The calendar has flipped to February, so now is a good time for us to update our rankings of the Blackhawks’ top prospects. And let me tell you, Chicago’s pipeline had one helluva month in January.
The month started with the exciting conclusion to the World Junior Championship in which Chicago’s most recent top draft pick earned individual accolades. We then saw Blackhawks prospects light up the KHL, SHL, OHL, WHL, NCAA and AHL levels. The numbers are impressive. And there are a lot of guys to consider moving up at this point because of how well they’ve played.
With that being said, let’s update our rankings of the Blackhawks’ top prospects. Note: I am leaving Nick Lardis and Sam Rinzel in our rankings this month again. Oliver Moore remains graduated. And, since our last rankings, Nolan Allan was traded to San Jose.
IIHFBlackhawks Top Prospects
1. Anton Frondell, C/W
6-2, 204Shoots: LeftAcquired: 1st round (No. 3) — 2025 NHL DraftSIGNED
Frondell was named the best forward in this year’s World Junior Championship as he helped Sweden win the entire tournament. He’s seen his ice time fluctuate with Djurgårdens in the SHL this season, but we need to keep in mind that he’s playing in the top level league in Sweden. He’s already signed to his entry-level contract and could join the Blackhawks before the end of the NHL’s regular season.
2. Roman Kantserov, RW
5-9, 176Shoots: LeftAcquired: 2nd round (No. 44) — 2023 NHL Draft* (pick acq. from Ottawa in Zaitsev trade)
Kantserov, who doesn’t turn 22 until the end of September, continues to lead the KHL in scoring and is playing at a ridiculous pace. His contract in the KHL expires in June, so we should learn his immediate future at some point in the coming months. He has said that he wants to play in the NHL. The big question is what position he will play if/when he comes over. He recently gave an interview in which he spoke about his success this season being in part because of the move to center.
3. Sam Rinzel, RHD
6-4, 196Shoots: RightAcquired: 1st round (No. 25) — 2022 NHL Draft* (pick acq. from Toronto in Mrazek trade)SIGNED
Rinzel joined the Blackhawks back in the NHL for the final three games before the Olympic break. He worked specifically on his defensive game in Rockford, and has showed good signs of improvement in those areas since he was recalled.
4. Nick Lardis, RW
6-0, 170Shoots: LeftAcquired: 3rd round (No. 67) — 2023 NHL DraftSIGNED
After dominating the OHL last year, Lardis made the jump to the professional ranks and got off to a great start in Rockford. He was among the AHL rookie leaders when he was recalled by the Blackhawks, and he showed some terrific hands — shooting and passing — during his first run in the NHL. I assume he’ll be back up in the NHL if/when veterans are moved out before the NHL trade deadline in March.
5. Marek Vanacker, LW
6-1, 188Shoots: LeftAcquired: 1st round (No. 27) — 2024 NHL Draft* (pick acq. from Carolina in pick swap)SIGNED
Vanacker has taken Lardis’ place as the most lethal offensive threat on the Brantford roster — and in the OHL. He leads the OHL in goals and has already eclipsed his numbers from last year He’s been lights out so far, even if Canada left him off their roster for the World Junior Championship. He has already signed his entry-level contract and will turn pro whenever his run in Brantford comes to an end.
6. Václav Nestrašil, RW
6-6, 186Shoots: RightAcquired: 1st round (No. 25) — 2025 NHL Draft* (pick acq. from Toronto in McCabe trade)
Nestrašil was a bit of a lottery ticket in the 2025 NHL Draft and it appears the Blackhawks’ front office picked the right numbers. He’s been very good at UMass in a tough Hockey East this season as a freshman, sticking around a point-per-game pace for most of the year. He also looked great — especially when not looking at many of his passes — while helping Czechia advance to the gold medal game at the World Junior Championship. He’s got a big up arrow next to his name.
7. Kevin Korchinski, LHD
6-1, 185Shoots: LeftAcquired: 1st round (No. 7) — 2022 NHL Draft* (pick acq. from Ottawa in A. DeBrincat trade)SIGNED
Korchinski’s still developing in Rockford and is just outside the top ten defensemen in the AHL in points. His skating is still special and he’s still a very young player, and will be an AHL All-Star for the second straight year. The big questions moving forward are where Korchinski fits into the Blackhawks’ lineup if Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov are running the two power play units. There’s still a lot to love about Korchinski’s ability, and he’s still very young.
8. Nathan Behm, RW
6-2, 208Shoots: RightAcquired: 3rd round (No. 66) — 2025 NHL Draft
Behm is among the WHL leaders in scoring — and leads all Blackhawks prospects in the SHL in points entering February. He has a big body and can skate, both things you love in a prospect. He also has a big up arrow for me. He’s committed to play at Arizona State in the NCHC next year, which will be a good step for his development.
9. AJ Spellacy, C/W
6-3, 204Shoots: RightAcquired: 3rd round (No. 72) — 2024 NHL Draft* (pick acq. from Ottawa in DeBrincat trade)SIGNED
Spellacy’s NHL future is likely as a high-motor bottom-six forward who attacks pucks recklessly. He was the fastest skater at the World Juniors and chipped in some offense for the USA while moving up and down the lineup. His speed at the WJC would have ranked among the top ten in the NHL this season. And he’s big and strong. There’s a ton to like here.
