B+<\/a><\/p>\nPlayer Ranking<\/p>\n
1. Connor Bedard, C<\/p>\n
July 17, 2005 | 5-foot-10 | 185 pounds | Shoots right<\/p>\n
Drafted: No. 1 in 2023
Tier: Elite NHL player<\/p>\n
Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: Elite
Hockey sense: High-end
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: High-end<\/p>\n
Analysis: Bedard\u2019s second NHL season was a bit more challenging than his rookie year, but he was still a top player for Chicago and one of the best young players in the league. 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 one-on-one. He makes a ton of highly creative plays through opponents and to teammates. He\u2019s a great passer who makes unique plays consistently. He\u2019s a lethal mid-range shooter who can project to be a major goal scorer in the NHL. He has the ability to terrorize defenses on the power play with multiple ways he can beat them. Bedard is a small center, and isn\u2019t an elite speedster for a small guy, but he moves well and is very elusive in tight areas. He competes hard and doesn\u2019t get pushed around. There\u2019s a possibility he has to get pushed to the wing due to these slight limitations, but he can play a competent center. He projects as a player who will sit at the top of the scoring leaderboards in the league.<\/p>\n
2. Artyom Levshunov, D<\/p>\n
Oct. 28, 2005 | 6-foot-2 | 209 pounds | Shoots right<\/p>\n
Drafted: No. 2 in 2024
Tier: Bubble NHL All-Star and top of the lineup player<\/p>\n
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average<\/p>\n
Analysis: Levshunov\u2019s first pro season was a bit bumpy to start. After he got acclimated, his game took off a few months in, including a strong stint in the NHL in the spring for Chicago. Levshunov is extremely skilled and creative, both as a puck-handler and passer. He has the hands of a top offensive defenseman and looks very comfortable with the puck, rarely looking under duress even in tight areas. 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\u2019t stand out as much, particularly because he tries to attack so much, but he can make stops due to his athleticism. He has so much talent and poise that he could still be a legit top pair\/PP1 defenseman even if his defensive play is mediocre.<\/p>\n
3. Anton Frondell, C<\/p>\n
May 7, 2007 | 6-foot-1 | 205 pounds | Shoots left<\/p>\n
Drafted: No. 3 in 2025
Tier: Top of the lineup player<\/p>\n
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: High-end<\/p>\n
Analysis: Frondell\u2019s season started off slow, in part due to injury, but he was very good versus men in the Allsvenskan in the second half of the season. Frondell has a ton of skill and a real smooth element when he\u2019s around the puck. He makes difficult plays with consistency and can do so on the move. Frondell skates well and competes hard, often outmuscling others bigger than him. Despite his average size, he has a translatable style of play to the NHL that appeals to scouts. Frondell is a good playmaker, but he\u2019s also a very dangerous shooter with a bullet shot that projects to beat NHL goalies from range. He\u2019s not a dynamic offensive player, though, and had a few too many quiet games at the international level this season. He has the potential to be a very good all-around top-six center even if he often played wing last season.<\/p>\n
4. Frank Nazar, C<\/p>\n
Jan. 14, 2004 | 5-foot-10 | 190 pounds | Shoots right<\/p>\n
Drafted: No. 13 in 2022
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup<\/p>\n
Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: High-end
Shot: Above NHL average<\/p>\n
Analysis: Nazar\u2019s first pro season went about as well as you could have hoped for. He was excellent in the AHL, being one of the best players in that league in the first half. He was called up to Chicago, where he was solid in the NHL, and then was a critical part of Team USA winning gold at the World Championships. Nazar has a very likable style of play. He\u2019s full of speed and energy. He has a high skill level and creates offense, but does so in a direct, translatable way to the NHL. I don\u2019t think he\u2019s the most creative small forward you will ever see, but he can make high-skill dekes and passes and do so with pace. He projects as a second-line center.<\/p>\n
