Chicago’s system is characterized by 1) how top-heavy its premium talent is and 2) how deep its system is overall. The Blackhawks made a lot of picks in the last few years. The result is 17 prospects projected to be legit NHL players and the No. 1 overall pipeline. They are led by a potential star center in Connor Bedard and a potential star defenseman in Artyom Levshunov. Chicago probably needs a few more high picks to round out the premium talent in this organization and give Bedard some scoring support up front, but there is a foundation of a potential contender steadily being built here.
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Key additions: Artyom Levshunov, Sacha Boisvert, Marek Vanacker, John Mustard
Key graduate: Alex Vlasic
2023 ranking: 2
2024 NHL Draft grade: A
Player Ranking
1. Connor Bedard, C
July 17, 2005 | 5-foot-10 | 185 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 1 in 2023
Tier: Elite NHL player
Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: Elite
Hockey sense: High-end
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Elite
Analysis: Bedard was the best rookie in the NHL. His pure offensive tools are off-the-charts good, and he can make special plays around the puck consistently. He has among the best puck skills in the NHL, and the ability to beat most defenders 1v1. He makes a ton of highly creative plays through opponents and to teammates. He’s a great passer who makes unique plays, but his shot is much more of a threat. He’s a lethal midrange shooter who can project to have multiple 40-plus-goal seasons. He has the ability to terrorize defenses on the power play with the multiple ways he can beat them. Bedard is a small center and isn’t an elite speedster for a small guy, but he moves well and is very elusive in tight areas. He competes hard and doesn’t get pushed around. He projects as a true superstar in the NHL.
2. Artyom Levshunov, D
October 28, 2005 | 6-foot-2 | 205 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 2 in 2024
Tier: Bubble elite NHL player and NHL All-Star
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: High-end
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Levshunov was the best defenseman in the Big Ten this season and a big part of why Michigan State is a top team. He is extremely skilled and creative, both as a puckhandler and passer. He has the hands of a top offensive defenseman and looks very comfortable with the puck. He skates well and can play an up-tempo style in how he attacks with his skill. He has the offensive sense to potentially run a PP1 in the NHL and has a good point shot, too. His defensive play doesn’t stand out as much, particularly because he tries to attack so much, but he can make stops due to his athleticism and has physicality in his game. He is too aggressive at times and plays too much like a forward for some scouts’ liking. He makes enough stops to ease most evaluators’ concerns given how much offense he brings. He has the potential to be an impact NHL defenseman who scores at a premium level.
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3. Kevin Korchinski, D
June 21, 2004 | 6-foot-1 | 185 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 7 in 2022
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player
Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: Below NHL average
Analysis: Korchinski had an up-and-down rookie NHL season which is to be expected of any teenage defenseman. There is no doubting the tools Korchinski has. He’s a fantastic skater for a big man, with clear NHL footspeed and edge work. His ability to turn pucks up ice with his feet is a differentiator. He is quite skilled and creative with the puck, sees the ice well and creates a lot of offensive chances due to his feet and brain. He has clear NHL offense, but whether he can defend has always been the question on Korchinski. He shies from physical play and doesn’t always give a strong defensive effort. He’s such a good athlete you figure a coach can carve him into a competent defender, and he projects as a quality top-four defenseman.
4. Lukas Reichel, LW
May 17, 2002 | 6 feet | 170 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 17 in 2020
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Reichel had a so-so season where he struggled to replicate his prior NHL success although he was good for Germany at the men’s worlds. Reichel is a talented forward who still has a lot of potential. He has a ton of individual skill, he’s a strong skater and he can create a lot of offense with pace. He can make tough plays and finish chances. Reichel’s compete isn’t a selling point; it’s good enough but he can drift to the perimeter. There are a lot of indicators he can be a middle-six forward who can help a power play.
5. Sacha Boisvert, C
March 17, 2006 | 6-foot-2 | 183 pounds | Shoots left
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Drafted: No. 18 in 2024
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Boisvert has been a highly productive USHL player over the last two seasons. He has a lot of appealing tools for the NHL. He’s a 6-foot-2 center who can skate and has legit offensive abilities. He is very skilled and instinctive with the puck. He’s able to beat defenders with pace as well. Boisvert has an excellent shot and is a threat to score from the faceoff dots. I don’t love his playmaking as he’s certainly more of a shoot-first type of player, but he can make tough plays. His compete is fine. He’s not going to be known for that aspect of his game but he wins enough battles and uses his size. He could be a middle-six forward in the NHL.
