DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY

Tag: Blackhawks

  • The Blackhawks have two of the top Calder favorites in 2027

    The Blackhawks have two of the top Calder favorites in 2027

    The 2027 Calder race will be one to keep a close eye on, with high-end rookies like Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, Cole Hutson, Porter Martone, and James Hagens competing for rookie of the year, all of whom are all expected to play large roles on their respective teams.

    This season, the Blackhawks are expected to have two of the Calder Trophy favorites in Anton Frondell and Roman Kantserov. The Blackhawks have had two players win the Calder Trophy in the last 10 years: Connor Bedard in 2024 and Artemi Panarin in 2016. 

    Both Frondell and Kantserov are going to play big roles for the Blackhawks this season. Not only at 5-on-5, where they both should be playing top-six, but also on the power play and penalty kill. 

    Anton Frondell is a 6’1” centerman who plays a well-rounded 200-foot game and has a cannon of a shot. Frondell was taken third overall in the 2025 NHL Draft and is expected to be a cornerstone piece of the team as they ascend towards competing for Stanley Cups. Frondell made his NHL debut at the end of last season, playing the final 12 games with the Blackhawks, where he put up nine points and drove the second line, centering Tyler Bertuzzi and Ilya Mikheyev. Not only are the Blackhawks starting this season with Frondell rather than just ending it with him, but they have also added Patrick Kane, Roman Kantserov, and an older, more experienced Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar. 

    Anton Frondell is going to have every opportunity to play in the top six, where he will be surrounded by the previously mentioned Kane, Bedard, Nazar, and Kantserov. The Blackhawks expect to take a massive step this season, and if they do, Frondell will be a big part of it.

    The same can be said for the 5’9” Russian-born center, Roman Kantserov. Kantserov is entering his rookie season in the NHL and will have just as much opportunity as Frondell. Having played professional hockey in the KHL over the past three seasons, Kantserov has developed playing fast-paced hockey against grown men. He developed so well, in fact, that he ended up leading the KHL in goals with 36 last season.

    Like Frondell, Kantserov is expected to contribute immediately upon arrival. An expectation that very few players live up to in their first seasons. However, Kantserov is 21-years-old and, like I previously mentioned, has three seasons of professional hockey under his belt. 

    If both Frondell and Kantserov find themselves in the Calder conversation at the end of the season, then the Blackhawks as a whole likely took a big step.

    If you liked Ryan McGregors article, make sure to follow him on X at https://x.com/RyanmcgregorCHI

  • Ryan McGregor Ranks the Blackhawks Top 10 Prospects

    Ryan McGregor Ranks the Blackhawks Top 10 Prospects

    While many of the Chicago Blackhawks’ prospects have now graduated to full-time NHL players, they still have a loaded pipeline with a ton of talent spread across many leagues. As we approach the start of the 2026-2027 season, I thought it would be fun to take a look at what I think are the top 10 prospects in the Blackhawks system.

    On my list, for a player to qualify as a prospect, they must be under the age of 23, with fewer than 50 NHL games played. For goaltenders, they must be under the age of 25, with fewer than 25 starts in the NHL.

    1. Anton Frondell

    Anton Frondell is easily the Blackhawks’ highest-upside prospect. After being taken third overall in 2025, scoring 20 goals in the SHL as an 18-year-old, and putting up nine points in 12 games with the Blackhawks, Frondell is expected to take on a big role this upcoming season.

    The 6”1’ Swedish center is a highly skilled, two-way forward with a cannon of a shot. In his 12 games with the Blackhawks, Frondell shot the puck 93.5 miles per hour (MPH), ranking in the 94th percentile. However, it’s the smaller details of his game that really impress me. Most notably, his board work. Frondell is skilled along the wall; he can win battles, protect the puck, and he can make plays off the wall in all three zones.

    The only part of his game that didn’t impress me at the NHL level was his speed. Last season, Frondell reached a top speed of 21.1 MPH, ranking in the bottom 50th percentile. However, Frondell plays a mature, 2-way game that doesn’t require him to be one of the fastest players in the NHL.