10. Sacha Boisvert, C/W
6-3, 185Shoots: LeftAcquired: 1st round (No. 18) — 2024 NHL Draft* (pick acq. from Islanders in pick swap)
Boisvert was fabulous as a freshman at North Dakota, but the transfer to Boston University hasn’t been what everyone hoped it could be — in large part because of injuries. Even so, Boisvert has been around a point-per-game player for the Terriers. The plan was for him to spend one year at BU. We’ll see if that remains true or if another collegiate campaign makes sense.
11. Jack Pridham, RW
6-2, 185Shoots: RightAcquired: 3rd round (No. 92) — 2024 NHL Draft
Pridham ranks among the OHL leaders in goals, points, power play goals and short-handed goals. He dominated the league in January and was named the OHL’s Player of the Month. He’s been terrific this year, which makes the next step in his development interesting. Will he go to Boston University, where he still has an offer? Or will he sign with the Blackhawks and begin his pro hockey journey in Rockford? Maybe the biggest up arrow in the organization is right here.
12. Mason West, C
6-6, 218Shoots: RightAcquired: 1st round (No. 29) — 2025 NHL Draft* (pick acq. from Carolina in pick swap)
West is back on the ice with Fargo in the USHL after leading his high school football team to a state championship. He’s a huge forward with a good release and skates well. He’s committed to play at Michigan State next season.
13. Drew Commesso, G
6-2, 180Acquired: 2nd round (No. 46) — 2020 NHL Draft* (pick acq. from Vegas in M. Subban trade)SIGNED
Commesso continues to be solid for the IceHogs. The fact that he’s an RFA this coming summer complicates his future with the organization; Spencer Knight is the No. 1 in the NHL. There’s a good chance he competes for the back-up job in the NHL next season if/when he gets an extension. He was excellent in his second start in the NHL this season in incredibly tough circumstances.
14. Adam Gajan, G
6-2, 180Acquired: 2nd round (No. 35) — 2023 NHL Draft
After an injury-plagued freshman season at Minnesota-Duluth, Gajan has rebounded to be one of the best netminders in the college ranks this year. He was invited to play with the US Collegiate Select team at the Spengler Cup and will represent Slovakia in the Olympics as well. His stock is back up this year after dipping last year because of the injuries.
15. Ethan Del Mastro, LHD
6-4, 210Shoots: LeftAcquired: 4th round (No. 105) — 2021 NHL Draft* (pick acq. from Vancouver in M. Bowey trade)SIGNED
Del Mastro has only appeared in two games in the NHL thus far, but he could be a call-up if/when the Blackhawks move out a couple bodies on the back end before the NHL trade deadline. He’s more of a physical, shut-down defender than the other young defensemen coming up in the Blackhawks’ system — and that figures to be his value to the organization moving forward. He may ultimately be a third-pair or seventh defenseman in Chicago, but he has good tools to stick in the league.
16. John Mustard, W
6-1, 195Shoots: LeftAcquired: 3rd round (No. 67) — 2024 NHL Draft
Mustard continues to play effectively in all situations for Providence during his sophomore season. He’s been near/at the top of the team leaderboard in goals throughout the year and leads the team in shots on net. He’s another player who can fly, and is getting valuable experience in Hockey East on a good Friars squad.
17. Ilya Kanarsky, G
6-3, 192Acquired: 7th round (No. 194) — 2025 NHL Draft
Kanarsky was a late-round pick that surprised some at the last draft because he’s a very good netminder in the VHL. He has good size. The Blackhawks appear to be set in net right now, and he’s behind both Commesso and Gajan in the pipeline. But there might be a high ceiling here.
18. Stanislav Berezhnoy, G
6-4, 218Acquired: signed as free agentSIGNED
Berezhnoy, 22, signed as a free agent this past summer. The move to North America has, predictably, had some ups and downs. But he has good size and is a mature option in the pipeline for the Blackhawks. He is signed thru the 2026-27 season.
19. Julius Sumpf, C/W
6-2, 190Shoots: LeftAcquired: 4th round (No. 98) — 2025 NHL Draft
Sumpf has really come on since Christmas; half of his 16 points came in the nine games in January (in which Providence rolled to an 8-1 record). He’s also blocked 17 shots this season, his first in college after he was an over-age pick out of the QMJHL. Sumpf intrigues me more as the season progresses.
20. Aidan Thompson, W
5-11, 180Shoots: LeftAcquired: 3rd round (No. 90) — 2022 NHL Draft* (pick acq. from CGY in N. Zadorov trade)SIGNED
I am, admittedly, a Thompson fan. The Blackhawks need guys who can play a bottom-six role, and Thompson could be one of those guys who earns NHL ice time at some point because he’s willing to grind and be annoying to play against. He’s an older first-year pro and had a very good career at Denver in the NCHC.
Honorable Mention
Gavin Hayes, W Samuel Savoie, F Taige Harding, LHD Joel Svensson, RW Martin Mišiak, C/WHence then, the article about bn blackhawks top 20 prospect rankings excellent january from players all over the world was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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