Last summer, all eyes in the Blackhawks’ prospect pool were on the college ranks. Some of Chicago’s most prized picks, like Frank Nazar and Landon Slaggert, were gearing up for what proved to be their final seasons at the NCAA level and faced massive expectations in terms of their development and production.
This fall, a total of ten Blackhawks prospects from the past four drafts will be looking to improve on the ice at the collegiate level. From a pair of defensemen finishing out their careers at Providence to a dynamic duo at Minnesota, high-level prospects are all over the ranks in Chicago. Even with all the talent at the collegiate level, a few Blackhawks prospects will be especially interesting to keep an eye on this season.
Oliver Moore
In my prospect rankings this past week, I dubbed Moore the most exciting player to watch in the Blackhawks’ entire system. After a year where he tallied 33 points in 39 points, he’ll return to the University of Minnesota with huge expectations. The fastest player in college hockey could be the top-line center of a supremely talented squad, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he signs and turns pro at the end of that season. There’s been plenty of talk this summer about Moore learning to use his speed to his advantage, and it’ll be an intriguing and thrilling season if he’s able to do so.
Adam Gajan
As he heads to Minnesota-Duluth for his first career season, Gajan’s campaign will tell us a ton about Chicago’s long-term potential as a team. He was drafted higher than any other goaltender in 2023 and figures to be the permanent answer between the pipes for the Blackhawks. However, his development hit a minor road bump during last year’s USHL campaign that saw him put together a save percentage of .893. Will Gajan be able to fulfill expectations in a tough NCHC conference? That’s the biggest question in all of college hockey when it comes to Chicago.
Ryan Greene
It was somewhat surprising when Greene announced he would be returning to Boston University for a third season, but it’s great news for his development and long-term upside. With Macklin Celebrini now out of the picture, Greene (who was named captain) is expecting a huge season as the Terriers’ top-line center. His game has massive potential, and he’ll have every opportunity to put his skills on display as “the man” before likely turning pro at the end of the season.