    2. Roman Kantserov

    In years past, Roman Kantserov wouldn’t have ranked this high on this list. However, after putting up a league-leading 36 goals in the KHL last season, Kantserov has Blackhawks fans and management very optimistic about what he can do at the NHL level. Kantserov was drafted in the second round of the 2023 Draft and signed his entry-level contract with the Blackhawks this summer. He is set to open the season with them. The 5”9’ center may be undersized, but he plays a big game. Kantserov is a goal scorer. He has a good shot, but it’s his ability to find the open ice in tight spaces that makes him so dangerous. Last season, Kantserov scored 36 regular-season goals; 31 of them came from the middle of the ice, below the faceoff circles.

    3. Nick Lardis

    Nick Lardis made himself one of the most compelling Blackhawks prospects after scoring 71 goals in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 2024-2025. Turning pro this past season, the biggest question around his game was whether or not his scoring ability could translate to the professional game. Lardis’ first year pro was successful. Scoring 28 goals in 76 games between the AHL and the NHL. Beyond his lethal shot, Lardis is a relatively fast skater, and he developed his defensive game at the NHL level last season. After his second call-up in March, Lardis spent seven games on the fourth line, where he showed the coaching staff he can play a responsible two-way game. His reward: top-six minutes, where he showed he can be a dangerous offensive option. With more internal competition this season, there is no guarantee Lardis cracks a spot on the Blackhawks roster.

    4. Vaclav Nestrasil

    Vaclav Nestrasil is another guy who seemingly came out of nowhere as one of the Blackhawks top prospects. After being drafted 25th overall out of the United States Hockey League (USHL) in 2025, Nestrasil went to the University of Massachusetts – Amherst (UMass). As a Freshman, Nestrasil had a great season, putting up 13 goals and 31 points in 34 games.

    At the World Juniors, Nestrasil represented Czechia, where he dominated. Putting up eight points in seven games, Nestrasil showed off his skill, playmaking ability, and lethal shot. Nestrasil will play out the 25/26 season at UMass, where he looks to build on last year’s success. Nestrasil is a big body (6”5’, 187lbs), skilled forward who loves to crash the net. 11 of his 13 goals last season came from below the hash marks. One of his biggest strengths is finding open ice in front of the net.

    5. Sacha Boisvert

    Sacha Boisvert has had a few ups and downs since being drafted 18th overall in 2024. Most notably, his Sophomore Year at Boston University (BU), where he not only underproduced but also fell into bad habits, leading to disciplinary action by the team. Boisvert put up three goals and 17 points in 26 games last season with BU and was a healthy scratch in an elimination game due to being late to a team workout. Boisvert joined the Blackhawks late in the season,
    where he played seven games and put up one goal and one assist. In my opinion, Boisvert looked just fine at the NHL level. My only critiques were his lack of physicality and his foot speed. This summer, Boisvert added significant muscle, which he’ll need if he wants to be a premier power forward in the NHL. Boisvert will likely start next season in Rockford, but watch for him in camp; he has something to prove.

    6. Xavier Villeneuve

    The Blackhawks have a potential draft steal in Xavier Villeneuve, taking him early in the second round at the 2026 NHL Draft. Villeneuve is an undersized (5’11″, 162 lbs) offensive defenseman who was slated as a potential first-rounder before the draft. The Quebec native put up 35 points in 37 games last season with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).

    It’s hard not to compare Villeneuve to a guy like Lane Hutson, or even Cole Hutson, for that matter. They all play small, fast, skill games, which make them all so dangerous in the offensive zone. This upcoming season, Villeneuve will be taking a page right out of the Hutson brothers’ playbook, as he is set to play for the Boston University Terriers in the NCAA. Villeneuve’s decision to play college hockey was a smart one. He’s shown he can dominate the blueline in junior hockey. Now the undersized, offensively gifted defenseman will have the opportunity to learn how to play against older, bigger competition.

    7. Drew Commesso

    I contemplated including goaltenders on this list; they are very hard to project, and they have very different timelines than most skaters. However, I felt that Drew Commesso deserved to be on this list. Commesso is currently 24 years old and had a small taste of NHL action last season. If you recall, the Blackhawks were hit with a bug in January; both Knight and Soderblom were unavailable. Commesso had to come in and play in both games of a back-to-back.

    The second game was a shutout on the road against Nashville. Commesso looked solid in his three NHL games last season. Posting a .917 save percentage and a 2.31 goals-against average. Commesso has spent the last three seasons in the AHL, where he put up a .901 save percentage or better every year. Going into his fourth professional season, Commesso hopes to earn his spot in the NHL. Spencer Knight is going to be the starter, but there is a good case to be made for Commesso for the backup role.

