AHL)	64	32	26	58	36
22	Dmitri Simashev	Uta	D	20	6-4/198	`23(6th)	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	56	1	5	6	4
23	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	19	5-11/165	`23(23rd)	Boston College (HE)	37	16	32	48	25
24	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	20	6-2/185	`23(5th)	Laval (AHL)	10	2	3	5	10
25	Liam Ohgren	Min	LW	21	6-1/200	`22(19th)	Iowa (AHL)	41	19	18	37	10
26	Carter Yakemchuk	Ott	D	19	6-3/200	`24(7th)	Calgary (WHL)	56	17	32	49	82
27	Sebastian Cossa	Det	G	22	6-6/229	`21(15th)	Grand Rapids (AHL)	41	21	15	2.45	0.911
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	20	6-1/180	`23(11th)	Boston University (HE)	39	2	22	24	8
29	Easton Cowan	Tor	RW	19	5-10/170	`23(28th)	London (OHL)	46	29	40	69	41
30	Calum Ritchie	NYI	C	20	6-2/185	T(Col-3/25)	Oshawa (OHL)	47	15	55	70	50
31	Cayden Lindstrom	CBJ	C	19	6-3/215	`24(4th)	Medicine Hat (WHL)	0	0	0	0	0
32	Tristan Luneau	Ana	D	21	6-1/195	`22(53rd)	San Diego (AHL)	59	9	43	52	21
33	Denton Mateychuk	CBJ	D	20	5-11/190	`22(12th)	Columbus (NHL)	45	4	9	13	20
34	Jacob Fowler	Mtl	G	20	6-1/215	`23(69th)	Boston College (HE)	35	25	7	1.63	0.940
35	Liam Greentree	LA	RW	19	6-3/215	`24(26th)	Windsor (OHL)	64	49	70	119	59
36	Michael Hage	Mtl	C	19	6-1/190	`24(21st)	Michigan (B1G)	33	13	21	34	23
37	Konsta Helenius	Buf	C	18	5-11/190	`24(14th)	Rochester (AHL)	65	14	21	35	28
38	Jimmy Snuggerud	StL	RW	20	6-2/185	`22(23rd)	Minnesota (B1G)	40	24	27	51	29
39	Lian Bichsel	Dal	D	20	6-6/233	`22(18th)	Dallas (NHL)	38	4	5	9	41
40	Quentin Musty	SJ	LW	19	6-2/200	`23(26th)	Sudbury (OHL)	33	30	29	59	14
41	Joshua Roy	Mtl	RW	21	6-0/190	`21(150th)	Laval (AHL)	47	20	15	35	10
42	Jett Luchanko	Phi	C	18	5-11/185	`24(13th)	Guelph (OHL)	46	21	35	56	46
43	Seamus Casey	NJ	D	21	5-9/165	`22(46th)	Utica (AHL)	30	3	15	18	8
44	Cole Hutson	Wsh	D	18	5-10/165	`24(43rd)	Boston University (HE)	39	14	34	48	64
45	Logan Mailloux	Mtl	D	22	6-3/215	`21(31st)	Laval (AHL)	63	12	21	33	74
46	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	22	6-3/215	`21(20th)	Iowa (AHL)	27	9	14	3.59	0.879
47	Cole Eiserman	NYI	LW	18	6-0/195	`24(20th)	Boston University (HE)	39	25	11	36	27
48	Ivan Miroshnichenko	Wsh	LW	21	6-1/185	`22(20th)	Hershey (AHL)	53	23	19	42	28
49	Owen Pickering	Pit	D	21	6-4/180	`22(21st)	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	47	2	11	13	10
50	Nate Danielson	Det	C	20	6-2/185	`23(9th)	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	12	27	39	33

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #6

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Derek Neumeier — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 13:00:08 +0000

_{CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 14: Frank Nazar #91 of the Chicago Blackhawks looks on during the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes at the United Center on April 14, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)}

Prospect System Ranking – 6th (Previous Rank - 6th)
GM: Kyle Davidson Hired: October 2021
COACH: Luke Richardson Hired: June 2022

It doesn’t take much to change the course of an organization; just ask the Chicago Blackhawks, who struck gold by winning the draft lottery and landing generational talent Connor Bedard. After his first full season in the NHL, Bedard is already making an unsurprising impact, revitalizing the franchise. The Blackhawks’ youth movement doesn’t stop there, as they have also seen several youngsters graduate to the big league recently, including Lukas Reichel, Alex Vlasic, and Kevin Korchinski.

That list of graduates may grow further next year, with 2024 second overall pick Artyom Levshunov (ranked 16th) pressing for a spot on the Hawks’ blueline out the gate. Although, recent additions to the backend that include Alec Martinez and T.J Brodie may hint at alternative plans.

On the cusp of turning pro is Frank Nazar (57th), who is fresh off a two-year NCAA stint where he contributed nearly a point-per-game (0.89). He joins current Rockford standouts such as Ethan Del Mastro (95th), Wyatt Kaiser, and goaltender Drew Commesso (118th) in the AHL.

Further down the pipeline, the Blackhawks boast a strong group of prospects developing in various walks of North America, including Oliver Moore (80th), Sacha Boisvert (111th), Marek Vanacker (147th), Sam Rinzel (125th) and Nick Lardis (152nd), who all sit comfortably within our top-200 list here at McKeen’s.

With eight picks in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft (so far), including two first-rounders and two second-rounders, Chicago’s prospect pool is set to grow even further in the near future.

Contrary to the belief that the Blackhawks would take a step back for another season to await further reinforcements, the team has bolstered its lineup with veteran talent to complement Bedard. With additions such as Ilya Mikheyev, Pat Maroon, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Teuvo Teräväinen, they may be more competitive than originally predicted.

While the Blackhawks may still be years away from true Stanley Cup contention, the rebuild is progressing smoothly, and the landing is likely to be much softer than most full rebuilds typically endure.

Chicago Blackhawks Top-15 Prospects

1. Artyom Levshunov

Chicago wanted to add a franchise-changing defenceman after they were lucky enough to pick a franchise-changing forward in Connor Bedard last year, and they're hoping they found him in Levshunov this summer. He's a complete blueliner who does everything at a high level, albeit arguably one without a truly elite trait. Not only does he thrive in all the various situations throughout a game, he has the necessary conditioning and inner drive to handle the pressure and workload of being a top-pairing defender. Whether up a goal or down a goal at a key juncture in a game, he’s always ready to go over the boards and has what it takes to get the job done. Levshunov will be a foundational piece for the Blackhawks as they seek to transition out of their rebuild toward being a top Stanley Cup contender once again.

2. Frank Nazar

After being limited to just 13 games in 2022-23 due to injury, Nazar was clearly intent on rebounding in a big way this season, and boy did he ever. He scored at a point-per-game pace in the NCAA for Michigan and did the same at the World Juniors, helping the United States win the gold medal. And as if that wasn’t enough, he put a bow on the year by scoring his first NHL goal in his first NHL game. He plays the game at a breakneck pace and is able to slice through coverage like a hot knife through butter. He’s equally tenacious without the puck, as there aren’t many forwards out there who are better on the forecheck. Players with his short stature often have a tough time in the NHL, but Nazar just plays so fast and so focused that it’s hard to make contact and slow him down.

3. Oliver Moore

Moore is one of the fastest hockey players in the world, across all ages and leagues and levels, and him being that good in that specific area makes it easier to adjust to new situations, because he knows he always has that elite trait to lean on. That's the main reason why it took him no time at all to find his bearings in the NCAA, and he'll experience a similar luxury when he goes to the AHL. Well, that’s if he even stops there at all on his way to Chicago, which could very well happen. He's also quite smart about how he uses that speed to be a difference-maker for his team all over the ice, and the more his hands can keep catching up to his feet, the more maddening it's going to be for enemy defenders who are tasked with neutralizing him.

4. Ethan Del Mastro

The way that Del Mastro continues to constantly build more and more layers upon the foundation of his game is quite impressive and should not be undervalued. He is making huge strides in his development every year, and his secret is knowing his strengths and steadfastly perfecting them. Mature and poised beyond his years, he sees the ice in front of him with expert awareness and always knows exactly where he needs to be and what his next move is, whether that’s driving play forward or looking to win the puck back. He keeps things simple and no-frills, but that’s a perfectly fine strategy for him to focus on since every decision he makes is usually the correct one. He’s the type of defencemen who could conceivably accumulate more than 1,000 games in the NHL because coaches will always be able to rely on him as a two-way difference-maker.

