It’s that time again, Blackhawks fans! As the NHL trudges through the dog days of August, there’s precious little in terms of important news to discuss. While the game’s top players continue to rest, recuperate, and train for the upcoming season, all eyes are now on the continued development of each team’s prospect pool. Chicago has developed its pipeline as well as anyone over the past few seasons and are set to reap the benefits soon.
Earlier today, we continued our journey inside the top 20, featuring a list of players who are all at various stages in their progressions toward the NHL. Now, we’re taking a look at some of the best Chicago’s pipeline has to offer. We may not see these players with the Blackhawks this season, but they play a huge role in the team’s long-term championship plans.
15. Sacha Boisvert (age 18)
We closed out the previous section of the list with Marek Vanacker, so it’s time to include the player who was taken nine picks earlier. Boisvert, Chicago’s 18th overall pick this summer, is a big center who put up 68 points in 61 games last season in the USHL. Now, he’ll take his all-around game to North Dakota this fall before potentially turning pro in 2025 or 2026. When he does, he’ll be a great option down the middle and will hopefully be able to contribute at a high level on the second or third line – perhaps replacing Jason Dickinson when his time in Chicago is over.
14. Cole Guttman (age 25)
A prospect’s proximity to the NHL is a big factor in ranking them within a system, and Guttman is as close as anyone for Chicago. He’s 25 years old and isn’t really considered a prospect, but the Blackhawks still have high hopes for him. “Goal Guttman” made good on that faith last season with 40 points in 39 games with Rockford while also spending 27 games with the big club. Guttman will be a primary focus for the IceHogs this fall and will be one of the first names called up if Chicago has to go to the AHL well again.
13. Nolan Allan (age 21)
The left-handed defenseman fits the profile of a Blackhawks blueliner, as his traditional defensive game emulates that of NHL talents like Alex Vlasic and Wyatt Kaiser. Allan doesn’t have a ton of superstar upside, but he’ll return to Rockford this fall, spending time on the top line as a defenseman who can play both sides. If he can continue his strong AHL play, he’ll apply pressure to the bottom pairing in Chicago – if they stumble, he’ll be right there to take their spot.
12. Ryan Greene (age 20)
Now 20 years old, it wouldn’t have been a surprise if Greene had turned pro and spent the upcoming season with the IceHogs. However, with everything we’ve heard about a packed house of talent in Rockford, the center’s ceiling may be higher at Boston University, where he’ll return after being blocked by only Macklin Celebrini last year. Celebrini’s production didn’t stop Greene from having an excellent season there, as he put his 200-foot game on display with 36 points in 40 games. A second-round pick in 2022, Greene has already beaten expectations and many people around the Blackhawks see him as an eventual top-six option in Chicago.
11. Gavin Hayes (age 20)
Hayes couldn’t have done much more in his third and final season in the OHL, scoring a total of 92 points between two teams. The winger, who was drafted in the third round in 2022, will now take his deadly scoring ability to the IceHogs, where he projects as a huge producer once again. There are still a few aspects of his game that need fleshed out, like his skating and physicality, but if he can continue to improve at this rate, he’ll be one of the Blackhawks’ most prized possessions and could be in the NHL soon.