    8. Marek Vanacker

    Marek Vanacker is a prospect who fell in many rankings due to a lackluster, shortened draft +1 season. Vanacker was coming off of a 36-goal, 82-point season when he got drafted, and followed up with only 42 points in 45 games. This season, however, Vanacker led the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in goals with 47 and finished with 82 points in 60 games.

    Vanacker plays a team-focused game, not too often taking matters into his own hands. Vanacker led the OHL not only in goals last year, but also in scoring chances with 321. This upcoming season will be Vanacker’s first taste of professional hockey, likely with the Rockford IceHogs. With a loaded pipeline and limited roster spots, watch for Vanacker to make a push for a full-time NHL spot in the 2027-2028 season.

    9. Ryan Roobroeck

    Ryan Roobroeck was selected immediately after Xavier Villeneuve in the second round of the 2026 NHL Draft. Like Villeneuve, Roobroeck had been considered a potential first-round pick going into his draft year. Roobroeck’s draft stock started to drop as the season went on. His goal total dropped from 41 to 30, and his point total from 87 to 58. Beyond just his production, scouts began to question Roobroeck’s engagement.

    Some nights, Roobroeck is fully engaged, physical, and a scoring threat. Other nights, he lacks physical intensity and pace. Standing at 6’3 “, 209 lbs, Roobroeck has the tools to be an effective power forward at the NHL level. Roobroeck is an adequate skater when he reaches his top speed. However, his acceleration leaves a lot to be desired. This upcoming season, Roobroeck will be staying in the OHL, playing for the Guelph Storm.

    10. Mason West

    In 2025, Kyle Davidson traded back up into the first round to take the 6’6”, 207 lbs center out of the USHL, Mason West, at 29th overall. A massive swing for the Blackhawks, but if West hits, he could be a huge piece of the rebuild. West is a dual-sport athlete (football) who recently fully committed to hockey. Putting up 25 points in 38 games with Fargo Force last season, West demonstrated his impressive skating for his size, as well as his intelligence and creativity with the puck. Next season, Mason West will be going to Michigan State University, one of the best NCAA programs. He will have the opportunity to play with players like Ryker Lee, Ethan Belchetz, and Chase Reid. West is certainly a project, but could pan out to be a solid middle-six center.

    If you liked Ryan McGregors article, make sure to follow him on X at https://x.com/RyanmcgregorCHI

  • Connor Bedard has wanted the Captaincy for a long time

    Connor Bedard has wanted the Captaincy for a long time

    The Chicago Blackhawks announced this morning that Connor Bedard has been named the 37th captain in team history. At only 21-years-old, Bedard couldn’t be more ready. 

    This was hardly earth-shattering news, as everyone expected this announcement to be made at some point before the start of training camp later this week. Bedard has been the pillar of the rebuild, and the face of the organization since the day he became a Blackhawk. 

    In a statement released with the official announcement, Bedard said, “Being named captain of the Blackhawks is an unbelievable honor and something I am truly humbled by.” Bedard has been asked about the possibility of being captain of the Blackhawks since he was drafted first overall back in 2023. 

    More recently, in June, I had the chance to talk to Bedard and ask him more about the idea of becoming the next captain. “If I get it, I get it for a reason […] We got a lot of good leaders, but hopefully I get it. 

    Bedard wasn’t just ready for the responsibility; he wanted it. Bedard has been a captain at every level he has played at. From captaining Team Canada at the U18’s, to the Regina Pats of the WHL, and now becoming the Blackhawks captain at 21-years-old, Bedard is a natural leader who welcomes the role at every level. 

    To me, this signals the official shift from rebuild to contention. After signing him to a 5-year, $75 million deal earlier this summer and now making him captain, Bedard is now tasked with leading this team to the playoffs. 

    Bedard is set to miss the start of the season after having shoulder surgery as a result of an offseason injury back in July. Once he returns, he will be joining a young team with a lot of potential, as well as some new faces in Bowen Byram and Patrick Kane, who will help the team get better now. 

  • Weekly 2026 NHL Draft-Eligible Three Stars

    The World Junior Championships are in the books now, and players have returned to action for their respective club teams. The trade deadline has passed across the CHL which puts the push for the postseason front and center for some teams, while others prepare for the future. As teams gear up for playoff races in the second half of the season, NHL staff and countless other draft observers will be eyeing talent for the 2026 NHL Draft. This week in the three stars, a Swedish forward gets some recognition for his strong work this season, a Finn has returned to the OHL with new life after his trip to Minnesota, and a Canadian center is already adjusting to new surroundings after being dealt.

