The Blackhawks' prospect pool is home to a 5 headed monster.
Since the Blackhawks' management turned the page on their previous core of players, General Manager Kyle Davidson and his staff have diligently worked their magic on the draft board. They've chosen players whom they believe will make the team a constant threat for the Stanley Cup shortly.
Leading this youth movement is Connor Bedard, who was selected first overall in the 2023 entry draft. Bedard's sheer skill, hockey IQ, and overall professionalism make him the future face of the NHL, and he has already become the face of the Blackhawks. His talents are off the charts, as demonstrated last year with the Regina Pats when he scored 71 goals in 57 games and amassed 143 points while showcasing his defensive capabilities with a plus-39 rating. He also earned a gold medal for Canada in the U-20 tournament last December.
The three remaining offensive threats in this photo, Lukas Reichel, Oliver Moore, and Frank Nazar, were all selected in the first rounds of their respective entry drafts, all falling within the range of 10 to 20 picks overall.
Reichel, a 21-year-old left-winger, has enormous potential to become a top-six player on the team. Standing at six feet and weighing 170 pounds, with impressive speed and a great shot, Reichel possesses all the ingredients to be a shooting winger who can provide the Blackhawks with the much-needed offence.
Oliver Moore was a player that Davidson highly anticipated would fall into his lap. Davidson even attempted a few trades to move up and select him sooner, fearing that other teams might scoop him up first. Fortunately, that scenario didn't unfold, and he was able to draft Moore 19th overall in this year's draft.
Moore boasts excellent speed, impressive skating ability, and incredible hockey IQ, which will undoubtedly catch the management team's attention. During his time with the USHL national team, he scored 31 goals with 44 assists, accumulating 75 points in 61 games while maintaining a +42 rating.
Frank Nazar was selected in the first round, 13th overall, in the 2022 entry draft. Much like his fellow Blackhawks teammates, Nazar's offensive abilities and attention to detail are off the charts. He will give opponents a tough time as he's capable of playing center and right wing. He also posted impressive statistics, scoring 28 goals and 70 points in 56 games for the USHL team.
On the defensive end, Kevin Korchinski is as close to being NHL-ready as any of the prospects in the system. Having played in the Memorial Cup this year with the Seattle Condors against the Quebec Remparts, he gained valuable experience on how to win. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 185 pounds, the 19-year-old, drafted 7th overall in 2022, is expected to become a mainstay on Chicago's defense.
Lastly, Wyatt Kaiser will prove to the fan base that he belongs in their core group. Standing at six feet and weighing 172 pounds, he excels under pressure. During his time with the University of Minnesota Duluth in the NCAA, he played 35 games, scoring five goals with 18 assists, totalling 23 points and accumulating 48 penalty minutes. It's widely expected that he will be on their roster sooner rather than later.
As the Blackhawks continue to draft and strengthen their pool of talent, I expect them to claim the number one spot within a year or two. With numerous prospects in the pipeline, they have the potential to become playoff contenders and vie for the Stanley Cup within the next few years.
| POLL | ||
Are you happy with the prospect pool so far for the Blackhawks? | ||
| Yes | 92 | 86 % |
| No | 15 | 14 % |
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