As of Christmas Eve, the Blackhawks find themselves in familiar territory: rock bottom of the NHL standings. While there isn't much to look forward to when it comes to watching the games themselves, the Blackhawks again find themselves in an ideal spot to bring in new elite talent that's sorely needed in the prospect pool.
We plan to re-visit the progress of most Blackhawks prospects later in the year but, for now, Connor Bedard still stands alone. There's no one else who can currently keep pace with him in the NHL, or in the prospect pool overall. Frank Nazar stepped his game up to another level in the AHL and earned an NHL call-up, but consistency still plagues some viewings, and his size poses some questions on whether or not his talent will fully translate to the next level. The Blackhawks still need another near guaranteed elite top-six player without any real questions -- either to center the second line or play on Bedard's wing.
The 2025 class is certainly top-heavy, with a relatively large drop off after the top 4 in the eyes of the SCH staff. While it's critical to the future of the rebuild that the Blackhawks pick one of the top prospects, there are still a lot of other great supplemental players in this draft, ones who the Blackhawks still need. Chicago has its own first-round pick in the 2025 draft and also acquired Toronto's in the Jake McCabe/Sam Lafferty trade, so the Blackhawks could have a pair of first-round picks, one likely in the top five and another probably somewhere in the 20s. Below, we've compiled our ranking of first-round talents who the Blackhawks could potentially look to add to the team.
We'll get more in-depth with these prospects as the season progresses and we have a better idea of where the Blackhawks may be drafting. With the World Juniors kicking off this week, though, plenty of the names below will have starring roles in that tournament. So, we're going rapid-fire through our top 20 prospects from the list above to preview some of their talents or biggest questions.
Our tiers are grouped as the following:
Tier 1 - Franchise Players: These guys have the potential to change the outlook of an entire franchise. They are cornerstone pieces that have high likelihoods to be in the top-10 of their position in the NHL in their primes.
Tier 2 - All Stars: Excellent players who are likely to be stars in the NHL. While they may never be the face of a franchise, you can still comfortably project superb production, and players who define an important part of a future corps.
Tier 3 - Top of the Lineup: These guys are players any team would be lucky to have, but not necessarily total gamechangers. They'll offer high-end complimentary skill sets up front, or a great defensive outlook on the other side of the puck.
Tier 4 - Top of the Lineup Potential: These players are quite close to the prior tier but currently have more questions or inconsistencies in their games. They could easily become a top of the lineup player, but the likelihood is higher they become excellent depth pieces in the top-six or top-four.
Tier 5 - Middle of the Lineup: These guys should play NHL games, and some of them could conceivably become even more but have hit a snag in their development. The flashes of talent peaks could come close to Tier 3, but there are substantial questions on high-end translation.
Tier 6 - Lower Middle of the Lineup: These players are your middle-six talents or top-four defensemen. There's potential that they could elevate their games, but their projection is more towards a depth NHLer than a star.
Tier 7 - Expected to Play NHL Games: These are players that don't really have skill sets to be in the bottom-six or bottom pairing of an NHL lineup, but are also not entirely likely to carve out higher end roles. Substantial holes in their games, but high impact upside if development hits.
Tier 8 - High End Longshots: As of now, neither player in this tier is NHL-ready, but both have skills that could translate with a lot of development and patience.
Please note: These tiers are based on comfort on first-round talent. There are many other players outside of the first round who are likely to make the NHL or become impact players, but the likelihood is lower, and it becomes more of a lottery ticket outside of the first round.
TIER ONE - Franchise Players
1. Michael Misa (C/LW) - For us, it was a almost a coin flip between both Misa and Hagens, but due to Misa's size, IQ and nose for the net, we ranked him ahead. Misa is a dynamic two-way center with one of the highest rated shots in the draft. A fluid skater, Misa is incredibly agile and is active in all three zones of the ice. Despite the skillset, Misa is a grinder and will be aggressive not only on the forecheck but in the transition and on the rush. He's a rare combination of size, work ethic, and skill, leading the OHL in points but also projecting as a pure center in the NHL. Misa occasionally will make a few rough passes, or force plays, but we attribute this more to him testing his limits, rather than a flaw at the next level. It doesn't hurt that Misa is also scoring at goal-per-game pace and leading the entire CHL with 2.1 points per game with 61 in only 29 games. To us, there's no obvious red flag or question about his game. As of this writing, he is the best player in the draft.