    Wiggo Sörensson | C/LW | Boro/Vetlanda HC (SWE-DIV2)

    Swedish forward Wiggo Sörensson is having a very productive season, splitting his games between the U20 level and Division 2 hockey. He’s amassed 52 points (30 goals, 22 assists) in 12 games with the Boro/Vetlanda HC U20 program and another 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) in 20 Division 2 games. Sörenssen may lack a little in physical tools at just 5 feet 11 inches and 181 pounds, but the rest of his game more than makes up for it. When playing at the U20 junior level, the April 2008 born skater has dominated the competition and showcased his offensive gifts over the last two seasons.

    Splitting time between Division 2 hockey and U20 Division 1, Sörensson led all draft eligibles last week with six points in three games. After not registering a point in his first game of the week, the Vetlanda, Sweden, native had six goals in the next two games. His biggest performance of the week was scoring all four goals in a 5-4 loss to the U20 Division 1 Alvesta SK club.

    Jasper Kuhta | C | Ottawa 67’s (OHL)

    After missing out on being selected in the 2025 NHL Draft, Finnish center Jasper Kuhta is putting together a case to be drafted in 2026. The 6-foot-2, 198 pound forward was impressive with Finland, finishing second in team scoring with eight points at his first world junior tournament despite a disappointing finish for his country.

    He returned to Ottawa after his sojourn in Minnesota and hasn’t missed a beat. On a Northern Ontario road trip against the North Bay Battalion, Soo Greyhounds, and Sudbury Wolves, the Helsinki native had five points in three games.

    Kuhta capitalized on the power play against the Wolves with just over three minutes remaining in the second period. After finding some open space in the right-side faceoff circle, he took a pass from Carolina Hurricanes prospect Filip Ekberg and buried a wrist shot. With 1:45 remaining in the second period, Kuhta doubled up. After the newly acquired David Bedkowski fired a shot, Kuhta quickly flipped the rebound in past the keeper on the backhand.

    Jean-Cristoph Lemieux | C | Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

    17-year-old Jean-Cristoph Lemieux’s week started with a big change. The 2025 U17 World Hockey Challenge gold medalist was dealt from the Windsor Spitfires along with a package of eight draft picks to the Sudbury Wolves for Chicago Blackhawks draft pick Alex Pharand and Seattle Kraken prospect Nathan Villeneuve. Lemieux has had a pretty seamless transition after moving from the team at the most Southern point of the province to one of the furthest north, with five points (three goals, two assists) in three games.

    He opened the week with a goal and an assist against the Greyhounds in a 6-2 loss for the Wolves. He picked up another helper for his lone point in a 4-2 loss to the Niagara IceDogs.

    He saved his best for last with a two-goal outing against the high-flying Ottawa 67’s. With the Wolves on the power play in the first period, Lemieux wound up a one-timer to put the Wolves ahead by one. With just over three and a half minutes left in the second period, Lemieux went streaking down the left wing and took a breakaway pass to send him in alone. He made no mistake one-on-one with Ottawa goalie Jaeden Nelson, faking a shot and then flipping a backhand over the keeper.

  • Rookie vs The System – How Luke Richardon Failed Kevin Korchinski

    Many Blackhawks fans still remember the infamous “Kevin Korchinski Practice” on
    March 20 th , 2024 when coach Luke Richardson decided to “teach” a 19-year-old Kevin
    how to be stronger and box out NHL superstars, often 10 years older than him and
    almost always much heavier than him.


    It was a strange practice that had Kevin participating in one-on-one puck battles in front
    of the goal against the likes of Nick Foligno.


    “Korch definitely has got to get bigger and stronger at the net, boxing out, and that was
    seen on a couple of the goals,” Richardson said after arguably Korchinski’s worst game
    of the season against the LA Kings the night before where he recorded an assist but
    was a -4 and directly responsible for at least a couple of goals.


    Was this the right approach to take with the undersized rookie, playing in his first NHL
    season on a really bad team or did Luke Richardson fail to develop a system of play
    that prioritized his players’ attributes and compensated for their weaknesses?


