Since general manager Kyle Davidson took over his current role in 2021, the pride of the Blackhawks has been the prospect pool. The NHL team itself hasn’t enjoyed much success due to a scorched-earth rebuild, but that same rebuild generated one of the best pipelines in the league. With the hockey season for every league soon coming to a close, a number of Blackhawks prospects are enjoying unprecedented success.
OHL Coaches Poll
Last week, the results of the Ontario Hockey League’s coaches poll came in, and two Blackhawks finished in the top three players in specific categories across the league. Brantford Bulldogs forward Nick Lardis, who I’ve touched on plenty in the past few weeks, ranked second in the Eastern Conference in the “Most Dangerous In Goal Area” category. Perhaps more impressively, Lardis’s last regular-season game was in mid-January, so he was certainly one of the most lethal scorers in the league.
Kingston Frontenacs captain Paul Ludwinski picked up the other honor, ranking second in the Eastern Conference in the “Best Skater” category. The recognition fits well with the strategy Chicago is attempting to build around, with fast skaters who are also proficient scorers. The Blackhawks’ 2022 second-round pick has developed into a lethal forward and an even better leader.
Frozen Four
The Blackhawks’ collegiate prospects have also found impressive success. When the NCAA Frozen Four commences Thursday, three members of Chicago’s pipeline will be hitting the ice. Boston University’s Ryan Greene, Denver’s Aidan Thompson, and Michigan’s Frank Nazar will all be looking to play an integral role in a championship run for their respective teams.
AHL Playoffs
While the Blackhawks lack top-tier talent at the NHL level at the moment, the professional ranks are at least impressively deep. The AHL-affiliate IceHogs clinched a trip to the Calder Cup Playoffs last week and are just a few wins from locking up their division’s third seed, which would eliminate them from having to play in a first-round game reserved for the fourth and fifth seeds. It’s a great chance for first-year pros like Ethan Del Mastro and Drew Commesso to get valuable postseason experience before they head to Chicago over the next few years.
While the Blackhawks haven’t found much NHL success, the impressive accolades of several of their prospects are a great accomplishment for the front office. The foundation is being built for Chicago to return to serious playoff contention, and those impact players will be donning Blackhawks sweaters in no time.