2. James Hagens (C) - Despite being ranked at two, our team loves Hagens. Unquestionably the most dynamic player in the draft, Hagens has been a standout true freshman at BC, replacing Will Smith as the center between Perreault and Leonard. While Hagens was a bit snake-bit at the start of the season for scoring goals, the floodgates have opened. He's an elite player who has only seen improvement from the start of the season in every single facet of his game, especially off of the offensive cycle. A lightning fast skater, Hagens has ridiculous hands that carry him well through transition, excellent decision-making, he rarely turns the puck over and he constantly makes highlight-reel assists under pressure. That's not to forget his shot either, which is high-end in its own right. We'd be remiss to not mention his all time U18 WJC performance where he put up an absurd 22 points in only 7 games. The only major downsides to Hagens are his size and his age. He's only 5'10 and already turned 18 in November.
3. Matthew Schaefer (LHD) - The question for best defenseman in the draft has been answered. The question now is if Schaefer is the best defensive prospect in the last five years. In our opinion, it isn't particularly close. Schaefer is one of the youngest players in the draft, and already looks to be a tier ahead of every defenseman in the 2024 draft. He has everything you want in a young defenseman - high IQ, brilliant knowledge of coverage and cycle, offensive ability, high end skating and feistiness on the ice. Schaefer is masterful when it comes to utilize his stick and body positioning to shut down passing lanes, strip the puck from much older players, and take the puck out of pressure. There's no real question or hesitation in his game - and that leads him to immediate success. Unlike many other defenseman, Schaefer isn't just complimenting the offense - he's single handedly driving it. If Schaefer continues to grow this season there's a very likely chance he finds himself at No. 1 when all is said and done.
4. Porter Martone (RW) - Martone nearly got his own tier a hair below the others, but the high-end skill consistently demonstrated and monstrous size/strength pushed him over the edge into our top tier. While Martone's off-the-puck game and skill is not as polished as the top three in the class, Martone still has the ability to take over a game completely. Using his size and strength to bully opponents off of the puck, Martone has a stellar and powerful shot, great IQ, and surprisingly good skating for someone his size (6-3, 207 pounds). Martone thrives by driving to the net and trucking through opponents, and almost seems like the next coming of Corey Perry or Matthew Tkachuk: a big player who plays with an edge. While his skating isn't necessarily great, Martone has all the skill in the world, he just needs to develop some of his decision making of when to use that skill vs. defaulting to size. He projects to be a star at the next level, a potentially franchise-defining winger.
TIER 2 - All Stars
5. Roger McQueen (C) - Roger McQueen is this draft's definition of tools. A 6-5 center with a monstrously powerful shot, deft skating, shifty hands up close, and high-end decision making, McQueen has the upside to be a true No. 1 center in the NHL. McQueen, though, is a project: he hasn't been able to consistently put those tools together, and he's not yet shown enough growth to call him a better player than many of the players listed below him. He's a real bet on upside; he got injured early this season and his production fell off greatly once NHL prospects went back to their respective teams. As he returns from injury, there will be a much more clear picture formed on where McQueen should end up. Nonetheless, there has been growth in his entire game since the middle of last season. His skating, skill utilization, hands, and shot placement have all improved. We're betting that he continues to get better when he comes back.
6. Victor Eklund (LW) - One of the biggest standout players of the season, Eklund has exploded with his recent production both at the international level and against men in Sweden this year. With sublime transitional play, Eklund blends high IQ, efficiency, and stand-out decision making to make an impact. While on the shorter end of the spectrum, Eklund has been one of the best players on his team on the rush and while driving towards the point on either side of the ice. While Eklund is a shooter, his creativity in feeding others is one of our favorite qualities. He's consistently setting himself up as a distributor or a playmaker in open space in the offensive zone, and he isn't a liability defensively either. Eklund is aggressive and has no problem attacking the puck, or hitting bigger and larger players to make plays on the puck. The biggest question surrounding Eklund is his size (5-11, 161 pounds). For his height, he's rail thin, and will likely get bullied on and off the puck at the next level with his current style of play. Nonetheless, the high-end talent and top-line projection that his raw skill shows place him high on our list.