    Luke Richardson came into the Blackhawks organization as a respected assistant
    coach that prioritized a conservative defensive approach that minimized the defenders’
    involvement in offensive play and made sure the box near the goalie was protected at
    all costs. This system was designed for big and strong defenders to limit high danger
    chances in front of the net and challenging the opposing teams to beat the goalie with
    long range shots. Meanwhile, the three forwards were tasked with generating all the
    offense with limited involvement from defenders that were expected to sit on the blue
    line.


    It was a system in which big and strong shut-down defenders like Alex Vlasic and
    Connor Murphy thrived in, while offensively minded puck movers like Seth Jones and
    Kevin Korchinski struggled in. Many fans lamented Seth Jones play in front of his net as
    he often got beaten while skating backwards in order to get in position to protect his net.
    It was even worse for a rookie defender like Korchinski.


    Furthermore, it also forced Connor Bedard to generate offense by himself with his line,
    often without help from defenders, while being pushed off the puck and even hit as he
    was often crowded and double-teamed, which in part led to his injury that kept him
    sidelined for 14 games. Additionally, it most likely led Bedard to put on too much muscle
    during the Summer of 2024 which in turn slowed him down as he lost his jump and
    explosiveness. Something he worked on to remedy last Summer.

    As such, under Luke Richardson’s system the Blackhawks became a somewhat solid
    defensive team, but one-dimensional in the offensive zone and unable to score goals.
    The team often gave up few but simply could not put the puck in the back of the net.
    Worst of all, it looked like Luke Richardson’s system was not designed to take
    advantage of the attributes of players like Connor Bedard and Kevin Korchinski but
    rather favored the older guard that was tasked with teaching the young core how to get
    stronger and get tougher.


    Unfortunately, Kevin Korchinski was the biggest casualty of Luke Richardson’s stubborn
    approach where he was unable or unwilling to adapt his team to the way his young
    players needed to play to develop.


    Many point to the fact that while Kevin Korchinski must indeed get bigger and stronger
    eventually to compete with the Blackhawks in the playoffs, he was not the first or the
    last undersized defender to enter the NHL.


    One can look to Montreal to see how Lane Hutson, an even smaller player than
    Korchinski, was put in a situation to become an asset to his team and became an
    eventual Calder Trophy winner. While Hutson struggled defensively against big forwards
    just like Korchinski, coach Martin St Louis did not try to force him to box out large
    players in his own zone but instead got him more involved in the offensive zone, to a
    point where Hutson ended the year with 6 goals and 60 assists.


    While Hutson was no doubt a beneficiary of playing on a more talented team than the
    2023-24 Chicago Blackhawks, his coach put him into a system that magnified his
    strengths instead of trying to mold him into a player that he was not.


    Kevin Korchinski made the 2023-24 Chicago Blackhawks roster partly because he was
    only 19 years old and the NHL rules prevented him from being sent to the AHL, but
    mostly for his elite skating ability to get out of his defensive zone and get involved in
    offense.


    Those traits were almost instantly buried as the season started as Kevin was asked not
    to skate out of his zone but quickly dump the puck out to his forwards. This caused a lot
    of turnovers as he was struggling to adjust to the speed of the game and to find open
    forwards to pass to, as opposing teams covered breakout passes. In the offensive zone,
    he was forced to stand by the blue line and not get too involved in the offense as
    Richardson’s system almost made the two defenders into cones that forwards only used
    to bounce puck off.

    While initially Kevin still found ways to use his elite skating to get into the neutral and
    offensive zones in dangerous ways, as the season dragged on and the Blackhawks
    struggled, his small size and inexperience were exposed against tougher teams.
    Meanwhile, Luke Richardson was so rigid in his ways, he did not change his system or
    make adjustments to empower his young players to thrive. Instead, tough and
    experienced veterans like Alec Martinez and T.J. Brodie were brough in over the
    Summer to fill in for Korchinski as he was sent down to the AHL for his second season
    in pro hockey.


    While Bedard struggled in the NHL with seemingly different linemates in each game,
    Korchinski began to slowly regain his confidence under Anders Sorensen who was also
    given Frank Nazar, who failed to make Luke Richardson’s team as well.
    Luke Richardson’s system, that did not benefit most of the young players, and his
    inability to change it eventually cost him his job while Chicago hired Jeff Blashill for the
    2025-26 campaign.


