A good number of Blackhawks’ prospects appeared in the NHL last season, but it will be very competitive in 2024-25 at both forward and defense with addition of veteran UFAs.
The Chicago Blackhawks were a very young rebuilding team last season with some veterans mixed in. Roster spots were left open for prospects to take in training camp and hold all season because the team was thin on talent.
General manager Kyle Davidson addressed that mistake this offseason by signing eights free agents and that route of team-building won’t happen again. Still, the Blackhawks have prospects we can expect to see in the NHL at one point or another next season.
Last Crop of Blackhawks Prospects to Play
With all of the open spots for young players in 2023-24, the Blackhawks saw Connor Bedard, Alex Vlasic, Kevin Korchinski, Wyatt Kaiser, Ethan Del Mastro, Louis Crevier, Isaak Phillips, Frank Nazar, Landon Slaggert, and Cole Guttman all appear in NHL games, whether that be as a regular or for less time.
It is very clear that there will not be that many prospects either make their NHL debuts or turn into regulars this season. The Blackhawks are going to be a good deal better than the team iced in 2023-24 with the new experienced additions that are proven contributors in the NHL.
Davidson said that the young players will have to take spots away from the veterans, not be given them like last season. With all of the previously mentioned young players except Bedard, Vlasic, and Korchinski, the others should still be considered prospects.
The Blackhawks hope to be healthier this season as well, so that along with more established NHL players on the roster, not every one of Kaiser, Del Mastro, Crevier, Phillips, Nazar, Slaggert, and Guttman will appear in a game this season.
Which Prospects Will Appear in 2024-25
The forward group of the Blackhawks is a little more cut and dry and don’t have very many prospects pushing for spots at the moment. Of the signed prospects, Nazar, Slaggert, and Guttman had either memorable or more lengthy showings in the NHL last season.
Nazar is highly regarded and will be in the NHL in a middle-six role at some point. While he should get in some games next season, whenever during the season that may be, he has to be playing in a third line role at the lowest or it makes more sense for him to play top-6 minutes in the AHL. The same can’t be said about Slaggert and Guttman, but they may be seen more as fringe NHL players who can be scratched and slotted in on the fourth line.
There is one more signed prospect that could make his NHL debut this season and it’s Colton Dach. He has progressed well and with a strong season in the AHL, he could get in some games at the end of the season if Rockford isn’t still in it.
Predicting when top prospects playing in college will leave and sign entry-level deals is tough in the summer, but there may be one or two again at the end of the 2024-25 season.
Defense is a bit trickier, but also some potential to have more prospects get in game for the Blackhawks next season. On top of Kaiser, Del Mastro, Crevier, and Phillips, there is now Nolan Allan who’s close to being ready to debut and also newly drafted second overall pick Artyom Levshunov. Allan may have another strong training camp and get some time at the start of the season. If not, the best bet is for him to get a couple games in at the very end. As for Levshunov, he might get a nine game trial run (if that much) before the Blackhawks make a decision.
It’s good that Davidson brought in a lot of experience so that young players/prospects are forced to earn their spot by really showing it and getting better. It should make for better development in the long run and a competitive team for years.
