2025-26 Chicago Blackhawks Top Prospects

Scott Wheeler
The Athletic
Apr. 8th, 2026
Tracey Myers
NHL.com
Aug. 5th, 2025
Puneet Sharma
Dobber Prospects
July 31st, 2025
Steven Ellis
Daily Faceoff
July 14th, 2025
1 Anton Frondell (LW/C) Artyom Levshunov (D)  Sam Rinzel Sam Rinzel (RHD)
2 Roman Kantserov (F) Anton Frondell (F)  Artyom Levshunov Artyom Levshunov (RHD)
3 Sam Rinzel (RHD) Sam Rinzel (D)  Anton Fondell Anton Frondell (C)
4 Nick Lardis (RW/LW) Oliver Moore (F)  Oliver Moore Oliver Moore (C/LW)
5 Vaclav Nestrasil (RW) Sacha Boisvert (F)  Kevin Korchinski Sacha Boisvert (C)
6 Oliver Moore (C)  Sacha Boisvert Marek Vanacker (LW)
7 Kevin Korchinski (LHD)  Nick Lardis Nick Lardis (RW)
8 Sacha Boisvert (C)  Marek Vanacker Roman Kantserov (RW)
9 Marek Vanacker (LW)  Roman Kantserov Ethan Del Mastro (LHD)
10 Mason West (C)  Ethan Del Mastro Colton Dach (C)

** Different sites can use different criteria for determining who is still a prospect. Also, for Dobber Prospect lists they take a fantasy hockey approach – prospects whose current trajectory projects them making the most positive fantasy impact at the time that they reach the NHL.

Anton Frondell – He’s a multi-faceted goal scorer with above-average hands, strong net-front presence, deflections, and backdoor tap-ins, plus a heavy, accurate wrist shot and reliable catch-and-release. His hockey IQ is high with or without the puck, he delivers smart passes, and he’s a real asset on the power play. He’s already set to make his NHL debut with Chicago in spring 2026, showing how quickly he’s advanced.

Sam Rinzel – Rinzel is a 6’4″, smooth-skating offensive blueliner with a projectable frame and strong foundation for a top-four NHL defenseman. Scouts view him as a “toolsy defensive prospect” with good size and mobility, but he’s still a long-term project timeline-wise (3–4 years to the NHL). His shot mechanics are elite: flared release, synced weight transfer, and heavy downforce giving his slapper real danger.

Roman Kantserov – Kantserov is a high-octane offensive facilitator who excels at finding space and creating chances in the offensive zone. He’s extremely raw but has developed into a promising middle-six playmaker and could even contend for a first-line winger role alongside Connor Bedard. In 2025–26, he led the KHL in goals with 36 in 63 games, becoming the first under-age player to do so, and has emerged as one of Chicago’s top prospects.

Oliver Moore – He has good hands, solid playmaking chops, and a high compete level that should make him a reliable defensive player. His edgework is NHL-elite, he evades pressure extremely well, and he’s capable of rapid acceleration from a stop to full speed. The main question is whether his processing speed and puck skills can catch up to his feet; his offensive touch may be more secondary scorer than dazzler.

Nick Lardis – Lardis is a pure goal-scoring, high-release winger with elite shot and finishing, but his NHL future hinges on adding strength, improving defensive engagement, and becoming more physically competitive.

2025 Chicago Blackhawks Draft Picks

Rd.  # Player Pos. Team Ht. Wt.
1 3 Anton Frondell C/LW Djurgardens IF J20 (J20 Nationell) 6′ 2″ 204
1 25 Vaclav Nestrasil RW Muskegon (USHL) 6′ 6″ 185
1 29 Mason West C Edina HS (MIN) 6′ 7″ 218
3 66 Nathan Behm RW Kamloops (WHL) 6′ 2″ 202
4 98 Julius Sumpf C Moncton (QMJHL) 6′ 2″ 190
4 107 Parker Holmes LW Brantford (OHL) 6′ 4″ 222
6 162 Ashton Cumby D Seattle (WHL) 6′ 5″ 216
7 194 Ilya Kanarsky G Akm Tula Jr. (RUS-Jr.) 6′ 3″ 180

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2025-26 Critical Dates

Apr. 16: Regular Season Ends
Apr. 18: Stanley Cup Playoffs begin
May 5th?: 2026 NHL Draft Lottery
June 21: Last possible day for 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs
June 26-27: 2026 NHL Draft
July 1: Free agency begins (12 p.m. ET)