BN Blackhawks Top 20 Prospect Rankings: New Year Updates ...Middle East

The new calendar year is upon us, and Blackhawks prospects are making noise all over the world.

The Blackhawks have leaders at the World Junior Championship, in the KHL, the OHL and WHL and the NCAA ranks. They have speed all over the pipeline that could soon become the envy of the league. And they have scorers everywhere.

While we wait for these players to make their way to the NHL, it’s always good to stay up-to-date with how they’re doing in their respective leagues and tournaments. So, let’s update our rankings of the top 20 prospects in the Blackhawks pipeline.

One note: I am re-inserting Sam Rinzel into these rankings. He remains in Rockford, so I’m placing him back in the “prospect” status. I am also choosing to leave Nick Lardis in our rankings for now. However, Oliver Moore and Landon Slaggert will remain graduated.

#Blackhawks prospect Anton Frondell with his second in the game for at the #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/OoeGeS6zAr

Blackhawks Top Prospects

1. Anton Frondell, C/W

6-2, 204Shoots: LeftAcquired: 1st round (No. 3) — 2025 NHL DraftSIGNED

Frondell is an absolute unit, and his shot is lethal. Even though some Blackhawks fans haven’t been thrilled with his ice time and role fluctuating in the SHL this season, his performance at the World Juniors is a reminder that he’s one of the best offensive threats in the world that isn’t in the NHL yet. He’s been among the WJC goal scoring leaders the entire tournament.

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 at/near the top of the league in points as well. He’s a dynamic offensive threat. While there are automatic concerns about his listed size, those numbers could be antiquated. Kantserov is putting up numbers that have been compared to Artemi Panarin and Kaprill Kaprizov.

3. Sam Rinzel, RHD

6-4, 196Shoots: RightAcquired: 1st round (No. 25) — 2022 NHL Draft* (pick acq. from Toronto in Mrazek trade)

Rinzel remains in Rockford working on his game. He is still expected to be a significant part of the Blackhawks’ future on the blue line. Spending time in Rockford as worked well for other Blackhawks defensemen like Alex Vlasic and Wyatt Kaiser.

let's hear it for Sam Rinzel! pic.twitter.com/G1mf0gvozu

4. Nick Lardis, RW

6-0, 170Shoots: LeftAcquired: 3rd round (No. 67) — 2023 NHL DraftSIGNED

After dominating the OHL last year, Lardis has come to the pro ranks and proved that it can translate to the AHL level. he’s currently skating with the Blackhawks and is getting more comfortable with each game. We’ll see what his role is once Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar return to the lineup in Chicago. Lardis is still near the rookie leaders in the AHL in points despite being in the NHL for weeks.

5. Marek Vanacker, LW

6-1, 174Shoots: 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 in roughly two-thirds as many games. He has the body and skating to be an impact player at the next levels.

6. Václav Nestrašil, RW

6-6, 185Shoots: RightAcquired: 1st round (No. 25) — 2025 NHL Draft* (pick acq. from Toronto in McCabe trade)

Nestrašil has been a revelation this season and looks more and more like a steal in the 2025 NHL Draft. He’s among the freshman leaders in the NCAA at UMass in offensive categories and has been terrific at the World Juniors on behalf of Czechia. There’s creativity in his game, and you can’t teach the size he brings to the ice.

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.

8. Nathan Behm, RW

6-2, 192Shoots: RightAcquired: 3rd round (No. 66) — 2025 NHL Draft

Behm is among the WHL leaders in scoring. Like Vanacker, he has the body to be a power forward at the next levels. He’s committed to Arizona State next year and could take a year or two in college to continue maturing his game. Behm could be another draft steal for the Blackhawks.

9. 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 as well. His stock is back up this year after dipping last year because of the injuries.

10. 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.

11. Sacha Boisvert, C

6-2, 180Shoots: 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.

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.

WESSSTYYYY pic.twitter.com/GsMXqKLGKt

13. Jack Pridham, RW

6-1, 176Shoots: RightAcquired: 3rd round (No. 92) — 2024 NHL Draft

Pridham ranks among the OHL leaders in goals and, impressively, is at/near the top of the league in short-handed goals. He can fly on the ice and continues to impress with his play in the junior ranks. He still has the option to play at Boston University next season. We’ll see if he makes that move for next year.

14. 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 he gets an extension.

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 and Allan are both strong, physical shut-down defensemen to happen to be left-handed. Del Mastro got the first call up from Rockford this season with Allan and Korchinski still with the IceHogs.

16. Nolan Allan, LHD

6-2, 195Shoots: LeftAcquired: 1st round (No. 32) — 2021 NHL Draft* (pick acq. from Columbus in S. Jones trade)SIGNED

Allan is a defensive defenseman, much like Del Mastro. I think both of them are eventually good NHL defensemen for a while. Allan skated for Canada at the Spengler Cup.

17. John Mustard, C/W

6-1, 185Shoots: LeftAcquired: 3rd round (No. 67) — 2024 NHL Draft

Mustard leads Providence in goals as a sophomore this season. His speed and hands are terrific. He isn’t a big forward, but he can play in most situations as well.

18. 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.

19. 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.

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 secondary role and make life miserable for opponents, and Thompson does that very well. He’s an older prospect who, with Samuel Savoie, could be in the mix for a bottom-six role at some point in the next year if an opportunity presents itself.

Honorable Mention

Samuel Savoie, FJulius Sumpf, CTaige Harding, LHDGavin Hayes, WMartin Mišiak, C/WJoel Svensson, RW

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