    So far, it seems Blashill designed his system with his players in mind. He knows he has
    a lot of young defenders on his roster, so he is playing with seven of them to limit their
    minutes and to play them situationally where they can use their strengths. They are also
    involved in offensive play, bringing pucks out instead of dumping them out, which is
    benefiting players like Sam Rinzel who are elite skaters. A system that will also benefit
    the likes of Kevin Korchinski.


    Blashill is also using other tricks to help his young players, like having all five players in
    the defensive zone build a box in the area that the puck is in. Such a strategy does not
    put pressure on young, undersized defenders to play man-on-man and to be physical,
    but rather to take away space to operate from the opposition.


    While Kevin Korchinski did not make Jeff Blashill’s team out of camp, mostly due to the
    fact that Sam Rinzel and Wyatt Kaiser had such good training camps, it seems like the
    new coach at least knows how Kevin can become an elite NHL defender.


    “Korch has to utilize his best assets. If part of that best asset is being offensive, you
    can’t lose that as you’re getting good defensively. But everybody has to be good
    defensively in order to play in this league. It’s almost impossible to outscore your
    mistakes. One thing is, when I talk to him about his strengths, he talks about his skating.
    I think he can use that skating offensively in a sense of beating people up the ice but he
    can also use his skating defensively to shut downplays and gap up. And if you do that,
    you spend more time in the ‘O’ zone.” Jeff Blashill said.

    It looks like Blashill sees Kevin for the player he is and gave him specific instructions on
    how to play to his strengths in Rockford. As of now, Korchinski seems to be taking his
    new coach’s advice, already excelling in Rockford with three assists in four games while
    being a +2 in his own zone.


    He will get tougher as he gets older, but Korchinski will never be a bulky shut-down
    defender that boxes out players in front of goal. He will use his skating and speed to get
    to pucks early and get out of trouble, while joining players like Connor Bedard and
    Frank Nazar in the offensive zone.

    Jeff Blashill sees that, and his system is designed to empower young players to thrive,
    while Luke Richardson’s never was.

  • What Has Kyle Davidson & Co Built

    General Manager Review

    Analyzing Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson as Blackhawks General Manager

    In order to better understand hockey and the processes that NHL teams use to build their rosters into championship contenders I feel it’s important to analyze the men making these decisions. In this article we’re going to look at and analyze the first two draft classes as well as some free agent signings and trades of Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson.

    Before we jump into his moves and deals I feel that it’s important to give some context about the situation that Davidson inherited from his predecessor Stan Bowman who is now the GM of the Edmonton Oilers. Kyle Davison became interim Blackhawks GM on October 26th, 2021 before becoming the full time GM on March 1st, 2022. The Blackhawks to be frank were a disaster, the Kyle Beach scandal had rocked the organization, Jeremy Colition was still the head coach of the team until Davidson relieved him of his duties on November 26th, 2021 following a 1-9-2 start to the season, and the roster itself was an odd mix of veterans and young players along with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.

    One thing that became very clear from the jump with Davidson is that he wanted to completely rebuild the organization from the ground up. Since 2016 the team had found itself stuck in this weird limbo state between rebuilding and still trying to compete with Kane and Toews. The team’s roster had some good young players most notably Brandon Hagel, Dylan Strome, Kirby Dach, and Alex Debrincat but they hadn’t reached their full potential yet with the Blackhawks. Brandon Hagel would be traded to Tampa Bay during the regular season, Alex Debrincat and Kirby Dach would be moved at the draft, and Dylan Strome left via free agency. Patrick Kane would be traded to the NY Rangers the following season and Toews would play his final game for the Blackhawks on April 13th, 2023 before taking his sabbatical from the NHL as a whole. The dynasty years of the 2010s were truly behind the team now and the rebuild was in full swing. 

    Now is a good time to talk about Davidson’s first two draft classes as they go hand in hand with one another and with the moves he made during his first two seasons in charge. The Blackhawks did not have their first round pick going into the 2022 NHL Draft as they had traded it in a deal for Seth Jones previously. Obviously this is a huge roadblock for any NHL team going into a rebuild but despite this Davidson would end up selecting three players in the first round that year. Alex Debrincat was traded to the Ottawa Senators for the 7th and 39th overall picks as well as Ottawa’s third round selection in 2024, with that 7th overall pick the Blackhawks selected Kevin Korchinski of the WHL, while Korchinski hasn’t exactly bursted onto the scene yet, he is still a very highly thought of player in the Blackhawks system and is expected to play a big role for the team in the years to come.

