Chicago Offseason: Time to Let the Kids Lead
The Chicago Blackhawks are heading into Year 3 of the rebuild under GM Kyle Davidson — and this time, it’s all about development. No shortcuts. No quick fixes. Just a clear commitment to giving the young core every chance to grow and take the reins.
Connor Bedard is the face of the franchise, but he’s not alone. Frank Nazar is knocking at the door. Levshunov looks like a future top-pair guy. And the wave of young talent behind them keeps building. With over $18 million in cap space still available, Davidson could make another move before the puck drops — maybe add a veteran winger or take on a bad contract for future picks. But don’t be surprised if he stays patient. This year is all about building from within.
The Blackhawks want to give their young guns real ice time and real responsibility. The focus isn’t wins — it’s progress. The goal is long-term, and the foundation is starting to settle in.
That mindset showed up loud and clear at the 2025 NHL Draft. With three first-round picks, Davidson and his staff made a shift. After loading up on defensemen and smaller skill players the last two years, this time it was all about size and strength up front. Chicago went big — literally — betting on forwards with length, reach, and the kind of physical presence that’s tough to find in today’s game. The message was clear: the Hawks aren’t just building talent… they’re building an identity.
We’ll break down and evaluate every selection of the Blackhawks in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, starting with the two-way goalscorer at third overall.
1st Round, 3rd Overall – Anton Frondell, C (Djurgården, Allsvenskan)
Chicago grabbed Frondell at No. 3 overall, and for good reason. At 6’1″, 198–205 lbs, he’s sturdy, thick through the midsection, and built to compete from day one.
He’s not just size—he’s hockey IQ and composure. He dominated Djurgårdens’ J20 team before stepping into HockeyAllsvenskan and scoring 11 goals and 25 points in 29 games, showing poise against men at just 18. His second-half push proved he can handle pressure and carry pace.
Frondell wins puck battles. He protects the puck with his body, drives into the middle, and finishes with a heavy, accurate wrist or one-timer. He also sees seams well, draws opponents in, and sets up teammates with the kind of vision that makes him dangerous in the dirty areas.
On the defensive side, he doesn’t cheat. He corners pucks, takes away passing lanes, and forces turnovers with smart positioning. He’s always thinking one or two steps ahead.
Here’s the catch: his skating can feel labored early in shifts, and his first two strides need polish—turns are wide, and endurance can fade late in games. And while he makes plays, his creativity in transition feels more “solid pro center” than dynamic playmaker—though that room to grow is part of the bet.
If development goes well, this guy projects as a second-line center with scoring touch and a killer two-way engine. If growth stalls, he should still stick as a top-tier third-line pivot who can play tough minutes and contribute on special teams.
Kyle Davidson didn’t flinch. He stood firm on Frondell as the answer to build around Bedard with size, smarts, and a two-way backbone. If he hits, Hawks might have just found their next steady center.
1st Round, 25th Overall – Václav Nestrašil, RW (Muskegon, USHL)
The Blackhawks used their second first-round pick to grab 6-foot-5, 205-pound Václav Nestrašil out of Muskegon — and this one checks a lot of boxes. Big frame, two-way motor, playoff-tested, and rising fast. He finished the year with 42 points in 61 games and was a key piece in Muskegon’s Clark Cup championship. The coaching staff trusted him in all situations — penalty kill, late-game defense, even big offensive shifts. That says a lot about his maturity and compete level.
He’s not just a straight-line grinder. Nestrašil has skill. He makes smart plays off the wall, has the hands to finish in tight, and even flashed creativity during the playoffs — including a Michigan attempt. He creates chances by using his body and space well, and he knows how to protect the puck under pressure.
What stands out most? His compete. He works every shift. He battles along the boards, finishes checks, and doesn’t take shortcuts. He’s still growing into his frame, but when he plays mean, he’s hard to handle. That power game is coming — and when it does, look out.
Nestrašil is committed to UMass next season, which gives him a strong NCAA path to develop his strength, skating, and offensive timing. He’ll need to keep adding pace to his game and become more consistent shift-to-shift, but the foundation is solid.
If the offense continues to grow, he could become a solid middle-six winger who complements top players with size and smarts. If not, he still profiles as a bottom-six NHL forward who brings physicality, defensive value, and big-game reliability. Either way, this is a player who fits exactly what Chicago is building: fast, tough, responsible hockey.
1st Round, 29th Overall – Mason West, F (Edina High, USHS‑MN)
This was one of the biggest swings of the draft — and Kyle Davidson wasn’t hiding it. At 29th overall, the Hawks went after a 6’6” dual-sport athlete in Mason West, a quarterback-turned-forward who finally committed full-time to hockey. Davidson called it a “grand-slam swing,” and he wasn’t kidding.
West had options. Big-time football programs wanted him under center, but he chose the ice — and that says a lot about where his heart is. The Blackhawks jumped on the opportunity. He’s committed to Michigan State for 2026–27 and will spend this coming year playing both football and hockey one more time.