5. Sacha Boisvert

Boisvert is the kind of top prospect who has more potential than his stats alone would suggest. He's a powerful forward who is strong on the puck and leans more as a shooter than a playmaker, which is a little uncommon for centers, but he makes it work. There are currently some issues with his skating ability and pacing, but what's important to recognize and appeals to scouts is that both of those weaknesses look fixable down the road with the right training and development, and since he's going the college route he'll have plenty of time to work on them. In a different organization there might be more concerns about his eventual effectiveness, especially if he had to do a lot of heavy lifting by himself, but on paper he should fit in very well with Chicago's other forward prospects, who will complement Boisvert's game and help elevate it.

6. Drew Commesso

Commesso’s development to this point could accurately be described as “slow and steady,” but that’s not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to goaltenders. At no point in his three years in the NCAA was he ever within the upper echelon of college goalies, but he was always very good, winning more games than he lost while also helping Boston University win a Hockey East title in 2023. His first year in the AHL was very much in the same mold: good, steady performances from start to finish and respectable statistics overall, even though he never exactly established himself as one of the best netminding prospects in the league. Nevertheless, Stanley Cups have been won before with goalies who are Steady Eddies who didn’t need to steal games single-handedly, so long as they made the right saves at the right times.

7. Sam Rinzel

Rinzel has always been seen as a bit of a long-term project, and Chicago’s expectations were undoubtedly centered around reasonable year-over-year growth. He hasn’t needed to be a major difference-maker yet, so long as he kept getting closer and closer to the projected ceiling of him becoming that kind of player one day. So far, so good. This past season was easily his most impressive one yet, finishing with more points than any other defender on his team, while also guarding his own zone admirably well as a college freshman. He’s the type of big, rangy, right-shooting blueliner that all teams highly covet these days, which is why the Blackhawks used a 1st-round draft pick to acquire him even though he was still a long way away from the NHL at the time. Their patience should pay off eventually so long as they are content to stay the course.

8. Marek Vanacker

Vanacker had a standout sophomore season in the OHL, and what made it extra interesting is that he didn't have a lot of support around him and often had to make his success single-handedly. He's an athletic and assertive winger who builds up huge amounts of power and speed skating in a straight line, and it's difficult to contain him because he can still handle and protect the puck when he's driving play forward in his top gear. These tools also help him excel as a penalty killer who can clear his zone and then push for shorthanded opportunities in the other direction. He might not quite have enough vision, creativity, or pure skill to be a major offensive threat at the NHL level, but if he eventually reaches his ceiling he'll be one of the best middle six wingers in the sport.

9. Nick Lardis

Lardis was a late riser for the 2023 draft and was on such a steep upward trajectory down that stretch, so it's a real shame that his 2023-24 season was sliced in half due to injury. Regardless, he still looked great when he was in the lineup, and then led his team in playoff scoring, albeit in a six-game losing effort in the opening round. He is a blazingly fast skater who is always dangerous on the rush, both on breakaways and in odd-man situations, with quick hands that can open up goalies in different ways. He's also a lethal finisher from the circles when he gets clean shooting looks. His offensive game might never quite be well-rounded enough to become a top six mainstay for an NHL team, but if not, he still has a great shot at becoming a speedy middle six option.

10. Ryan Greene

Greene is a rock-solid, no-frills center who plays an impressively complete game. What he might lack in flash and excitement he more than makes up for with reliability and versatility, the kind of forward that a coach never feels nervous about sending over the boards. Think about the specific type of heavy, strong value that players like Charlie Coyle, Andrew Copp, and J.T. Compher provide, and that will give you a rough idea of what the Blackhawks are hoping to have on their hands one day with Greene once he reaches his peak. While he didn't get as much fanfare as teammates Macklin Celebrini and Lane Hutson, he was also an essential piece of the Boston University squad that made the Frozen Four this spring, and he'll have an even bigger role on the team next season because Celebrini will undoubtedly be in the NHL.

11. Adam Gajan

Goaltenders are more difficult to analyze compared to skaters, and Gajan exemplifies this more than most. He was simply stellar at the past two World Juniors, but far less consistent and reliable in the USHL, despite the stakes being much lower. The good news is that the Slovakian import still has untapped potential, with ideal size and a great blend of quickness, reflexes, and flexibility. He's heading to college next and will have plenty of time to refine things.

12. Nolan Allan

13. Colton Dach

It must be frustrating to be Dach lately, as COVID forced him to miss most of his draft year and then injuries limited his ice time for the past two seasons. At least he was able to be part of a gold medal-winning Canadian roster at the World Juniors and the 2023 WHL champion Seattle Thunderbirds, both of which provided beneficial experience. His brand of big-body, puck-possession hockey is working for him in the AHL, when he’s been healthy enough to showcase it.

14. Roman Kantserov

Kantserov’s first full season in the KHL was an eventful one, dressing for all of his team’s playoff games and playing on top lines as they won the league championship. And he did all of that while playing through an injury that required summer surgery. For his efforts he was also a finalist for the KHL’s rookie of the year. He sees the ice well and has a killer instinct when the puck hits his stick.

15. Gavin Hayes

Hayes clearly relished his change of scenery going from the struggling Firebirds to the sturdier Greyhounds, exploding in the playoffs. That big leap forward followed a good track record of steady incremental progress before it. He displays respectable amounts of both power and skill, and he doesn't skip out on his defensive duties. There is stiff competition among forwards within Chicago's prospect pipeline, but Hayes is smart and versatile enough that he should be able to plug into their roster somewhere.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #19 Chicago Blackhawks – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Derek Neumeier, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 15:00:55 +0000

ALLENTOWN, PA - MARCH 26: Michigan Wolverines Forward Frank Nazar III (91) prior to the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Regional Final between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Michigan Wolverines on March 26, 2023, at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)

Lottery ball luck changed the course of the franchise with the arrival of Connor Bedard last season. They were once again rewarded for cleaning the house in recent years with the number two overall pick. That should net them another elite young player to join an enviable group of prospects that will grow together and be formidable before very long. They have had five first round picks in the last two NHL drafts. They dropped from 19th to third in organizational depth because of the graduations of Connor Bedard (1st overall, 2023), Kevin Korchinski (7th 2022), and Lukas Reichel (17th2020). Oliver Moore (19th, 2023) and Frank Nazar (13th, 2022) own high-end offensive upside and are ranked 43rd and 60th respectively by McKeens on their overall prospect ranking. Sam Rinzel (25th, 2022) is a longer-term project, but has progressed more rapidly than expected.

The Hawks own four first round picks in the next two drafts. In this year’s draft the team have seven picks in the first three rounds. In 2025, they have seven picks in the first four rounds. Following the draft in June of last year Davidson did get busy adding veterans to surround his youngsters in Taylor Hall, Nick Foligno, Josh Bailey and Corey Perry. Foligno is the only one remaining and you can expect the team to spend some of the draft capital they have accumulated to date. Connor Bedard is only turning 19 this season but is not your typical teenager and is ready to be a dominant player very soon. Davidson would be wise to give the future young stars room to succeed by upgrading the supporting cast. He certainly has the tools in cap space and in picks to add some more core younger players and character veterans to teach the kids how to win.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Frank Nazar	C	20	5-10/180	Michigan (B1G)	`22(13th)	41	17	24	41	18
2	Oliver Moore	C	19	5-11/185	Minnesota (B1G)	`23(19th)	39	9	24	33	8
3	Ethan Del Mastro	D	21	6-4/210	Rockford (AHL)	`21(105th)	69	7	30	37	54
4	Drew Commesso	G	21	6-2/180	Rockford (AHL)	`20(47th)	38	18	16	2.65	0.906
5	Sam Rinzel	D	19	6-4/180	Minnesota (B1G)	`22(25th)	39	2	26	28	20
6	Nick Lardis	LW	18	5-11/165	Brantford (OHL)	`23(67th)	37	29	21	50	12
7	Ryan Greene	C	20	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	`22(57th)	40	12	24	36	6
8	Adam Gajan	G	19	6-3/167	Green Bay (USHL)	`23(35th)	43	23	12	3.35	0.893
9	Nolan Allan	D	21	6-2/195	Rockford (AHL)	`21(32nd)	60	5	12	17	47
10	Colton Dach	C	21	6-4/205	Rockford (AHL)	`21(62nd)	48	11	15	26	39
11	Gavin Hayes	RW	19	6-1/175	Fln-Soo (OHL)	`22(66th)	55	37	39	76	20
12	Roman Kantserov	RW	19	5-9/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	`23(44th)	53	8	7	15	10
13	Paul Ludwinski	C	20	5-11/185	Kingston (OHL)	`22(39th)	60	23	46	69	27
14	Landon Slaggert	LW	21	6-0/180	Notre Dame (B1G)	`20(79th)	36	20	11	31	10
					Chicago (NHL)	`20(79th)	16	1	3	4	4
15	Aidan Thompson	C	22	5-11/180	Denver (NCHC)	`22(90th)	44	11	19	30	35

1. Frank Nazar, C, University of Michigan (NCAA)

After being limited to just 13 games in 2022-23 due to injury Nazar was clearly intent on rebounding in a big way this season, and boy did he ever. He scored at a point-per-game pace in the NCAA for Michigan and also did the same at the World Juniors, helping the United States win the gold medal. And as if that wasn’t enough, he put a bow on the year by scoring his first NHL goal in his first NHL game. He plays the game at a breakneck pace and is able to slice through coverage like a hot knife through butter. He’s equally tenacious without the puck, as there aren’t many forwards out there who are better on the forecheck. Players with his short stature often have a tough time in the NHL, but Nazar just plays so fast and so focused that it’s hard to make contact and slow him down.

