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Thanks for your comment, really appreciate your input. What stands out with Bedard is how quickly he’s learning to adjust his game. He’s already talked about fine-tuning his shot setup and managing his stick so those one-timer chances don’t get wasted. That alone could make a big difference in his goal totals this season.
Nazar is another key piece — if he keeps improving his finishing, the Hawks will finally have more than one real scoring threat behind Bedard. And with Vlasic learning how to handle the grind of a full NHL year, you can see the young guys starting to understand what it takes to sustain their game.
It’s exciting for fans because these players are being more open about their growth, and it really feels like we get to grow with them as this rebuild moves forward.
Thanks for your comment @Assman22
Exactly — the added bulk is only going to help him handle NHL contact, and if he keeps that elite speed, watch out. He doesn’t need to suddenly become a hitter like Hyman, just being harder to knock off the puck will make a huge difference. And yes, KK could definitely use a page from that playbook! ????
Absolutely agree — at some point they have to give Bedard more support. I do think Davidson will add to the top six next summer, because he knows Bedard can’t carry the load forever.
For now, Davidson chose the patient route, giving prospects the chance to grow into bigger roles. Time will tell if that was the right call, but the expectation has to be that reinforcements are coming.
Thanks for your comment!
Thanks for your comment! I agree — the long grind is going to test the young guys, especially with a compressed schedule and more back-to-backs. Adding a veteran on defense would have made sense, but at least this way the prospects will get real experience that pays off later.
There will be ups and downs, but points aside, the big win this season is seeing how players like Levshunov, Rinzel, Nazar, and Moore adapt to the pace and physical wear of a full year. That’s what will shape the Hawks’ future.
Thanks for your comment! You’re right — once Sorensen came in and Jones moved on, the system changed. The goals against actually increased because the defensemen were given more freedom, and the Blackhawks paid the price on the back end. But the trade-off was more puck possession and more offensive opportunities, which is a step forward for the rebuild.
At 5-on-5, puck possession still needs to improve next season. If Nazar buried more of his chances, he could’ve easily added 5+ goals, and that’ll be key for his development.
I also agree about speed — a quick transition game with sharp quick-ups makes a team harder to play against. The Devils are a great example of that style. I’m curious to see how Bashill puts his system in place and balances offense with defense this season.
Thanks for your comment and solid input. I don’t really disagree with your take on Lardis. Like a lot of players coming out of the CHL, the jump to the AHL takes time — the speed, the physical grind, and playing against grown men is a big adjustment. He’s going to have to figure it out if he wants to stick. Until he proves he can handle that part of the game, he’ll have that “target on his back,” like you said.
As for Korchinski, I see your point. Defensemen take longer to develop, and maybe the Hawks rushed him by putting him in the NHL at 19. Another year in junior or more time in Rockford could have helped. He reminds me a bit of Cole Sillinger in Columbus — strong rookie year, but struggled badly as a sophomore and ended up in the AHL. That’s the risk when you keep a young guy in the NHL too early. With Korchinski, the key is improving his physical play and tightening up his defensive-zone coverage. Patience is needed here.
On Arty, I lean the other way from you. The way Davidson approached the summer — no big UFA signings, no splash trades — shows he wants his young core to get real NHL minutes. That’s why I believe Arty will be on the roster. And honestly, if you remove both Korchinski and Arty like you suggest, the blue line looks pretty thin: Vlasic, Murphy, Rinzel, Crevier, Kaiser, Nolan, and Del Mastro. Training camp will sort it out, but my gut says at least one, if not both, of KK and Arty will be in the top seven defensemen to start the year.
Thanks for your comment. I really like how you compared Korchinski to Forsling — that’s a smart way to look at it.
Maybe the Blackhawks rushed him a bit by keeping him in the NHL at 19 instead of giving him one more year in the WHL. Defensemen usually take longer to develop, and whether you’re drafted 7th overall or 23rd, the process isn’t a straight line. Prospects go through ups and downs before they figure it out.