Here’s what makes him special: for a kid his size, he moves extremely well. His skating is smooth, he’s got soft hands, and his vision — you can tell he used to read defenses on the football field. His awareness, decision-making, and body deception all show up on the ice. He’s raw, but there’s real talent here.
That said, this is a long-term project. West hasn’t leaned into the physical side of the game yet. He’s upright in battles, still figuring out how to use his size to his advantage, and his habits need work. But once football is behind him and he’s focused 100% on hockey, his development should take off.
He’s not going to be NHL-ready for a while — but if the tools come together, you could be looking at a unique power forward with speed, skill, and size that’s hard to find. High risk, high reward — and that’s exactly what late first-round picks are for.
3rd Round, 66th Overall – Nathan Behm, W (Kamloops, WHL)
At 66th overall, the Hawks went straight for skill with right-shot winger Nathan Behm — a creative forward who led the charge offensively in Kamloops. He put up solid numbers, showing great hands, slick puck control, and confidence attacking off the rush. This kid isn’t afraid to make plays through traffic or fire off shots from tough angles — he’s got that scorer’s touch.
Behm is a highlight-reel type. He pulls pucks through defenders, makes quick reads, and has the kind of offensive instincts that are hard to teach. When he’s got the puck, he’s a threat — plain and simple. The Blackhawks didn’t have many natural right-shot wingers with this kind of upside, and Behm brings that toolset.
But he’s not a finished product. Away from the puck, there’s still work to do — especially in the D-zone. His skating is decent but not explosive, and he can coast at times without the puck. He’ll need to tighten up the details and bring more compete on the forecheck and in battles along the wall.
Still, this is a classic third-round bet: a skilled forward who fell a bit on draft day, but has the talent to climb the ladder. If Behm keeps adding pace, gets stronger, and starts driving the play more consistently, he’s got a real shot to crack a bottom six role down the road.
4th Round, 98th Overall – Julius Sumpf, C (Moncton, QMJHL)
The Hawks went with experience at 98th overall, picking up 6’2” center Julius Sumpf — an overager who finally broke through this season in Moncton. He racked up 26 goals and 65 points in 58 games while playing a key role for one of the QMJHL’s top teams. He doesn’t bring highlight-reel flash, but he plays a smart, structured game with some bite and scoring touch.
Sumpf plays the right way — hard on pucks, strong on the boards, and isn’t afraid to shoot when he gets the chance. He’s a meat-and-potatoes center who chips in offense and doesn’t cheat defensively. There’s nothing fancy here, but there’s value in a guy who shows up every shift and does the little things right.
He’s off to Providence College next season, which should help round out his game. If he keeps building his strength and keeps winning those battles in the dirty areas, there’s a path to an NHL fourth-line center who can kill penalties, take key faceoffs, and bring energy in a checking role.
It’s a smart swing in the fourth round — not a home run, but a player who knows who he is and could wear a Hawks jersey down the road if he keeps trending up.
4th Round, 107th Overall – Parker Holmes, LW (Brantford, OHL)
This pick screams what Chicago’s going for — size, grit, and identity. Parker Holmes is a 6’4”, 223-pound winger who plays like a freight train. He didn’t light up the scoreboard — just one point in 21 games — but that’s not why the Hawks drafted him. They’re betting on a hard-nosed, bottom-line role guy who plays with an edge.
Holmes is tough to play against. He finishes checks, stands up for teammates, and doesn’t cheat the game. He missed some time with injuries and didn’t get much ice in Brantford, but when he was out there, he made his presence felt. He skates fine in a straight line for a big man, but his edges and puck skills still need work.
This is a long-term project — no doubt. But if Holmes puts in the work and rounds out the fundamentals, he could one day give the Hawks a dependable fourth-liner who brings energy, physicality, and some old-school snarl.
6th Round, 162nd Overall – Ashton Cumby, LD (Seattle, WHL)
With their sixth-round pick, the Blackhawks added some bite to the blue line, grabbing 6’5”, 215-pound Ashton Cumby out of Seattle. He’s an overager, turns 20 in a couple weeks, and brings exactly what you’d expect from a guy that size — a mean, punishing style that fits the Hawks’ draft identity: big, physical, no-nonsense hockey.
Cumby finished the season with 102 penalty minutes — and that wasn’t by accident. He’s tough, he hits hard, and he’s not shy to answer the bell. He clears the front of the net, finishes his checks, and brings the kind of edge that teams need deeper in the lineup. It’s old-school stuff, and Chicago clearly wants more of it in the system.
But he’s raw. His footwork needs serious work. Right now, he can defend the middle well enough, but he gets burned wide too often and doesn’t have the wheels to recover. His stride lacks pop and agility, and he’ll need time to clean that up. Same goes for his stick discipline and first pass under pressure — both need polish.
Still, there’s a path here. If Cumby can smooth out the mechanics and stay under control, he’s got the frame and the attitude to become a reliable third-pair shutdown guy down the line.