6. Oliver Moore, C
January 22, 2005 | 5-foot-11 | 188 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 19 in 2023
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Analysis: Moore had a good freshman season at Minnesota and was a bottom-six forward for USA’s world junior team. He’s an exceptional skater. He’ll be a top 30 skater in the NHL from his first shift. Moore’s edge work is elite and he generates a ton of power from each stride. He isn’t overly physical, but he works hard, gets to the net, can PK and projects as a good two-way NHL forward. Moore’s question will be exactly how much offense he’ll have. He has good skills, but he doesn’t see the ice at a high level and he’s not a guy who creates a ton of chances in a game. He projects as a third-line center or a potential second-line wing.
7. Sam Rinzel, D
June 25, 2004 | 6-foot-4 | 177 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 25 in 2022
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
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Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Analysis: After a concerning draft-plus-one season in the USHL, Rinzel was as good as Chicago fans could have hoped as a freshman at Minnesota. He played major minutes and was a top defenseman in the conference. Rinzel’s tools are obvious as a huge defenseman who can skate and has legit offensive skills. I wasn’t always sold on his hockey sense or defending, but both of those aspects looked much improved this season. He’s not going to be known for his defending, but with his athletic tools, feet and offensive creativity, he can make enough stops in the NHL to have a legit career.
8. Roman Kantserov, RW
September 20, 2004 | 5-foot-9 | 176 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 44 in 2023
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Kantserov had a promising first KHL season. He steadily became a regular player on the eventual KHL champion and had a big playoffs for them. Kantserov isn’t very big, but everything else about his game is a plus. He’s a very quick skater with high-end skills who projects to be able to create offense at high levels. He gives a good effort, creates in hard areas and is responsible both ways. He has the tools to score and make plays versus men and will earn a coach’s trust. He projects as a middle-six wing.
9. Colton Dach, C
January 4, 2003 | 6-foot-4 | 196 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 62 in 2021
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Analysis: Dach had a quality rookie pro season. His numbers don’t wow you at any level, but Dach’s pure toolkit looks like an NHL player. He’s a tall forward who skates very well for a big man. He has good hands and can make plays at quick tempos. With Dach, the biggest issue in his game is consistency. When he’s on he looks like a no-doubt NHL player, but I haven’t always seen that player and he’s not a true natural scorer. The pure tools should get him to the league, and I think he’s just skilled enough to be a middle-six type, although it may be on the wing.
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10. Ethan Del Mastro, D
January 15, 2003 | 6-foot-4 | 210 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 105 in 2021
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: High-end
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Del Mastro was quite good as a rookie pro, scoring 37 points as a reliable two-way player. Del Mastro doesn’t have standout skill but he’s a very good defender. He makes a lot of stops due to his great reach, solid hockey IQ and high-end compete. He leans on forwards with his big body and competes hard to win pucks. Del Mastro showed more puck-moving as a pro than I expected and proved he can run a power play at higher levels with decent enough vision and a good point shot. His skating is just OK. I’ve seen slower big guys, but I wouldn’t say he’s overly mobile. He projects as a third-pair defenseman, with a chance to be a second-pair.
11. Nolan Allan, D
April 28, 2003 | 6-foot-2 | 195 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 32 in 2021
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Allan played a lot of minutes for Rockford as a rookie pro. He is a very good defender who breaks up a lot of plays. He’s big, skates well and is quite physical. That allows him to kill a lot of rushes and win back a lot of pucks. His offensive touch is limited but he still got 17 points in the AHL without power-play time. He can make a good enough first pass and can generate some offense from his point shot. Coaches will like him and he can have a career as a third-pair defender.
12. Isaak Phillips, D
September 28, 2001 | 6-foot-3 | 205 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 141 in 2020
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
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Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Phillips got 30 games with Chicago after playing big minutes again for Rockford. He’s a very athletic defender who can move quite well for a guy his size. He makes a lot of stops due to his feet and length and doesn’t shy away from playing the body. Offense has always been the question in Phillips’ game. He’s not a pro-power-play guy by any means, but he’s shown enough puck play in the AHL to look like he can make a competent NHL pass. He has a decent point shot, too. He projects as a third-pair defenseman.
13. Marek Vanacker, LW
April 12, 2006 | 6-foot-1 | 178 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 27 in 2024
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Analysis: Vanacker had a strong second OHL season, scoring at over a point-per-game clip for Brantford, but he wasn’t great with Canada in the spring. He’s a strong skating winger with very good hands. He can beat defenders often off the rush and creates a lot of controlled entries. Vanacker isn’t going to run players over, but he’s a decent-sized forward who works hard, wins a lot of 50/50 pucks and gets to the net to create offense. He makes plays but I wouldn’t call him a top-tier playmaker or a true offensive threat. He has the traits of a bottom-six wing in the league.