2. Oliver Moore, C, University of Minnesota (NCAA)

3. Ethan Del Mastro, D, Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

The way that Del Mastro continues to constantly build more and more layers upon the foundation of his game is quite impressive and should not be undervalued. He is making huge strides in his development every year, and his secret is knowing his strengths and steadfastly perfecting them. Mature and poised beyond his years, he sees the ice in front of him with expert awareness and always knows exactly where he needs to be and what his next move is, whether that’s driving play forward or looking to win the puck back. He keeps things simple and no-frills, but that’s a perfectly fine strategy for him to focus on since every decision he makes is usually the correct one. He’s the type of defensemen who could conceivably accumulate more than 1,000 games in the NHL because coaches will always be able to rely on him as a two-way difference-maker.

4. Drew Commesso, G, Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

Commesso’s development to this point could accurately be described as “slow and steady,” but that’s not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to goaltenders. At no point in his three years in the NCAA was he ever within the upper echelon of college goalies, but he was always very good, winning more games than he lost while also helping Boston University win a Hockey East title in 2023. His first year in the AHL was very much in the same mold: good, steady performances from start to finish and respectable statistics overall, even though he never exactly established himself as one of the best netminding prospects in the league. Nevertheless, Stanley Cups have been won before with goalies who are steady eddies who didn’t need to steal games single-handedly, so long as they made the right saves at the right times.

5. Sam Rinzel, D, University of Minnesota (NCAA)

6. Nick Lardis, LW, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

Lardis was a late riser for the 2023 draft and was on such a steep upward trajectory down that stretch, so it's a real shame that his 2023-24 season was sliced in half due to injury. Regardless, he still looked great when he was in the lineup, and then led his team in playoff scoring, albeit in a six-game losing effort in the opening round. He is a blazingly fast skater who is always dangerous on the rush, both on breakaways and in odd-man situations, with quick hands that can open up goalies in different ways. He's also a lethal finisher from the circles when he gets clean shooting looks. His offensive game might never quite be well-rounded enough to become a Top 6 mainstay for an NHL team, but if not, he has a great shot at becoming a speedy Middle 6 option.

7. Ryan Greene, C, Boston University (NCAA)

Greene is a rock-solid, no-frills center who plays an impressively complete game. What he might lack in flash and excitement he more than makes up for with reliability and versatility, the kind of forward that a coach never feels nervous about sending over the boards. Think about the specific type of heavy, strong value that players like Charlie Coyle, Andrew Copp and J.T. Compher provide, and that will give you a rough idea of what the Blackhawks are hoping to have on their hands one day with Greene once he reaches his peak. While he didn't get as much fanfare as teammates Macklin Celebrini and Lane Hutson, he was also an essential piece of the Boston University squad that made the Frozen Four this spring, and he'll have an even bigger role on the team next season because Celebrini will undoubtedly be in the NHL.

8. Adam Gajan, G, University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)

Goaltenders are historically more enigmatic and difficult to analyze compared to players at other positions, and Gajan exemplifies this more than most of his peers right now. He has put up some stellar performances against elite competition at the past two World Juniors tournaments, but for some reason has been far less consistent and reliable between the pipes for the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers, despite the stakes being much lower. The good news is that the Slovakian import still appears to have a lot of untapped potential, with ideal NHL size and a great blend of quickness, reflexes and flexibility. He's heading to the University of Minnesota-Duluth in the fall and will have plenty of time while there to refine his technique, dial in his mental acuity, and cut down the number of weak goals that he currently has a tendency to allow.

9. Nolan Allan, D, Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

It’s undeniable that the sport of hockey is getting faster and more purely skilled. However, there will always still be an element of physicality, and that’s where Allan comes in. He’s strong and he’s sturdy, and he’s more than happy to focus on the nitty gritty aspects of the sport, while leaving the more flashy and exciting stuff to others. That said, smarts are more important than violence for modern shutdown defensemen, and he understands this evolution well. His game is more about blocking shots and keeping opposing forwards away from his own net by boxing them out or pinning them to the boards, as opposed to dropping the gloves or chasing thunderous hits. The work he does is still vitally important for team success, especially in the postseason, and there aren’t a lot of other blueliners in his age group who are as good in this particular role.

10. Colton Dach, C, Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

It must be quite frustrating to have been Dach lately, as COVID forced him to miss most of his draft season and then injuries have limited his number of games played for the past two consecutive seasons. It must also be frustrating for the Blackhawks, who have only gotten to see small portions of dominating play from one of their prized forward prospects, and who surely worry that all of this missed time during such an important period of his development could be hindering his chances of reaching his full potential. At least he’s been able to be part of a gold medal-winning Canadian roster at the World Juniors and helped the Seattle Thunderbirds win the 2023 WHL title, both of which provided beneficial experience for him, and his brand of big-body, puck-possession hockey has already been working for him in the AHL when he’s been healthy enough to showcase it.

PROSPECT CRITERIA: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 games (30 for goalies) and less than 25 in one season (25 for goalies).

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 30 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 12:22:26 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first, this ranking, follows the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Our team of 16 scouts are based in key markets around the world, in the rinks, supported by video scouting. They utilize some terrific tools from Hudl/InStat, which can isolate so many aspects of a player’s game, along with proprietary statistics. They spend countless hours in rinks and in front of screens and are deeply familiar with these players and their progression. Our management team of Brock Otten (Director of Scouting) and Derek Neumeier (Assistant Director of Scouting/Senior Western Regional Scout), along with Video Scouting Coordinator, Josh Bell, will take the teams input and finalize the list you see below. Brock, Derek and Josh are responsible for the player write-ups in the Prospect Guide.

The organizational rankings are based on an algorithm that takes into account how many prospects are ranked within the top 200. The teams are broken down by the number of prospects in our top 1 -25, 26 - 50, 51 - 100, and 101 - 200. A weight is attached to each group and then some subjective tweaking is done based on our knowledge of the players. There can be a wider discrepancy in the top 25 group than the latter groupings that needs to be taken into account.

Here is our definition of an NHL prospect: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 NHL games (30 for goalies) and less than 35 in one season (25 for goalies).

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft. We are releasing out top 30 NHL Prospects free to non-subscribers. If you want to learn more, link here.

Subscribers can link to the full top 200 listing here

Here is an excerpt of Brock Otten's Risers and Fallers article from the magazine to give you more perspective and a little taste of our content.

The best part of scouting is the somewhat unpredictable nature of human development. Some players improve dramatically from one year to the next…others do not. When we compare the rankings from our 2023-24 NHL Yearbook (where we did a Top 300 prospect ranking) to now, these are the players who have risen/fallen the most.

Risers

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 22: Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) reacts to a goal score during game one of the Western Conference First Round between the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights on April 22, 2024 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)

Logan Stankoven (27 to 5) - Dallas Stars

Stankoven’s jump from one of the best players in the WHL to one of the best players in the AHL has been impressive. So has his quick start in the NHL.

Ryan Leonard (32 to 6) – Washington Capitals

Leonard is returning to Boston College after a Championship barely eluded him this year. However, he has proven to be an elite play driver to go with his strong off puck play.

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 11: Look on Montreal Canadiens right wing Joshua Roy (89) during warm-up before the St. Louis Blues versus the Montreal Canadiens game on February 11, 2024, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

Josh Roy (63 to 35) – Montreal Canadiens

Roy continues to prove doubters wrong after a terrific AHL season with Laval. His skill set has become so well rounded since being drafted.

