With the Blackhawks being a team built for the future, the prospect pool is among the best we’ve ever seen. Though the group is headlined by obvious names like Bedard and Kevin Korchinski, GM Kyle Davidson has done a great job acquiring talent at every level. The pipeline to Chicago is a deep one, and there’s serious talent throughout the team’s top 25 prospects and even beyond. With that being said, some young stars will have a better chance to make an impact than others, creating a need for a comprehensive ranking of the top 25 prospects in the Blackhawks’ system, plus a few extras.
Below is Part 4 of the series, which features two young goaltenders and a handful of familiar names. As we continue up the list, these prospects become more capable of quickly making an impact at the NHL level, and while these prospects (with the exception of Soderblom) likely won’t don a Blackhawks sweater this season, the players could easily find themselves part of the Blackhawks’ current youth movement.
15. Arvid Soderblom
If this list were solely based on the opportunity to make an impact, Soderblom would find himself in the top five. He’ll be in the NHL full-time this year, spelling Petr Mrazek as necessary as he hopes to take over the starting job between the pipes. However, he’ll have to show significant improvement from his 15 NHL games last year, where he let 48 goals in, going 2-10-2. Additionally, the long-term goaltender spot in Chicago is far from locked up, as Jaxson Stauber and Drew Commesso will soon be coming for the job.
14. Drew Commesso
My favorite goaltender in the Blackhawks’ system, Commesso is finally set to crack the professional ranks in Rockford this year after three great seasons in the net for Boston University. The former second-round pick of Chicago in 2020 will look to continue to develop as the new primary netminder of the IceHogs and is expected to be a big part of the Blackhawks’ future. The 21-year-old hasn’t finished a season below a .900 save percentage at any level since he was 16 years old, a rate that he hopes to carry into the pros.
13. Aidan Thompson
After an impressive first season at the University of Denver, Thompson has all the tools to be one of the best players at the collegiate level this season. If that’s the case, we could see the 21-year-old turn pro, where he’d offer tremendous versatility and scoring talent. He’s been a lethal scorer throughout his amateur career, and the Blackhawks could use those abilities on their front lines in a few years.
12. Colton Dach
The Blackhawks’ second-round pick in 2021 found himself in the mix for the NHL roster in last year’s preseason but suffered a series of concussions and shoulder injuries that kept him off the ice completely. Once he got back out there, though, Dach was an elite scorer for the Kelowna Rockets and Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. He’s a big body with a lethal shot and faces big expectations in his age-20 season.
11. Ryan Greene
After he was drafted in the second round in 2022, Greene headed to Boston University, where he started immediately as an 18-year-old. He was nearly a point-per-game player for the team and is known best for his premier skating and puck handling. He’s an extremely flashy player, and is also bigger than most Blackhawks centers, giving him a chance to stand out even further. If he can sign and turn pro as early as next season, Greene could be a core piece of the Blackhawks for a long time.