5. Kevin Korchinski, D<\/p>\n
June 21, 2004 | 6-foot-1 | 185 pounds | Shoots left<\/p>\n
Drafted: No. 7 in 2022
Tier: Middle of the lineup player<\/p>\n
Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: Below NHL average<\/p>\n
Analysis: Korchinski was solid in the AHL this season, although I\u2019m sure Chicago fans had slightly higher expectations for a player who was in the NHL all of last season. Korchinski is a wonderful skater, with clear NHL foot speed and edge work. He\u2019s quite skilled and creative with the puck, sees the ice well and creates a lot of offense at an NHL tempo. I wouldn\u2019t call him a high-end passer, and he creates more with his feet than his sense. Despite his skating, his defensive play is a question mark, mostly due to a lack of physicality in his game. He\u2019s so talented overall that I still see a top-four defenseman in the NHL.<\/p>\n
6. Sam Rinzel, D<\/p>\n
June 25, 2004 | 6-foot-4 | 190 pounds | Shoots right<\/p>\n
Drafted: No. 25 in 2022
Tier: Middle of the lineup player<\/p>\n
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average<\/p>\n
Analysis: Rinzel was the best defenseman in the Big Ten this season and impressed briefly in the NHL upon signing with Chicago. Rinzel\u2019s tools are obvious as a huge right-shot defenseman who can skate and has legit offensive skills. He\u2019s not a high-end playmaker, but he\u2019s creative with the puck and makes plays from both ends of the rink as a passer. Rinzel\u2019s defending has progressed, adding more bite and overall being steadier. His game is still more offensively tilted, though, in terms of skill and transition being the main drivers of his value. He projects as a top-four defenseman in the NHL.<\/p>\n
7. Sacha Boisvert, C<\/p>\n
March 17, 2006 | 6-foot-2 | 183 pounds | Shoots left<\/p>\n
Drafted: No. 18 in 2024
Tier: Middle of the lineup player<\/p>\n
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average<\/p>\n
Analysis: Boisvert was one of the best freshmen in the NCHC. He\u2019s a big body center who checks a lot of boxes for the NHL. He skates like an NHL forward, and with a high skill level, he\u2019s able to create a lot of controlled entries. Boisvert has a great shot and is a threat to score from the dots. He sees the ice well, although his vision isn\u2019t a true plus trait in his game. Off the puck, he\u2019s decent, although he plays on the perimeter a bit too much. Boisvert won\u2019t land on highlight reels, but he could be a third-line forward, potentially down the middle.<\/p>\n
8. Oliver Moore, C<\/p>\n
Jan. 22, 2005 | 5-foot-11 | 194 pounds | Shoots left<\/p>\n
Drafted: No. 19 in 2023
Tier: Middle of the lineup player<\/p>\n
Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average<\/p>\n
Analysis: Moore was an important player on a top Minnesota team and won his second straight World Junior gold medal. He\u2019s an exceptional skater. Moore\u2019s edge work is elite, and he generates a ton of power from each stride. He isn\u2019t overly physical, but he works hard, gets to the net, can PK and projects as a good two-way NHL forward. The question about Moore will be exactly how much offense he\u2019ll have. He has good skills, but he doesn\u2019t see the ice at a high level and isn\u2019t a natural finisher. The hope is that he has so much pace and possession in his game that he could be a steady middle-six forward\/third-line center.<\/p>\n
9. Mason West, C<\/p>\n
Aug. 3, 2007 | 6-foot-6 | 218 pounds | Shoots right<\/p>\n
Drafted: No. 29 in 2025
Tier: Middle of the lineup player<\/p>\n
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average<\/p>\n