Conor Geekie (68 to 18) – Utah

Geekie’s power game from the middle of the ice makes him such an interesting prospect for today’s NHL. His skating continues to improve.

Mavrik Bourque (79 to 23) – Dallas Stars

Bourque emerged as one of the best players in the AHL this season as a sophomore professional. He’s ready to take that next step with the Stars.

Gabe Perreault (86 to 19) – New York Rangers

Once thought to be the third wheel on the talented Will Smith/Ryan Leonard threesome, Perreault’s progression as a play driver at Boston College this season has altered the perception that he can be a front-line NHL player.

Bradly Nadeau (109 to 34) – Carolina Hurricanes

Drafting early out of the BCHL has yielded inconsistent results, however Nadeau was exceptional as a freshman at Maine. Did he leave school too early though?

Jagger Firkus (112 to 47) – Seattle Kraken

Firkus took his game to another level this year in his final WHL season, leading the league in scoring. He’s ready to be a pro.

Gavin Brindley (122 to 66) – Columbus Blue Jackets

One of the most improved players in the NCAA this year, Brindley emerged as a star for the University of Michigan and really altered his projection as a potential top six forward.

Quentin Musty (125 to 51) – San Jose Sharks

The dynamic American winger worked hard to fine tune components of his game in Sudbury this year and deserves a bump for improving his consistency.

Jani Nyman (135 to 81) – Seattle Kraken

Nyman emerged as one of the top goal scorers in Finland this season as a U20 player. This, combined with his strong WJC performance, has helped push him up our board north.

Logan Mailloux (145 to 45) – Montreal Canadiens

Mailloux proved to be way more refined at the AHL level than previously perceived. Simply put, he was one of the best defensive prospects in the AHL this year.

Josh Doan (153 to 55) - Utah

What a terrific story to the end of the Coyotes franchise. Doan emerged as a potential star this season and finished the year strong in the NHL, scoring in his debut.

Riley Heidt (157 to 44) – Minnesota Wild

We still don’t understand how Heidt fell as far as he did in the 2023 draft, however he is proving NHL scouts wrong thus far after a remarkable year with Prince George.

Ville Koivunen (165 to 71) – Pittsburgh Penguins

The main piece of the Jake Guentzel to Carolina deal, Koivunen emerged as one of the top players in Liiga this year.

Ethan Del Mastro (169 to 73) – Chicago Blackhawks

There was little doubt that Del Mastro’s strong defensive ability would translate to the AHL level well, but he continues to improve offensively and that has altered his projection.

Theo Lindstein (185 to 91) – St. Louis Blues

Lindstein’s strong year for Brynas has helped to elevate his upside as a two-way defender. We may have ranked him too low in our 2023 Draft Rankings.

Carson Rehkopf (201 to 69) – Seattle Kraken

Consistency off the puck and a lack of engagement held Rehkopf back last year. This year marked improvement in those areas helped him emerge as a top offensive talent in the OHL.

Easton Cowan (204 to 67) – Toronto Maple Leafs

One of the surprises of the 2023 draft, Cowan set a new OHL record with a 42-game point streak. More than just a high energy guy now, he can be a difference maker offensively.

Seamus Casey (214 to 63) – New Jersey Devils

Casey continues to improve in the NCAA. He may not have elite size, but he has everything else, and it has the Devils excited about his future.

Jacob Fowler (222 to 52) – Montreal Canadiens

Fowler compiled a list of accolades as a freshman this year at Boston College, emerging as one of the top goaltending prospects in the game.

Fraser Minten (226 to 84) – Toronto Maple Leafs

After starting the year with the Leafs, Minten returned to the WHL and ended up captaining Canada at the World Juniors.

Jackson Blake (277 to 117) – Carolina Hurricanes

A finalist for the Hobey Baker this year, Blake became an NCAA star for North Dakota, and he now turns pro.

Erik Portillo (Unranked to 118) – Los Angeles Kings

Acquired by the Kings, Portillo turned pro after three years at Michigan and he was one of the best goaltenders in the AHL as a first-year pro.

Rodwin Dionicio (Unranked to 139) – Anaheim Ducks

Dionicio still plays a high risk, high reward game from the back end, but his offensive upside has become too large to ignore.

Fallers

EDM - Xavier Bourgault

Xavier Bourgault (from 48 to 113) – Edmonton Oilers

After a mediocre first professional year last season, Bourgault was even more disappointing as a sophomore with Bakersfield. The Oilers just haven’t been developing prospects well in recent years.

Eduard Sale (72 to 140) – Seattle Kraken

Sale’s first year in North America did not go according to plan as he struggled to be a consistent impact player in the OHL.

Jack Rathbone (96 to not ranked) – Pittsburgh Penguins

Perhaps we ranked Rathbone too aggressively this summer, but not only did he fail to earn a spot on Vancouver, but he’s now an NHL after thought after entering Pittsburgh’s organization via trade.

Jacob Perreault (127 to not ranked) – Montreal Canadiens

Perreault’s off puck play and skating just haven’t improved to the point where he can be a consistent pro and it caused the Ducks to move on from him, trading him to Montreal.

Jan Jenik (156 to not ranked) - Utah

Once a highly ranked prospect, Jenik continues to fall. He just hasn’t been able to take that next step and even passed through waivers this year unclaimed.

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17

2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 200 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 25 May 2024 17:02:31 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first is following the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft.