    His next move was trading Kirby Dach to the Montreal Canadians for the 13th overall and 66th overall picks. This move may be the best move Kyle Davidson has pulled off during his tenure as Blackhawks GM, Kirby Dach has struggled with injuries his whole career and that has continued in Montreal, meanwhile Frank Nazar who was taken with the 13th overall pick has excelled in his short pro career so far. Frank Nazar recently signed a 7 year $46 million deal to be a Blackhawk long term and it’s fair to say the Blackhawks won this trade in a landslide. His final major draft pick of the 2022 class was selecting Sam Rinzel 25th overall after a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs. This pick did confuse people at the time but in hindsight it is looking like the Blackhawks may have gotten the steal of the draft. Despite only being 21 years old and 16 games into his NHL career Rinzel is already playing top pair minutes and is excelling in the role. He looks poised to be a key contributor on a championship level team in the future.

    The 2023 Blackhawks draft class landed the team something that every rebuilding team yearns for and craves, a franchise level talent. The Blackhawks with a bit of help from the lottery gods were able to select Connor Bedard from the Regina Pats of the WHL. To say that Bedard was the most hyped up 1st overall pick since Connor McDavid would almost be understating it, he put up insane numbers in the WHL and lit up the World Junior Championships in his draft year. After a phenomenal rookie season which saw him win the Calder trophy on a bad Blackhawks team, he faced a lot of criticism and adversity during his second season in the NHL but so far into his third season he has responded very well and has played great to start the season. Growing as a leader on and off the ice, I would not be surprised if he is given the captaincy next season.

    Oliver Moore was also taken 19th overall during this draft and after a strong showing in the NCAA for two seasons, where he was roommates with Sam Rinzel, he signed his pro contract towards the end of the 2024-2025 season. Moore had a strong showing at the end of last season for the Blackhawks as well as a strong training camp for the Blackhawks but he was still sent down to Rockford to begin the 2025-2026 season, however with how well he has started the season for Rockford it’s very likely that a callup will happen sooner rather than later, more importantly for Moore it’s about capitalizing when he gets his callup and making sure that he sticks around afterwards.

    While these 5 players are the major picks from Davidson’s first two draft classes there are other players that I feel deserve a mention. From the 2022 class Ryan Greene and Samuel Savoie, and from the 2023 class Roman Kantserov and Nick Lardis. Ryan Greene signed his ELC at the end of the 2024-2025 season and has made the most of his opportunities earning a roster spot out of training camp to start 2025-2026 season and has played well to start the season so far in a bottom 6 role, Samuel Savoie has become a favorite among Rockford fans and is a guy that I can see becoming an Andrew Shaw type of player. Roman Kantserov and Nick Lardis have both become prized prospects in the eyes of both Blackhawks fans and the organization. Lardis lit up the OHL last season scoring 71 goals and having 117 points, he has started this season with 2 goals and 8 points through 5 games in the AHL so far this season. While his overall game definitely needs some work he has shown clear scorers instincts and seems like a viable top 6 option in the future.

    Roman Kantserov also seems like a viable top 6 option, he’s been point per game so far this season for Magnitogorsk in the KHL and it seems very likely that he’ll be signing with the Blackhawks as soon as Magnitogorsk wraps up their season.

    In summary I think Davidson’s first two years on the job are the textbook way that a major rebuild should be done. He took a franchise that was in disarray and built a strong foundation for the future.

  • Re-Signing Connor Bedard in the Wild West Salary Cap Era

    As Charles Dickens once wrote “It was the best of contracts, it was the worst of
    contracts, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of
    belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of
    darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
    Nobody expected that Charles Dickens will accurately predicted the 2025 NHL
    salary market. All jokes aside, on August 21 st , 2025 Frank Nazar signed a seven-year,
    $46.13 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks at a $6,599,991 AAV. While the
    contract didn’t have the same shock as Kaprizov’s $17 million monstrosity or McDavid’s
    ridiculous $12.5 million “Win-Now-Or-Else” deal with the Oilers, it still sent ripples
    through the NHL.


    The Blackhawks fans almost immediately started celebrations on social media,
    both because of the length of the deal but also because it looked like a steal for a player
    of Frank’s caliber.