Analysis: West is a very interesting prospect. He\u2019s huge at 6-foot-6 and quite athletic in how easily he gets around the ice. That athleticism is also why he is being recruited as a D1 football player. He\u2019s a better hockey prospect than football prospect, but he\u2019s been indecisive about which sport he prefers. On the ice, you see the talent. The speed and skill for his size are very unique. He creates a lot of controlled entries due to that combination. West\u2019s compete is average, though, as well as his playmaking. He started off the season slow, but was very good in the big games in Minnesota\u2019s high school league and in the USHL this spring. He has middle-six forward potential if the offense clicks at higher levels.<\/p>\n
10. Colton Dach, C<\/p>\n
Jan. 4, 2003 | 6-foot-4 | 196 pounds | Shoots left<\/p>\n
Drafted: No. 62 in 2021
Tier: Middle of the lineup player<\/p>\n
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average<\/p>\n
Analysis: Dach was very good in the AHL as a second-year pro, earning regular ice time with Chicago in the second half of the season. Nothing about Dach\u2019s game will blow you away, but he has a lot of positive traits. He\u2019s a tall forward who skates well for a big man. He has good hands and can make plays at quick tempos. He sees the ice well and projects to have secondary offense in the NHL. Dach isn\u2019t going to run guys over, but he isn\u2019t shy from using his big body, and in this season especially he showed more of a physical edge in his play. He projects as a middle-six winger.<\/p>\n
11. Roman Kantserov, RW<\/p>\n
Sept. 20, 2004 | 5-foot-9 | 176 pounds | Shoots left<\/p>\n
Drafted: No. 44 in 2023
Tier: Middle of the lineup player<\/p>\n
Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average<\/p>\n
Analysis: Kantserov had a great year in the KHL as a top scorer for Magnitogorsk while being one of their youngest players. Kantserov isn\u2019t that big, but everything else about his game is a plus. He\u2019s a very quick skater with high-end skills and vision who projects to be able to create offense at the NHL level. He gives a good effort, creates in hard areas and is responsible at both ends of the ice. He has the tools to score and make plays versus men and will earn a coach\u2019s trust. He projects as a middle-six winger.<\/p>\n
12. Nolan Allan, D<\/p>\n
April 28, 2003 | 6-foot-2 | 194 pounds | Shoots left<\/p>\n
Drafted: No. 32 in 2021
Tier: Projected to play NHL games<\/p>\n
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average<\/p>\n
Analysis: Allan got plenty of time with Chicago this season, where he was just OK. He played big minutes for Rockford when he was sent down to the AHL in the second half. Allan is a very good defender who breaks up a lot of plays. He\u2019s big, skates well and is quite physical. He has all the traits to make NHL stops, kill penalties and be a hard-to-play-against type. His puck play is the major question. I\u2019ve seen worse hockey sense and skill on his player type, and I think Allan can make a sufficient enough first pass to be a third-pair defender.<\/p>\n
13. Ryan Greene, C<\/p>\n
Oct. 21, 2003 | 6-foot-2 | 192 pounds | Shoots right<\/p>\n
Drafted: No. 57 in 2022
Tier: Projected to play NHL games<\/p>\n
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average<\/p>\n
Analysis: Greene was an important part of a top BU team, playing big minutes for them on both special teams. He\u2019s not a spectacular player in any regard, but Greene does a lot of things well. He\u2019s a decent-sized right-shot center who skates and handles the puck like an NHL player. He\u2019s not a premier playmaker by any means, but he\u2019s creative and makes good decisions with the puck. Greene is steady defensively and can kill penalties. He has a decent shot, but doesn\u2019t score many goals in part because he plays too much on the perimeter. He projects as a bottom-six forward.<\/p>\n
14. Marek Vanacker, LW<\/p>\n
April 12, 2006 | 6-foot-1 | 170 pounds | Shoots left<\/p>\n
Drafted: No. 27 in 2024
Tier: Projected to play NHL games<\/p>\n
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average<\/p>\n
Analysis: Vanacker missed the first half of the season due to injury, but when he came back, he was an important part of a top OHL team in Brantford. He\u2019s a strong-skating winger with very good hands. He can beat defenders often off the rush and creates a lot of controlled entries. Vanacker is a decent-sized forward who works hard, has an edge in his play, wins a lot of 50-50 pucks and gets to the net to create offense. He makes plays, but I wouldn\u2019t call him a top-tier playmaker or a true offensive threat. He has the traits of a bottom-six winger in the league.<\/p>\n