14. Frank Nazar, C
January 14, 2004 | 5-foot-9 | 175 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 13 in 2022
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: High-end
Analysis: Nazar had a better sophom*ore season with full health. He was one of Michigan’s better players and was an important player on Team USA. Nazar’s game is all about speed and energy. He’s a super competitive center who plays a hard two-way game. He’s all about interior offense, with almost all of his offense coming at the net-front area. The debate on Nazar’s game, especially as a smaller forward, is whether there are enough other elements in his attack. He has good skill and vision, but I wouldn’t call it high-end. He projects as a bottom-six center in the NHL.
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15. Gavin Hayes, LW
May 14, 2004 | 6-foot-1 | 177 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 66 in 2022
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Hayes had another highly productive season in the OHL between Flint and the Soo and played a limited-minute role on USA’s world junior team. He’s a decent-sized forward with good hands and offensive instincts. He can create chances with his skill and has a strong shot to finish chances. Hayes competes well enough. I don’t think he’s going to run over NHL defenders, but he uses his big frame well enough to protect pucks and can kill penalties. Hayes’ skating isn’t the best, and if he misses it will likely be due to a lack of footspeed. He projects as a bottom-six winger.
16. John Mustard, C
August 16, 2006 | 6-foot-1 | 186 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 67 in 2024
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Mustard had a great season in Waterloo after coming up from U16 hockey in New Jersey the prior season. He’s one of the best skaters in the draft. Mustard is a burner; not a Sunday barbecue burner, but one who will get by NHL defensem*n consistently. He attacks constantly with his skating and skill and creates a lot of offense off the rush. He’s skilled but I appreciate how he doesn’t try to hot dog too much with the puck. Mustard has a good wrist shot and relishes the opportunity to use it. He plays a strong north/south game, but he doesn’t make a ton of plays to others. His compete is OK. He isn’t overly physical and doesn’t kill penalties but his effort is good enough. If that part of his game improves, he has a clear path to being a regular NHL player, but his skating should get him games.
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17. Drew Commesso, G
July 19, 2002 | 6-foot-2 | 180 pounds | Catches left
Drafted: No. 46 in 2020
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Analysis: Commesso was solid as a rookie pro splitting starts in Rockford. He is an intelligent, athletic goaltender with a strong track record of success at various levels. He is very technically sound and reads the play at a high level. He doesn’t make a ton of spectacular saves, but he squares up a lot of pucks due to his sense and gives his team a lot of reliable starts. The pure athletic tools, while good, are not off the charts for his size, so whether he can be a legit NHL goalie is a minor question. I could see him as a potential backup though.
Has a chance to play
Wyatt Kaiser played NHL games this season and is a legit NHL skater and competitor. His puck-moving is a mild question, especially for an average-sized defender regarding an NHL role on a non-bottom feeder. Adam Gajan came out of the gates flying and had another strong world juniors, but his overall USHL season was just average. He’s extremely athletic, but his hockey sense and decisions are just average. Paul Ludwinski and Samuel Savoie continue a trend seen throughout the Chicago system: They have speed and compete in bunches, but are small and may not score as pros.
Adam Gajan, G
May 6, 2004 | 6-foot-3 | 167 pounds | Catches left | Drafted: No. 35 in 2023
Ryan Greene, C
October 21, 2003 | 6-foot-1 | 174 pounds | Shoots right | Drafted: No. 57 in 2022
Wyatt Kaiser, D
July 31, 2002 | 6-feet | 173 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 81 in 2020
Nick Lardis, LW
July 8, 2005 | 5-foot-11 | 165 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 67 in 2023
Paul Ludwinski, C
April 23, 2004 | 5-foot-11 | 172 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 39 in 2022
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Martin Misiak, RW
September 30, 2004 | 6-foot-2 | 194 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 55 in 2023
Milton Oscarson, C
February 18, 2003 | 6-foot-6 | 216 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 167 in 2023
Samuel Savoie, LW
March 25, 2004 | 5-foot-10 | 189 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 81 in 2022
Landon Slaggert, LW
June 25, 2002 | 6-feet | 180 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 79 in 2020
* Listed in alphabetical order
Player eligibility: All skaters who are 22 years old or younger as of Sept. 15, 2024, regardless of how many NHL games they’ve played, are eligible. Player heights and weights are taken from the NHL.
Tool grades: Tool grades are based on a scale with six separate levels, with an eye toward how this attribute would grade in the NHL (poor, below-average, average, above-average, high-end and elite). “Average” on this scale means the tool projects as NHL average, which is meant as a positive, not a criticism. Skating, puck skills, hockey sense and compete for every projected NHL player are graded. Shot grades are only included if a shot is notably good or poor.
Tier definitions: Tiers are meant to show roughly where in an average NHL lineup a player projects to slot in.
(Photo of Connor Bedard: Patrick McDermott / Getty Images)