When Korchinski was drafted in 2022, the scouting reports were clear: excellent skater, strong on offense, but his defensive play needed work. He put up 65 points in 67 games that year, which showed his talent. In his rookie NHL season, 15 points wasn’t bad, but his defensive struggles stood out. On top of that, he still needs to play with more physicality and win more one-on-one battles.
He actually reminds me a lot of Justin Barron — flashes of skill, but inconsistencies because of the lack of physical edge. That’s why I wouldn’t trade Korchinski at all. Give him two more years inside the Blackhawks system, let him grow into his game, and then we’ll know what he really is.
You’ll never annoy me — I love talking hockey! I like the way you compared Greene to Tyler Motte, that’s a really good take. On top of that, Greene brings leadership — he was captain at BU last season — and now he’s a player to watch with the IceHogs. He plays a solid 200-foot game and, if he develops properly, I see him becoming a reliable 4th-line NHL player.
This is an awesome idea! I’ll do my best to join you and the others — the more conversations, the more fun it gets. Thanks for the kind words… and Go Blackhawks Go!
I believe this is your first comment, so welcome to the Hockey Hot Stove family! Thanks for jumping in.
About Korchinski — I actually have him slotted behind Rinzel and Levshunov, but ahead of Del Maestro and Allan. For me, that feels like the right spot right now.
On Vanacker, you’re absolutely right. With a full off-season of training instead of rehabbing, he’s definitely a prospect to watch. Don’t be surprised if he climbs even higher on the pipeline list this year.
I think Ellis and I are higher on Lardis than most — we’ve got him at 7 and 6. He had a really strong season last year, and for me he’s definitely a prospect to keep an eye on heading into this season. Appreciate your comment today!
Thanks for your input again! What I really like about the Blackhawks’ rebuild is how Davidson focused on building a strong defensive core first. On top of that, their second- and third-round picks over the last three NHL drafts have been very smart — you can see the depth starting to take shape.
This season, I’ll be providing weekly coverage every Monday with a full recap of the Blackhawks. That will include updates on the NHL roster, the IceHogs, plus prospects in the NCAA, CHL, and Europe. I’ll also be naming the 3 Stars of the Week in each category, so Blackhawks fans can follow everything happening across the entire Chicago hockey system.
Thanks for the comment! You’re right — the toughest part is behind us. Now, every season feels more exciting as new prospects join the roster. By next year, I expect we’ll see at least one or two fresh faces make the jump.
What really stands out about this rebuild is that the Hawks finally have options. With so many assets, Davidson can always move pieces to target a specific player down the road. If the team keeps improving in the standings while developing the young core, that’s already a successful season in my book.
The goal should still be to land one more top-5 pick in 2026. After that, Davidson can start really building out the roster. With five veterans hitting free agency at the end of this year, there’s a good chance to pick up more assets at the deadline. And next summer’s UFA class looks strong enough to add one or two important pieces.
It all comes down to patience. The Blackhawks are on the right path, but it’s going to take at least two more years before this team is truly ready to take off.
@BetweenTheDots, excellent comment my friend and thank you! You gave a really good breakdown of the Hawks’ prospects, and I agree with many of your points.
I’ve watched a lot of Nick Lardis, and I also feel he’s underrated by some prospect analysts like Pronman. His speed and compete level stand out, and I think Rockford will be an important test for him this year.
And you’re absolutely right about KD — he’s built up a ton of assets, which gives the Hawks flexibility to make the right moves at the right time. That’s how you sustain success and keep the pipeline strong.
Enjoy your weekend, my friend — always appreciate your thoughtful comments!
Honestly, I’m not sure what happened there — it’s out of my control. The good thing is that I still get all the comments by email, which allows me to read and reply even if they don’t show up under the thread. I couldn’t track your post down directly, so I wanted to make sure to respond here instead.
I apologize for the mix-up and hope it doesn’t happen again. Please know that I truly value your long, thoughtful comments — they add a lot to the discussion, and I really appreciate the time you put into them.