Subscribers can link to the listing here

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17
31	Brad Lambert	Wpg	C	20	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	64	21	34	55	38
32	Ivan Miroshnichenko	Wsh	LW	20	6-1/185	Washington (NHL)	21	2	4	6	6
33	Axel Sandin Pellikka	Det	D	19	5-11/180	Skelleftea (SHL)	39	10	8	18	17
34	Bradly Nadeau	Car	LW	18	5-10/165	Maine (HE)	37	19	27	46	12
35	Joshua Roy	Mtl	RW	20	6-0/190	Montreal (NHL)	23	4	5	9	0
36	Denton Mateychuk	CBJ	D	19	5-11/190	Moose Jaw (WHL)	52	17	58	75	31
37	Brayden Yager	Pit	C	19	5-11/165	Moose Jaw (WHL)	57	35	60	95	20
38	Calum Ritchie	Col	C	19	6-2/185	Oshawa (OHL)	50	28	52	80	20
39	Joakim Kemell	Nsh	RW	20	5-10/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	67	16	25	41	23
40	Colby Barlow	Wpg	LW	19	6-0/195	Owen Sound (OHL)	50	40	18	58	27
41	Jimmy Snuggerud	StL	RW	19	6-1/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	21	13	34	42
42	Matthew Coronato	Cgy	RW	21	5-10/183	Calgary (NHL)	34	3	6	9	4
43	Frank Nazar	Chi	C	20	5-10/180	Michigan (B1G)	41	17	24	41	18
44	Riley Heidt	Min	C	19	5-10/180	Prince George (WHL)	66	37	80	117	42
45	Logan Mailloux	Mtl	D	21	6-3/215	Laval (AHL)	72	14	33	47	91
46	Sebastian Cossa	Det	G	21	6-6/229	Grand Rapids (AHL)	40	22	9	2.41	0.913
47	Jagger Firkus	Sea	RW	20	5-10/155	Moose Jaw (WHL)	63	61	65	126	30
48	Mikhail Gulyayev	Col	D	19	5-11/170	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	64	4	8	12	8
49	Scott Morrow	Car	D	21	6-2/195	Massachusetts (HE)	37	6	24	30	25
50	Matthew Wood	Nsh	RW	19	6-3/195	Connecticut (HE)	35	16	12	28	43
51	Quentin Musty	SJ	LW	18	6-2/200	Sudbury (OHL)	53	43	59	102	72
52	Jacob Fowler	Mtl	G	19	6-1/215	Boston College (HE)	39	32	6	2.14	0.926
53	Fabian Lysell	Bos	RW	21	5-11/181	Providence (AHL)	56	15	35	50	37
54	Shakir Mukhamadullin	SJ	D	22	6-3/180	San Jose (AHL)	55	7	27	34	24
55	Josh Doan	Ari	RW	22	6-1/183	Arizona (NHL)	11	5	4	9	0
56	Thomas Bordeleau	SJ	C	22	5-9/180	San Jose (NHL)	27	6	5	11	18
57	Lian Bichsel	Dal	D	19	6-6/233	Rogle (SHL)	29	2	2	4	28
58	Nikolai Kovalenko	Col	RW	24	5-10/180	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	42	11	24	35	30
59	Aatu Raty	Van	C	21	6-2/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	72	18	34	52	18
60	Oliver Moore	Chi	C	19	5-11/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	9	24	33	8
61	Samuel Honzek	Cgy	LW	19	6-4/186	Vancouver (WHL)	33	10	21	31	18
62	Jakob Pelletier	Cgy	LW	23	5-9/170	Calgary (NHL)	13	1	2	3	2
63	Seamus Casey	NJ	D	20	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	7	38	45	14
64	Tristan Luneau	Ana	D	20	6-1/195	Anaheim (NHL)	7	1	2	3	4
65	Chaz Lucius	Wpg	C	20	6-1/185	Manitoba (AHL)	17	2	11	13	6
66	Gavin Brindley	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	25	28	53	28
67	Easton Cowan	Tor	RW	18	5-10/170	London (OHL)	54	34	62	96	64
68	Zachary L'Heureux	Nsh	LW	20	5-11/195	Milwaukee (AHL)	66	19	29	48	197
69	Carson Rehkopf	Sea	LW	19	6-1/195	Kitchener (OHL)	60	52	43	95	45
70	Filip Bystedt	SJ	C	20	6-4/205	Linkopings (SHL)	47	8	9	17	2
71	Ville Koivunen	Pit	LW	20	6-0/175	Karpat (Fin-Liiga)	59	22	34	56	26
72	Noah Ostlund	Buf	C	20	5-11/163	Vaxjo Lakers (SHL)	38	12	11	23	4
73	Ethan Del Mastro	Chi	D	21	6-4/210	Rockford (AHL)	69	7	30	37	54
74	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	22	5-10/180	Henderson (AHL)	58	4	16	20	33
75	Liam Ohgren	Min	LW	20	6-1/200	Farjestads (SHL)	26	12	7	19	12
76	Marat Khusnutdinov	Min	C	21	5-11/175	Minnesota (NHL)	16	1	3	4	6
77	Mackie Samoskevich	Fla	RW	21	5-11/190	Charlotte (AHL)	62	22	32	54	24
78	Stanislav Svozil	CBJ	D	21	6-1/180	Cleveland (AHL)	57	5	18	23	24
79	Zachary Bolduc	StL	LW	21	6-1/175	St. Louis (NHL)	25	5	4	9	6
80	Rutger McGroarty	Wpg	LW	20	6-1/200	Michigan (B1G)	36	16	36	52	6
81	Jani Nyman	Sea	RW	19	6-3/215	Ilves (Fin-Liiga)	48	26	17	43	2
82	Andrew Cristall	Wsh	LW	19	5-9/165	Kelowna (WHL)	62	40	71	111	46
83	Oliver Bonk	Phi	D	19	6-2/175	London (OHL)	60	24	43	67	32
84	Fraser Minten	Tor	C	19	6-1/185	Kam-Sas (WHL)	43	22	26	48	25
85	Tanner Molendyk	Nsh	D	19	5-11/185	Saskatoon (WHL)	50	10	46	56	18
86	David Goyette	Sea	C	20	5-10/175	Sudbury (OHL)	68	40	77	117	29
87	David Edstrom	SJ	C	19	6-3/185	Frolunda (SHL)	44	7	12	19	8
88	Anton Wahlberg	Buf	C	18	6-3/194	Malmo (SHL)	43	5	5	10	4
89	Emil Andrae	Phi	D	22	5-9/185	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	61	5	27	32	66
90	Trey Augustine	Det	G	19	6-1/185	Michigan State (B1G)	35	23	9	2.96	0.915
91	Theo Lindstein	StL	D	19	6-0/180	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	49	4	11	15	4
92	Mads Sogaard	Ott	G	23	6-7/195	Belleville (AHL)	32	18	9	2.45	0.916
93	Isak Rosen	Buf	RW	21	6-0/175	Rochester (AHL)	67	20	30	50	12
94	Maveric Lamoureux	Ari	D	20	6-7/214	Drummondville (QMJHL)	39	9	24	33	53
95	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	21	6-2/180	Rockford (AHL)	38	18	16	2.65	0.906
96	Ville Heinola	Wpg	D	23	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	41	10	17	27	24
97	Carter Mazur	Det	LW	22	6-0/170	Grand Rapids (AHL)	60	17	20	37	48
98	Otto Stenberg	StL	C	18	5-11/180	Frolunda (SHL)	31	3	3	6	8
99	Egor Afanasyev	Nsh	LW	23	6-3/205	Milwaukee (AHL)	56	27	27	54	60
100	Nikita Chibrikov	Wpg	RW	21	5-10/170	Manitoba (AHL)	70	17	30	47	53
101	Zach Dean	StL	C	21	6-0/175	Springfield (AHL)	49	9	5	14	24
102	William Dufour	NYI	RW	22	6-2/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	55	15	10	25	35
103	Sam Rinzel	Chi	D	19	6-4/180	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	26	28	20
104	Joel Blomqvist	Pit	G	22	6-2/185	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	45	25	12	2.16	0.921
105	Arseni Gritsyuk	NJ	RW	23	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	50	19	19	38	8
106	Corson Ceulemans	CBJ	D	20	6-2/200	Cleveland (AHL)	47	3	9	12	12
107	Michael Hrabal	Ari	G	19	6-6/209	Massachusetts (HE)	30	16	12	2.59	0.912
108	Brendan Brisson	VGK	C	22	5-11/180	Vegas (NHL)	15	2	6	8	2
109	Owen Pickering	Pit	D	20	6-4/180	Swift Current (WHL)	59	7	39	46	35
110	Owen Beck	Mtl	C	20	5-11/185	Pbo-Sag (OHL)	57	34	47	81	18
111	William Wallinder	Det	D	21	6-4/190	Grand Rapids (AHL)	65	3	12	15	10
112	Xavier Bourgault	Edm	C	21	6-0/170	Bakersfield (AHL)	55	8	12	20	24
113	Jordan Dumais	CBJ	RW	20	5-8/165	Halifax (QMJHL)	21	16	31	47	6
114	Aleksi Heimosalmi	Car	D	20	5-11/170	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	47	2	14	16	12