    Meanwhile, fans of other teams said “who?” some half-jokingly but others really
    not knowing who Frank was, while pundits across the league questioned Kyle
    Davidson’s decision to give out nearly $50 million for a player that didn’t make the team
    last year, had to go to the AHL and as of contract signing this Summer only played 56
    games in the NHL, wile registering 13 goals and 14 assists for 27 total points.
    However, as often is the case, the stats don’t tell the whole picture and those
    who watched Frank play last Spring saw a confident player that grew well into his NHL
    responsibilities and helped Connor Bedard shoulder the team’s offensive load down the
    stretch posting eight points in the final seven games of the season, then went on to lead
    team USA to a gold medal at the 2025 IIHF World Championship with a team-leading
    six goals and six assists in 10 games.


    Frank’s contract perfectly encapsulates the confusion, questions and
    celebrations that are now commonplace during the new wild west era of re-signing
    players when the NHL’s salary cap is moving up quickly after years of stagnation and a
    Covid-induced freeze.


    These feelings are exacerbated when teams sign unproven elite prospects out of
    their entry level contracts in the hope they will one day become the next superstars of
    the league. Logan Stankoven, Luke Hughes and Lane Hutson, just to name a few, were
    among contracts that were signed and followed by mixed emotions throughout the
    league about how underpaid or overpaid the players will now become. As GMs fear a

    rapid salary appreciation, they are signing players to large deals in the hope that
    eventually they will look like bargains.
    Which finally leads us to re-signing Connar Bedard. Over the Summer, a
    common consensus was that Connor will sign for somewhere around $10.5 AAV when
    factoring in percent-of-cap calculations and compared to similar forwards that signed in
    the past such as Jack Hughes.


    Then several things happened.


    Connor Bedard decided to bet on himself this year and earn a big contract after a
    re-worked Summer training routine that returned him to a player resembling his rookie
    self, when he was fast and explosive. Not an uncommon plan for elite prospects, if not
    for the fact that Frank Nazar decided to take the opposite route and sign for $6.59
    million AAV this Summer while at the same time starting to look like a more complete
    player than Connor Bedard himself, which would have been unthinkable just 12 months
    ago when he didn’t make the opening night roster.


    Nazar had an extremely impressive pre-season, netting four goals and adding an
    assist for a total of five points, while Connor Bedard ended the exhibition calendar with
    one goal and an assist for two points. As of this writing, through four regular season
    games, Frank Nazar is the team’s leading scorer with five points, while Bedard sits with
    three. Frank’s defensive game is also slightly more advanced than Bedard’s and he
    often plays on the penalty kill.

    Therefore, while Connor Bedard will still most likely end up being the team’s
    highest paid player when he eventually signs with the team, him being the first overall
    pick, the face of the franchise and still arguably with one of the highest ceilings in the
    league among young players, Frank Nazar’s performances and what starts to look like a
    team-friendly contract opens up a number of interesting questions.


    If Connor Bedard bet on himself to earn a contract well north of $10 million AAV,
    what happens if Frank Nazar outperforms him this year? Will it matter? Should it
    matter? Will Kyle Davidson use Frank Nazar’s contract and performances to negotiate
    with Connor Bedard’s representatives? Can he justify giving Connor a contract worth
    almost double against the player that just outperformed him over 82 games?
    Connor Bedard surely put himself in an interesting position.


    It would be unthinkable for Connor Bedard, a Calder Trophy winner, and his
    team’s leading scorer for two years in a row as an 18 and 19-year-old to sign for less

    than $10 million AAV, especially when players like Luke Hughes and Lane Hutson
    recently inked deals close to that number.


    Furthermore, every player’s situation is different and there are other intangibles
    that boost a player’s value such as name recognition throughout the league and in
    Canada, jersey sales and marketing potential. Also, as a first line center, Connor is
    often faced with the opposing team’s best centers, which influences his point production
    while Frank can benefit from slightly easier matchups.


    At the end of the day, no matter what happens, the Blackhawks are better off
    having two elite prospects that seem to be trending into becoming the next NHL
    superstars. They have recently become off-ice friends as well, attending Bears and
    Cubs games together. Their on-ice competition will make them better as players and
    make the team better moving forward.


    Whatever contract Connor ends up signing, it should not cause any problems in
    the dressing room or friction with Frank. However, it will be interesting to watch these
    two future franchise cornerstones over the course of the season.