Round 7, 194th overall: Ilya Kanarsky, G (Tula, MHL)
The Hawks wrapped up their 2025 draft class by going to Russia for their lone goalie selection, landing 20-year-old Ilya Kanarsky at 194th overall. Don’t let the round fool you — this was a sneaky-smart pick. Kanarsky posted a .938 save percentage and 2.24 GAA this past season with AKM Tula, finishing with a strong 22–8–1 record. That made it three straight years of elite numbers in the Russian junior ranks.
Kanarsky’s journey has been steady. He posted a .919 SV% on a bottom-feeder squad two years ago, then jumped to .931 the following season after earning a full-time role in the MHL. This year, he stopped nearly 94% of the shots he faced — top five in the league among goalies with 20+ starts.
He’s got solid size at 6’3”, 194 lbs, and shows quick lower-body movement with explosive lateral pushes. But that mobility can be a double-edged sword — at times, he overextends and pulls himself out of position. He’ll need to tighten up his technical game, especially on east-west plays and rebound control.
With Commesso, Soderblom, and Spencer Knight already in the system, the Hawks have time to let Kanarsky stay overseas and develop at his own pace. He’s a long-term project, but there’s real upside here.
Off-Season Moves
Incoming
Andre Burakovsky, Dominic Toninato, Sam Lafferty, Stanislav Berezhnoy
Outgoing
Joe Veleno, Philipp Kurasov, T.J. Brodie, Andreas Athanasiou, Patrick Maroon, Alec Martinez
Re-Signed
Ryan Donato – 4 years, $4M
Louis Crevier – 2 years, $900K
Arvid Soderblom – 2 years, $2.75M
Final Thoughts
Chicago stayed quiet this offseason — and that wasn’t hesitation, it was intention. Kyle Davidson’s done chasing band-aid fixes with aging vets. The message is clear: this rebuild belongs to the kids now.
With Bedard leading the charge and guys like Nazar, Levshunov, and three first-rounders from this year waiting in the wings, Chicago is betting on internal growth. They didn’t just draft talent — they drafted size, edge, and identity. After two years focused on defense and smaller skill guys, Davidson made it clear: it’s time to build a harder, heavier forward group.
That said, this is still a transition year. Bedard will need help. Mistakes will happen. But that’s part of the process. This season isn’t about results — it’s about reps. The wins may not come right away, but the Blackhawks are laying the groundwork for something that lasts.
The foundation is in place. The identity is forming. Now it’s time to let the kids take over.
Good detailed write up on the recent picks. KFC (Kyle From Chicago if you haven’t heard Davidson’s nickname before) is definitely playing the long game. This year will be devoted to giving Nazar, Rinzel, Levshunov, Greene and Moore some NHL ice time. Next year will be more of the same with Lardis, Frondell, Boisvert, and Kantserov (if he comes over from the Mother country) getting their feet wet. Vanacker and Spellacy who have impressed in the World Junior Summer Showcase are in the pipeline too. And I have a feeling that a top 5 2026 pick is coming.
With Bedard that will be a total of 10 (possibly 11 counting the 2026 pick) young forwards vying for positions. Of course, not all will make it due to injuries, lack of development, being traded, etc. I’m sure that’s a reason Davidson chose the players he did in the 2025 draft. He can wait 3-5 years before them arriving on the scene and making a contribution.
Regarding Frondell. Do you see any chance of him converting to wing? He has a great shot and with his defensive capabilities, maybe he can become a stud winger similar to a Hossa.
Thanks so much for your comment and the great overview of the Blackhawks’ future. You really nailed the big picture — KFC (love that nickname!) is definitely playing the long game, and it’s clear that Chicago is building something special through smart, patient drafting.
As for Frondell — yes, I absolutely see a future where he could shift to the wing, especially in a top-6 role. He’s got the shot, the defensive tools, and the work ethic to thrive there. But here’s the twist: while I understand the value Nazar brings as a center, there’s a real concern with size down the middle. Bedard and Nazar both come in under 6 feet — that’s not ideal when you’re going up against some of the big, heavy center matchups across the NHL.
That’s why moving Nazar to the wing and slotting Frondell at center makes a lot of sense. Frondell plays a stronger 200-foot game, has better defensive awareness, and might be more suited for the middle long-term. Either way, it’s a great problem to have — options like this mean the Hawks are trending up. The future in Chicago looks bright, my friend!
Nice article, thanks.
They certainly have a lot of chances to strike it rich.
Thanks so much for reading the article and for your comment! ???? Always great to see people following along — you’re right, the Blackhawks have tons of chances to strike gold over the next few years. It’ll be fun to see which prospects step up and make it count. Appreciate you being part of the journey! ????????
Thanks for your articles Coach Frenchy. It’s refreshing to have someone who can also see KFC’s bigger picture of building from the back end instead of the Toronto media “we have no clue what Chicago is doing” shtick. Will be reading regularly
Thanks so much for your support, my friend! ???? I’ll keep doing my best to deliver solid Hawks content and show the big picture behind what Davidson’s building.
— Coach Frenchy