115	Brandon Bussi	Bos	G	25	6-4/218	Providence (AHL)	41	23	10	2.67	0.913
116	Jackson Blake	Car	RW	20	5-10/160	North Dakota (NCHC)	40	22	38	60	26
117	Erik Portillo	LA	G	23	6-6/210	Ontario (AHL)	39	24	11	2.50	0.918
118	Sean Farrell	Mtl	C	22	5-8/175	Laval (AHL)	47	9	19	28	10
119	Kasper Halttunen	SJ	RW	18	6-3/205	London (OHL)	57	32	29	61	61
120	Topi Niemela	Tor	D	22	5-11/165	Toronto (AHL)	68	8	31	39	43
121	Ethan Gauthier	TB	RW	19	5-11/175	Drummondville (QMJHL)	64	36	35	71	42
122	Daniil Miromanov	Cgy	D	26	6-4/200	VGK-Cgy (NHL)	24	3	4	7	8
123	Ruslan Iskhakov	NYI	C	23	5-8/155	Bridgeport (AHL)	69	18	32	50	30
124	Shai Buium	Det	D	21	6-3/210	Denver (NCHC)	43	7	29	36	14
125	Jakub Dobes	Mtl	G	22	6-3/200	Laval (AHL)	51	24	18	2.93	0.906
126	Oliver Kapanen	Mtl	C	20	6-0/170	KalPa (Fin-Liiga)	51	14	20	34	32
127	Danny Nelson	NYI	C	18	6-3/200	Notre Dame (B1G)	30	9	14	23	32
128	Lenni Hameenaho	NJ	RW	19	6-0/175	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	46	14	17	31	10
129	Nick Lardis	Chi	LW	18	5-11/165	Brantford (OHL)	37	29	21	50	12
130	Ty Nelson	Sea	D	20	5-10/195	North Bay (OHL)	54	16	36	52	50
131	Isaac Howard	TB	LW	20	5-10/185	Michigan State (B1G)	36	8	28	36	10
132	Fyodor Svechkov	Nsh	C	21	6-0/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	57	16	23	39	18
133	Jeremie Poirier	Cgy	D	21	6-1/196	Calgary (AHL)	23	3	10	13	22
134	Reid Schaefer	Nsh	LW	20	6-3/215	Milwaukee (AHL)	63	7	14	21	39
135	Zack Ostapchuk	Ott	C	20	6-3/205	Belleville (AHL)	69	17	11	28	47
136	Nathan Gaucher	Ana	C	20	6-3/207	San Diego (AHL)	72	10	15	25	68
137	Rodwin Dionicio	Ana	D	20	6-2/207	Wsr-Sag (OHL)	60	25	48	73	108
138	Eduard Sale	Sea	LW	19	6-1/170	Bar-Kit (OHL)	49	15	23	38	8
139	Danil Gushchin	SJ	RW	22	5-8/165	San Jose (AHL)	56	20	34	54	24
140	Sean Behrens	Col	D	21	5-10/175	Denver (NCHC)	44	4	27	31	53
141	Christian Kyrou	Dal	D	20	5-10/170	Texas (AHL)	57	8	15	23	22
142	Niklas Kokko	Sea	G	20	6-3/185	Pelicans (Fin-Liiga)	13	9	0	1.49	0.926
143	Vasily Ponomarev	Pit	C	22	5-10/180	Tuc-Chi-WBS (AHL)	45	9	21	30	16
144	Ryan Winterton	Sea	RW	20	6-2/190	Coachella Valley (AHL)	58	22	13	35	23
145	Dmitri Buchelnikov	Det	LW	20	5-10/165	Admiral Vladivostok (KHL)	55	13	16	29	8
146	Oscar Fisker Molgaard	Sea	C	19	6-0/165	HV 71 (SHL)	50	9	12	21	6
147	Aku Raty	Ari	RW	22	6-1/190	Tucson (AHL)	55	15	29	44	22
148	Matyas Sapovaliv	VGK	C	20	6-3/180	Saginaw (OHL)	54	19	43	62	22
149	Georgii Merkulov	Bos	C	23	5-11/175	Providence (AHL)	67	30	35	65	20
150	Topias Vilen	NJ	D	21	6-1/195	Utica (AHL)	54	2	27	29	16
151	Ryan Chesley	Wsh	D	20	6-0/200	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	6	8	19
152	Jayden Perron	Car	RW	19	5-9/165	North Dakota (NCHC)	39	11	7	18	8
153	Tristen Robins	SJ	C	22	5-10/175	San Jose (AHL)	42	7	11	18	12
154	Calle Odelius	NYI	D	19	6-0/190	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	10	0	4	4	2
155	Vincent Iorio	Wsh	D	21	6-2/190	Hershey (AHL)	60	4	10	14	30
156	Raphael Lavoie	Edm	RW	23	6-4/215	Bakersfield (AHL)	66	28	22	50	64
157	Ronnie Attard	Phi	D	25	6-3/210	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	48	10	17	27	37
158	Niko Huuhtanen	TB	RW	20	6-2/205	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	52	19	27	46	46
159	Carson Bjarnason	Phi	G	18	6-3/185	Brandon (WHL)	46	24	17	3.01	0.907
160	Lukas Dragicevic	Sea	D	19	6-1/190	Tri-City (WHL)	66	14	36	50	52
161	Leevi Merilainen	Ott	G	21	6-2/160	Belleville (AHL)	24	10	9	2.87	0.906
162	Tyler Kleven	Ott	D	22	6-4/200	Belleville (AHL)	53	5	16	21	51
163	Hunter Brzustewicz	Cgy	D	19	5-11/185	Kitchener (OHL)	67	13	79	92	24
164	Ryan Greene	Chi	C	20	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	40	12	24	36	6
165	Damian Clara	Ana	G	19	6-6/214	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	34	25	8	2.23	0.913
166	Carson Lambos	Min	D	21	6-1/200	Iowa (AHL)	69	4	10	14	64
167	Denver Barkey	Phi	C	19	5-8/160	London (OHL)	64	35	67	102	28
168	Gage Goncalves	TB	C	23	6-1/170	Syracuse (AHL)	69	13	45	58	43
169	Arshdeep Bains	Van	LW	23	6-0/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	59	16	39	55	28
170	Bogdan Konyushkov	Mtl	D	21	5-11/175	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	65	6	22	28	18
171	Alexei Kolosov	Phi	G	22	6-1/185	Dinamo Minsk (KHL)	47	22	21	2.39	0.907
172	Samuel Fagemo	LA	RW	24	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	50	43	19	62	26
173	Filip Mesar	Mtl	C	20	5-9/175	Kitchener (OHL)	45	19	33	52	12
174	Matthew Robertson	NYR	D	23	6-3/200	Hartford (AHL)	68	4	17	21	49
175	Adam Engstrom	Mtl	D	20	6-2/185	Rogle (SHL)	51	4	18	22	4
176	Michael Buchinger	StL	D	20	5-11/185	Guelph (OHL)	52	10	37	47	37
177	Semyon Chistyakov	Nsh	D	22	5-11/180	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	59	4	20	24	16
178	John Farinacci	Bos	C	23	5-11/197	Providence (AHL)	71	12	26	38	16
179	Angus Crookshank	Ott	LW	24	5-10/180	Belleville (AHL)	50	24	22	46	60
180	Yegor Sidorov	Ana	RW	19	6-0/180	Saskatoon (WHL)	66	50	38	88	66
181	Samu Tuomaala	Phi	RW	21	5-10/175	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	69	15	28	43	12
182	Logan Morrison	Sea	C	21	6-0/180	Coachella Valley (AHL)	64	16	25	41	4
183	Jean-Luc Foudy	Col	C	21	5-11/175	Colorado (AHL)	26	4	10	14	18
184	Adam Gajan	Chi	G	19	6-3/167	Green Bay (USHL)	43	23	12	3.35	0.893
185	Nolan Allan	Chi	D	21	6-2/195	Rockford (AHL)	60	5	12	17	47
186	Oskar Olausson	Col	RW	21	6-1/180	Colorado (AHL)	39	11	9	20	24
187	Samuel Poulin	Pit	C	23	6-1/205	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	41	16	15	31	35
188	Brett Berard	NYR	LW	21	5-9/165	Hartford (AHL)	71	25	23	48	62
189	Colton Dach	Chi	C	21	6-4/205	Rockford (AHL)	48	11	15	26	39
190	Jack Thompson	SJ	D	22	6-0/180	Syr-SJ (AHL)	62	6	35	41	16
191	Riley Kidney	Mtl	C	21	5-11/170	Laval (AHL)	65	7	13	20	41
192	Roby Jarventie	Ott	RW	21	6-3/195	Belleville (AHL)	22	9	11	20	22
193	Carey Terrance	Ana	C	18	6-1/175	Erie (OHL)	56	29	23	52	25
194	Luca Del Bel Belluz	CBJ	C	20	6-1/185	Cleveland (AHL)	58	9	22	31	12
195	Luca Pinelli	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Ottawa (OHL)	68	48	34	82	44
196	Francesco Pinelli	LA	C	21	6-1/185	Ontario (AHL)	67	13	7	20	24
197	Elias Salomonsson	Wpg	D	19	6-1/185	Skelleftea (SHL)	31	2	9	11	58
198	Sam Colangelo	Ana	RW	21	6-2/205	Western Michigan (NCHC)	38	24	19	43	23
199	Sasha Pastujov	Ana	RW	20	6-0/185	San Diego (AHL)	46	10	13	23	14
200	Andrew Gibson	Det	D	19	6-3/195	Saul St. Marie (OHL)	68	12	32	44	58

