This ranking is from The Athletic, written by Corey Pronman, and looks at which young players project to have the best NHL careers. It’s not about who scores next week — it’s about who will drive teams for years. For the Chicago Blackhawks, the takeaway is clear: four in the Top-50, two more in the next 50, and five more between 101–175.
That’s the sign of a deep pipeline that can keep feeding the NHL roster. And with another likely top-5 pick in 2026, the Hawks could soon have four elite prospects taken in the top three of the draft in just four years — Connor Bedard, Artyom Levshunov, Anton Frondell, and the 2026 pick. That’s how you build a dynasty presuming the players develop as expected.
Chicago names on the list (rank + draft info)
- #2 Connor Bedard – 2023 1st overall
- #22 Artyom Levshunov – 2024 2nd overall
- #26 Anton Frondell – 2025 3rd overall
- #45 Frank Nazar – 2022 13th overall
- #80 Kevin Korchinski – 2022 7th overall
- #85 Sam Rinzel – 2022 25th overall
- #111 Sacha Boisvert – 2024 18th overall
- #113 Oliver Moore – 2023 19th overall
- #136 Mason West – 2025 29th overall
- #151 Colton Dach – 2021 62nd overall
- #162 Roman Kantserov – 2023 44th overall
What the Blackhawks tiers say
Top-50 = Core pieces: Bedard, Levshunov, Frondell, Nazar.
This is the core. Three straight top-3 picks — Bedard (2023), Levshunov (2024), Frondell (2025) — plus Nazar’s versatility. Add a 2026 top-5 pick, and Chicago’s rebuild is built around four cornerstone pieces.
50–100 = Push to the top-4: Korchinski, Rinzel.
Both are defensemen, with Levshinov and Vlasic already in the mix, this group could round out a balanced top four.
100–175 = Pipeline pressure: Boisvert, Moore, West, Dach, Kantserov.
The depth group — some will push into third- and fourth-line roles, others may fall short, but the volume gives Chicago options. Dach, in particular, faces a prove-it year.
Blackhawks Player snapshots
Connor Bedard — Franchise 1C
- Skating: high-end
- Puck skills: elite
- Hockey sense: elite
- Compete: high-end
- Shot: elite
Projection: Franchise 1C and PP1 driver. Everything runs through him.
Artyom Levshunov — Future top-pair defenseman
- Skating: average
- Puck skills: above average
- Hockey sense: above average
- Compete: average
- Shot: above average
Projection: Top-pair right defenseman. Brings a steady two-way game, and went 2nd overall for a reason.
Anton Frondell — Top-six winger/center forward
- Skating: average
- Puck skills: above average
- Hockey sense: average
- Compete: above average
- Shot: high-end
Projection: Legit top-six forward. Could be in Chicago by 2026–27 after more SHL seasoning.
Frank Nazar — Motor and versatility
- Skating: above average
- Puck skills: above average
- Hockey sense: average
- Compete: high-end
- Shot: above average
Projection: 2C who can slide to wing. Energy, pace, and two-way play make him a future special-teams weapon.
Kevin Korchinski — Needs polish
- Skating: above average
- Puck skills: average
- Hockey sense: above average
- Compete: below average
- Shot: average
Projection: Currently a 3LD/2LD. Still learning the defensive side of the game — decision-making and battle level must improve.
Sam Rinzel — Safe projection
- Skating: average
- Puck skills: average
- Hockey sense: average
- Compete: average
- Shot: above average
Projection: Second-pair defenseman. A steady, safe projection with lower variance than Korchinski.
Sacha Boisvert — Bottom-six potential
- Skating: average
- Puck skills: average
- Hockey sense: average
- Compete: average
- Shot: above average
Projection: 3C/4C. Important year at Boston University to show he can drive pace and hold down a role.
Oliver Moore — Speed weapon
- Skating: above average
- Puck skills: average
- Hockey sense: average
- Compete: average
- Shot: average
Projection: Middle-six winger and PK option. His speed is NHL-ready, but the rest of his game must catch up.
Mason West — Long-term project
- Skating: below average
- Puck skills: average
- Hockey sense: average
- Compete: average
Projection: Depth project. Has the frame and raw talent but is a long runway away from NHL consideration.
Colton Dach — Prove-it year
- Skating: below average
- Puck skills: average
- Hockey sense: average
- Compete: average
- Shot: average
Projection: Bottom-six hopeful. This is a make-or-break year to prove he belongs.
Roman Kantserov — Skill swing
- Skating: above average
- Puck skills: above average
- Hockey sense: average
- Compete: above average
- Shot: above average
Projection: Depth scorer. Talented but undersized — how he handles physical play will decide if he sticks.
Projected future Blackhawks lineup
Top line: Frondell – Bedard – 2026 top-5 pick
Second line: Nazar – [TBD: UFA / TRADE: LW – RW]
Third line: Boisvert – Kantserov – Moore
Fourth line: Nestrasil – West – Vanacker
Extras: Lardis, Pridham Dach Slaggert
Defense:
- Vlasic – Levshunov
- Rinzel – Korchinski
- Kaiser – Crevier
Extras: Del Mastro, Allan
Goalies: Knight, Soderblom
Extra: Commesso Gajan
Development checklist: Young Blackhawks
- Korchinski: defend the rush, body positioning, breakout consistency, gap control, win battle
- Rinzel: add strength and decision making at NHL pace
- Moore: turn speed into finishing power
- Boisvert: faceoffs and reliable two-way play
- Dach: consistency and 200′ feet game to secure NHL spot
- Levshunov: grow PP role while staying reliable defensively
- Bedard: continue two-way development against top matchups
- Nazar: maintain versatility, contribute on both special teams
Bottom line: Blackhawks building a strong nucleus
The Blackhawks aren’t just Bedard. They now have three straight top-3 picks — Bedard, Levshunov, Frondell — and another top-5 coming in 2026. Add in a deep supporting cast, a wave of defensive prospects, and a goalie pipeline, and Chicago looks like a team on the rise.
If development goes right, the Hawks’ future lineup already looks like a playoff core. The rebuild is still ongoing, but the foundation for a contender is in place.