15. Vaclav Nestrasil, RW<\/p>\n
April 6, 2007 | 6-foot-5 | 185 pounds | Shoots right<\/p>\n
Drafted: No. 25 in 2025
Tier: Projected to play NHL games<\/p>\n
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average<\/p>\n
Analysis: Nestrasil kept getting better as the season went along, becoming a top player for the eventual USHL champion in Muskegon. His tools and projection for the pro game are highly intriguing. He\u2019s a huge winger who can move quite well for a big man and has some offense in his game. When Nestrasil gets going, he has the foot speed of an NHL player and can create a lot of controlled entries. His first few steps are just OK, though. I\u2019d like to see him use his big body more to get to the net, but Nestrasil has the skill to create in small areas. He competes well, can kill penalties and will be a player that coaches tend to trust. He projects as a bottom-six winger in the NHL.<\/p>\n
Has a chance to play*<\/p>\n
Nick Lardis is the most interesting player in this group. He had a monster 19-year-old season in the OHL, scoring 71 goals. He has a high-end shot and skates well. He\u2019s not that big, and while he competes harder than he did a few years ago, I do wonder if he\u2019s too perimeter for his offense to fully translate up levels. Ethan Del Mastro has already played NHL games. He\u2019s a huge defenseman who competes well and can make a steady first pass, but his feet are a bit heavy.<\/p>\n
Nathan Behm, RW<\/p>\n
April 18, 2007 | 6-foot-2 | 198 pounds | Shoots right | Drafted: No. 66 in 2025<\/p>\n
Stanislav Berezhnoy, G<\/p>\n
June 7, 2003 | 6-foot-4 | 218 pounds| Catches left | Undrafted<\/p>\n
Ethan Del Mastro, D<\/p>\n
Jan. 15, 2003 | 6-foot-4 | 209 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 105 in 2021<\/p>\n
Adam Gajan, G<\/p>\n
May 6, 2004 | 6-foot-3 | 187 pounds | Catches left | Drafted: No. 35 in 2023<\/p>\n
Gavin Hayes, LW<\/p>\n
May 14, 2004 | 6-foot-1 | 176 pounds | Shoots right | Drafted: No. 66 in 2022<\/p>\n
Nick Lardis, LW<\/p>\n
July 8, 2005 | 5-foot-11 | 5-foot-11 | 185 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 67 in 2023<\/p>\n
John Mustard, LW<\/p>\n
Aug. 16, 2006 | 6-foot-1 | 185 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 67 in 2024<\/p>\n
AJ Spellacy, RW<\/p>\n
Feb. 24, 2006 | 6-foot-3 | 205 pounds | Shoots right | Drafted: No. 72 in 2024<\/p>\n
* Listed in alphabetical order<\/p>\n
Player eligibility: All skaters who are 22 years old or younger as of Sept. 15, 2025, regardless of how many NHL games they\u2019ve played, are eligible. Player heights and weights are taken from the NHL.<\/p>\n
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). \u201cAverage\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
Tier definitions: Tiers are meant to show roughly where in an average NHL lineup a player projects to slot in.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
(Illustration: Will Tullos \/ The Athletic. Photo: Michael Reaves\u00a0\/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Chicago\u2019s rebuild is centered around Connor Bedard, who projects as an elite scorer in the NHL. The Blackhawks…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":116488,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[66],"tags":[4824,385,99],"class_list":["post-116487","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nhl","tag-chicago-blackhawks","tag-nhl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116487","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=116487"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116487\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/116488"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=116487"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=116487"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=116487"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}