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #1

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 21:17:29 +0000

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 10: Chicago Blackhawks left wing Lukas Reichel (27) looks on during a game between the Dallas Stars and the Chicago Blackhawks on April 10, 2022 at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)

Top 2o Chicago Blackhawks Prospects

1. Connor Bedard - C

What more can even be said about Bedard at this point that hasn't been said already? In much the same way that Connor McDavid could skate at a level that no prospect before him ever had, Bedard's shot is unlike anything ever seen before. Not just its unparalleled accuracy and velocity, but also his proficiency with all shot styles, his ability to shoot off either foot, how well he disguises his release, his perfect toe drags to move the puck into better shooting lanes, and his unnatural knack for knowing where, when, and how to shoot. He's also unfairly lethal as a playmaker for many of the same reasons, and the harder opponents try to take away his shot, the easier it is for him to pass the puck over to a wide-open teammate. He's still on the smaller side, and always will be. That said, he is elusive with his skating, which reduces the number of times he has to physically engage, and he reads the play at such an advanced level that he can reliably get a step ahead of opponents mentally when otherwise it might be a close race in terms of footspeed alone. The next NHL superstar has arrived.

2. Lukas Reichel - LW

Everything that Reichel does out on the ice just seems so natural to him. Even as a yet-to-be-drafted teenager playing against men in Germany's top professional league, he looked confident, comfortable, and mature well beyond his years, already like a seasoned veteran. That same aura followed him to the AHL and now NHL, and the Blackhawks have to be hoping that he will be a leader as they slowly and methodically attempt to build their next Cup-contending team. He always seems to be thinking the play ahead of everyone else, always knows what his next move should be, and almost always executes his intentions successfully. He might not have the skating, shot, or playmaking to become one of the very top point producers in the league, but you can expect him to be in the 50-70 point range pretty consistently, and for those seasons to start happening soon.

3. Kevin Korchinski - D

One of the best offensive defensemen in all of junior hockey, Korchinski racked up a ridiculous point total last season, with 73. However, what's important to remember about him is that there is still an enormous amount of growth potential within his game. He's still skinny and slight within his tall frame and could really increase his strength and power if he commits hard to his gym habits. There also remains a lot of work to be done with his reads, decision-making, and overall puck management, as a lot of possessions for the Thunderbirds ended when coming off his stick. On one hand, those existing issues are concerning. On the other hand, if you look at how effective and successful he already is despite these flaws it suggests a salivating potential for just how high his ceiling might reach. The sky's the limit.

4. Frank Nazar

Nazar finally returned to action late in the season last year after a long injury layoff, and there was an undeniable amount of rust for him to shake off before he could really showcase why he was picked by the Blackhawks at 13th overall. Luckily for him, his Michigan team made it all the way to the Frozen Four semifinals, so he was granted a few extra opportunities to get back into the swing of things. He is an electrifying prospect because his feet are always moving, he can manipulate the puck with the best of them, and he can see the ice very well at high speeds, which includes lanes for him to attack the net himself, as well as opportunities to set up a teammate for a better look. He is a little on the smaller side, but he should be able to overcome that with his drive and tenacity.

5. Oliver Moore

Without a doubt, Moore was one of the most, if not the most, dynamic skaters in the 2023 draft class. It is his quickness and his ability to lead the counterattack with pace that makes him such a dangerous offensive player. The anchor of the USNTDP’s second line this season, Moore saw a ton of different linemates on his flanks in order to try to give the U18 team better secondary scoring. While his production may not have been consistent, his two-way effort and engagement always were. There may be some limitations to his ability to blend his quickness and skill and that could prevent him from being a premier playmaker at the next level. It seems extremely likely that Moore will become a very useful NHL player in some capacity, but after a few years at the University of Minnesota, will he end up as a Dylan Larkin type or more of an Andrew Cogliano type?

6. Sam Rinzel

The Blackhawks never expected anything truly elite out of Rinzel right away, so they won't be concerned at all that his 2022-23 season was solid, without being spectacular. And they certainly won't regret taking him as high as 25th overall. The focus has always been on his tantalizing tools, and being patient as he learns to master those tools while moving from high school hockey to the more competitive USHL, and then on to a very good University of Minnesota program next year. Rangy, mobile, right-shooting defensemen hold immense value in the NHL, and teams have to pay a premium to add them or accept playing the long game in their development. However, the signs of growth are showing, such as how Rinzel helped USA win gold at the World Junior A Challenge. If Rinzel pops it won't be right away, but the wait will have been worth it.

7. Drew Commesso

Goaltending prospects don't come much more steady and consistent than Commesso does, as evidenced by his save percentage numbers of the past four seasons. That's not necessarily a bad thing, however, as his numbers are consistently pretty good. He's a well-rounded, technically sound netminder who neither has any standout traits, nor any real notable weaknesses. Everything about his game is solid, albeit not spectacular: his play-tracking, his technique, his reflexes, his positioning, and so on. Even his size and natural net coverage is pretty average. That said, sometimes that's all you need out of a goalie to win a championship. He helped his Boston University team reach the Frozen Four, only to be undone in the semifinals against Minnesota, the top-ranked team in the nation. He projects as becoming at least an NHL backup, with a starter's job not out of the question.

8. Nick Lardis

A midseason trade to Hamilton lit a fire under Lardis, transforming him into one of the more dynamic offensive players in the OHL. The key for him will be maintaining that high level of play into this season with the Bulldogs, proving that the conclusion to last season wasn’t an anomaly. Lardis’ combination of quickness and goal scoring ability will make him a very intriguing option for the Blackhawks in the future. With a consistent motor, skill, speed, and scoring ability, he projects as a top six complementary player along the lines of a Jake Guentzel at the next level. However, other areas of his game still require further growth; he is a bit of a long-term project in that regard and that is why he fell to the third round compared to where we had him ranked (32nd) going into the draft. There is a need to expand his game with the puck beyond simply being a North/South attacker, varying his approach. Additionally, he will need to be better in puck protection scenarios and improve his strength away from the puck in the other zones. Even with some inconsistencies, his offensive ceiling is quite high.

9. Ethan Del Mastro

Del Mastro has won gold medals playing internationally for Canada in three straight years, first at the IIHF U18s in 2021 and then the World Juniors in both 2022 and 2023. He played 20 total games across those three tournaments, and over that span he scored exactly zero goals. That's not his whole story as a prospect, but it is a good reflection of it. Del Mastro is a big, responsible defender who is well-suited to a modern shutdown role, with competent skating and puck-handling abilities. He can still go old school and dish out some punishment too. And don't look now, but his offensive game is also coming along, scoring at a point-per-game pace with both of his teams last year in Mississauga and later Sarnia. There might not be a prospect in Chicago's pipeline who has a safer NHL floor than Del Mastro, and a top-four ceiling is a realistic possibility.

10. Ilya Safonov

Safonov is a fantastic example of the value that teams can find by scouting and drafting re-entry prospects. Passed over in both 2019 and 2020, the Blackhawks took a flyer on the hulking Russian centre in the sixth round, 172nd overall, in 2021 and right now that pick is looking incredibly shrewd. He has since grown into a capable, difference-making two-way power forward in the KHL. Perhaps most impressively, he was named the captain of his team at just 21 years of age, the youngest in franchise history. He's so strong, athletic, gritty, and competitive that he is a lot to handle physically, even at the hands of veteran Russian pros and former NHLers. He can chip in points as a net-front presence, though his real value comes from how well he defends and matches up against opposing lines. Chicago will do their damnedest to get him to North America as soon as possible.

11. Colton Dach

Injuries really plagued Dach last year, including a high-profile shoulder injury at the WJC’s. But he was able to return for the WHL playoffs and helped Seattle capture a title. The power forward will try to stay healthy as he turns pro this season and could move quickly through the system if he adjusts to the pace well.

12. Alex Vlasic

Defence is the name of the game for Vlasic, who is a unique player because of his combination of size (6’6”) and mobility. Coming off a solid rookie year in the AHL after turning pro, Vlasic has put himself in contention for a roster spot this year.

13. Adam Gajan

The first goalie taken in the 2023 Draft, Gajan is quite the story. He’s gone from having to make his own recruitment videos to being a top NHL prospect thanks to a tremendous World Juniors for Slovakia. The hyper athletic netminder will be attending the University of Minnesota-Duluth this year.

14. Nolan Allen

A WHL champion this year with Seattle (along with fellow Blackhawks prospects Colton Dach and Kevin Korchinski), Allen is a steady, stay at home defender. His upside at the NHL level is likely capped, but he could move quickly through the system thanks to a refined game.

15. Roman Kantserov

The 2023 second round pick offers intriguing offensive upside because of his ability to impact the transition game and play with pace. He will be given time to develop slowly in Russia with the hopes that he can improve his play off the puck.

16. Gavin Hayes

An underrated player in both the OHL and in the Blackhawks’ system, Hayes is coming off of a great year with Flint that saw him hit the 40-goal plateau. A tenacious power winger, he will have his sights set on cracking 50 this year.

17. Ryan Greene

Greene is an athletic pivot who had a very good freshman season with Boston University last year. His quickness and tenaciousness make him a potential middle six, two-way center for the Blackhawks in the future.

18. Cole Guttman

The surprise of the 2022-23 season as Guttman was an immediate impact player at both the AHL and NHL levels after turning pro out of Denver. Intelligent and quick, is he a sneaky Calder candidate for the upcoming year?

19. Wyatt Kaiser

Kaiser jumped immediately to the NHL level after signing out of UMD late last year, playing out the stretch run with the Hawks. The highly mobile defender has a shot at a roster spot this year too, but Chicago may opt to give him time at Rockford first to allow him more significant ice time.

20. Paul Ludwinski

Another Hawks prospect who had injury problems last season, Ludwinski did not have the kind of season with Kingston of the OHL that many people expected. This coming season will serve as a restart for him as he looks to emerge as an offensive leader for a young and improving Frontenacs team.

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #3 Chicago Blackhawks

Josh Bell — Thu, 25 May 2023 18:04:38 +0000

If tanking doesn’t exist in the NHL, nobody told Chicago. Kyle Davidson took over as GM in October 2021 after Stan Bowman was suspended. He has been actively emptying the roster since, moving veterans and even younger players such as Kirby Dach and Alex DeBrincat for draft picks. Patrick Kane finally moved on for yet more picks. It worked. The depleted roster gave it their best, but still lost a lot of games and won the Connor Bedard sweepstakes. Once the next draft is complete, they will have a robust and deep pipeline of talent to build around. They currently have eight picks in the first three rounds of the 2023 draft. They have six first round picks, and a whopping 21 picks in the first three rounds, over the next three drafts through 2025.

In his first draft, Davidson eight picks in the first three rounds, including three firsts which he used to add Kevin Korchinksi (ranked #23 by McKeen’s), Frank Nazar (#29), and Sam Rinzel (#85). They represent the 2^nd through fourth ranked Chicago prospects on our list. The #14 ranked prospect, Lukas Reichel, produced 15 points in 23 games in his NHL call up and looks to have earned a roster spot for next season. The most likely scenario is to continue to accumulate young talent. In addition to the first overall pick, they also have the #19, #35, #44, #51 and #55 picks in the first two rounds alone. They have the opportunity to package some picks to move in the order and add another premium prospect. The addition of Bedard immediately changes the trajectory of the timeline and Davidson may want to use those pieces to add younger roster players.

Lukas Reichel

Everything that Reichel does out on the ice just seems so natural to him. Even as a yet-to-be-drafted teenager playing against men in Germany's top professional league he looked confident, comfortable, and mature well beyond his years, like he was already a seasoned veteran. That same aura followed him to the AHL and now NHL, and Chicago has to be hoping that he will be a leader as they slowly and methodically attempt to build their next Cup-contending team. He always seems to be thinking the play ahead of everyone else, always knows what his next move should be, and almost always executes his intentions successfully. He might not have the skating, shot or playmaking to become one of the very top point producers in the league, but you can expect him to be in the 50-70 point range pretty consistently, and for those seasons to start happening soon.

2. Kevin Korchinski

One of the best offensive defensemen in all junior hockey, Korchinski racked up a ridiculous amount of points this season, and isn't slowing down. However, what's important to remember about him is that there is still an enormous amount of growth potential within his game. He's still skinny and slight within his tall frame and could really increase his strength and power if he commits hard to his gym habits. There also remains a lot of work to be done with his reads, decision-making and overall puck management, as a lot of possessions for Seattle end when coming off of his stick. On one hand, those existing issues are concerning. On the other hand, though, if you look at how effective and successful he already is despite these flaws it suggests a salivating potential for just how high his ceiling might reach. The sky is the limit.

3. Frank Nazar

Nazar finally returned to action late in the season after a long injury layoff, and there was an undeniable amount of rust for him to shake off before he could really showcase why he was picked by the Blackhawks at 13th overall. Luckily for him, his Michigan team made it all the way to the Frozen Four semifinals, so he was granted a few extra opportunities to get back into the swing of things. He is an electrifying prospect because his feet are always moving, he can manipulate the puck with the best of them, and he can see the ice very well at high speeds, which includes lanes for him to attack the net himself, or opportunities to set up a teammate for a better look. He is a little on the smaller side, but he should be able to overcome that with his drive and tenacity.

4. Sam Rinzel

The Blackhawks never expected anything truly elite out of Rinzel right away, so they won't be concerned at all that his 2022-23 season was solid, though not spectacular. And they certainly won't regret taking him as high as 25^th overall. The focus has always been on his tantalizing tools, and being patient as he learns to master those tools while moving from high school hockey to the more competitive USHL, and then to a very good University of Minnesota program next year. Rangy, mobile, right-shooting defensemen hold immense value in the NHL, and teams have to pay a premium to add them or accept playing the long game in developing them. However, the signs of growth are showing, such as helping the USA win gold at the World Junior A Challenge. If Rinzel pops it won't be right away, but the wait will have been worth it.

5. Drew Commesso

Goaltending prospects don't come much steadier and more consistent than Commesso does, as evidenced by his save percentage numbers of the past four seasons. That's not necessarily a bad thing, however, as his numbers are consistently pretty good. He's a well-rounded, technically sound netminder who has neither any standout traits, nor any real notable weaknesses. Everything about his game is solid, albeit not spectacular: his play-tracking, his technique, his reflexes, his positioning, and so on. Even his size and natural net coverage is pretty average That said, sometimes that's all you need out of a goalie to win a championship. He helped his Boston University team reach the Frozen Four, only to be undone in the semifinals against Minnesota, the top-ranked team in the nation. He projects as becoming at least an NHL backup, with a starter's job not out of the question.

6. Ethan Del Mastro

Del Mastro has won gold medals playing internationally for Canada in three straight years, first at the IIHF U18s in 2021, and then the World Juniors in both 2022 and 2023. He played 20 total games across those three tournaments, and over than span he scored exactly zero goals. That's not his whole story as a prospect, but it is a good reflection of it. He's a big, responsible defender who is well-suited to a modern shutdown role, with competent skating and puck-handling abilities. He can still go old school and dish out some punishment too, though. And don't look now, but his offensive game is also coming along, scoring at a point-per-game pace with both of his teams this year, Mississauga, and Sarnia. There might not be a prospect in Chicago's pipeline who has a safer NHL floor than Del Mastro, and a top four ceiling is a realistic possibility.

7. Ilya Safonov

Safonov is a fantastic example of the value that teams can find by scouting and drafting re-entry prospects. Passed over in both 2019 and 2020, the Blackhawks took a flyer on the hulking Russian center in the 6^th round, 172^nd overall, in 2021, and right now that pick is looking incredibly shrewd. He really grew into a capable, difference-making two-way power forward in the KHL, and perhaps most impressively, he was named the captain of his team at just 21 years of age, the youngest in franchise history. He's so strong, athletic, gritty and competitive that he is a lot to handle physically, even at the hands of veteran Russian pros and former NHLers. He can chip in points as a net-front presence, though his real value comes from how well he defends and matches up against opposing lines. Chicago will do their damnedest to get him to North America as soon as they can.

8. Colton Dach

Just how good is Dach, really? It's a difficult question to answer. As a big center with plus hands and an older brother, Kirby, who is succeeding in the NHL, the profile is very exciting. However, COVID precautions limited his games in 2020-21, his Kelowna Rockets were eliminated in the opening postseason round in 2021-22, and injuries have sidelined his current season, including knocking him out of the World Juniors just three games in. He's back on the ice now, going deep into the playoffs with Seattle, but he doesn't look 100% yet and his team is deep enough and talented enough at forward to not need to rush him. Chicago might be a little concerned about whether or not all those missed games, and resultant opportunities for growth in such crucial years of his development, will hinder his long-term potential.

9. Alex Vlasic

Vlasic jumped straight into the NHL after leaving Boston University and turning pro in the spring of 2022, dressing for 15 games for a Blackhawks team that was out of the playoff hunt and wanted a closer look at one of their top prospects. While he wasn't necessarily bad in that tryout, and even scored his first career NHL goal, Chicago elected to take the safe route with his development and let him refine his game down in the AHL for most of this year, which made total sense. As expected, he used his gargantuan reach and fleet feet to provide a stout defensive presence, while also getting to work on his offensive contributions a bit, or at least more than he would have in the NHL. Whether in 2023-24 or later, Vlasic will almost certainly end up on the Hawks as a shutdown defender.

10. Nolan Allan

It should be clear by now that the Blackhawks put a premium on defensive defensemen, and Allan is the one they paid the highest price for, using the last pick of the first round in 2021 to go a little off the board and secure his rights. They undoubtedly would have had high expectations for him to grow his game in the proceeding years, though the gains so far are relatively modest. Sure, Hockey Canada brought him along for the World Juniors, and the powerhouse Seattle Thunderbirds paid a pretty penny to bring him in for their full-throttle quest for a WHL title, but he hasn't fully reached a point yet where he has been a truly top-tier player. His skating and puck movement remain a little limited, and he could stand to be more of a physical presence. That said, growth in those areas is still achievable.