7. Anton Frondell (C) - Due to injury, inconsistent play, and lack of progression, Frondell has fallen in the rankings. While no longer a top prospect, Frondell still projects as an high-end top-six center in the NHL. Frondell has great hands, excellent drive to the net, and projectable skills in total play, but he doesn't have any traits that stand out enough to separate himself at the next level. Expect a dynamic center, one who at times can take over a game, but one that may not be a true difference maker -- rather a depth piece on a contending team. To really succeed, Frondell will have to nearly reinvent his game in the middle of the ice: he's a great facilitator, but he struggles in transition and is prone to turn the puck over at times. It's still hard not to like him, though. He's played against men, he's got great puck protection, and he's awfully physical for his age.
TIER 3 - Top of the Lineup
8. Malcolm Spence (LW) - If you're looking for a pro-ready NHLer, look no further than Malcolm Spence. While it's unlikely that Spence becomes a true star, he has just about everything you could want in a complimentary top-six winger. Spence is a strong skater, aggressive in all areas of the ice, and has an innate drive to get to the puck. A high motor player, Spence combines a great shot, net-front presence, and simple effective reads to either make plays in space, put up points alone. There's not much that Spence can't do: he plays on both special teams, is an offensive presence, and can also play high-end defense on the back end. With his consistent play, nose for the puck, and ability to compliment elite players, Spence should be a great player at the next level without many obvious red flags in his game.
11. Lynden Lakovic (F) - Lakovic is nothing if not a prototypical power forward. Standing at 6'4, 190 pounds, he skates with a mean edge which has him leading all Moose Jaw skaters in points -- even above 2023 first-round pick Brayden Yager. He's hyper-skilled, with rare handling abilities not often seen at his size. While not overly physical, Lakovic is a solid skater who is a menace in board battles and contested pucks, often escaping the fray and creating off of the turnover. He's got great vision and a tendency to find both openings to move the puck up ice. A concern with Lakovic, through, is his tendency to only be able to maneuver in open ice. He struggles greatly against pressure at the present and needs to develop more confidence in making plays and carrying the puck through a more contested transition. There's a good deal of upside here, but it will take some growing both in strength and in tendencies to find himself a long term NHL role.
TIER 4 - Top of the Lineup Potential
12. Cullen Potter (C) - While Potter is one of the smallest high-end players of the draft (5-9, 168 pounds), his speed and deceptive playmaking help him stand out and make his mark on the game. He's engaged around the boards and is elusive against contact on any offensive outing. As a relatively natural center, Potter is not only effective in the offensive zone but defensive and neutral zones as well, often leading the rush or creating space off of the puck by drawing opponents wide to clear lanes up the middle for his teammates. With a high end motor, aggressive drive for the puck, and his transitory ability, it's hard to not like Potter's upside. If he can learn to play larger than his frame there's a genuine top-six center upside.
13. Radim Mrtka (RHD) - Another high-end, two-way defenseman, Mrtka's size will have teams calling, risking taking him potentially even earlier than No. 13 due to his tools. A strong shooter, decent passer, and a player with high defensive IQ, Mrtka has a very high floor, but there's substantial work for him to be NHL-ready. Mrtka is creative to a fault at times, and constantly looking to create offense, even while under pressure. There's still room for improvement in many categories: consistency in defensive reads, improving stride and hip flexion, and utilizing IQ to drive plays through more adaptive positioning. If these can be developed appropriately, he may go even higher than 13. There's a spot in the NHL for him with the right development, potentially even a top-line one if everything goes perfectly.
14. Jake O'Brien (C) - Arguably the most natural center in the draft, Jake O'Brien is a player who should have no issues fitting straight into the NHL. He's got excellent vision and his playmaking is truly his most standout trait. O'Brien is a great skater, strong on the puck, and in our eyes doesn't have a ton of flaws in his game outside of inconsistency and questionable decision making at times. His shot is high end, and his precision in both his shooting and his passing makes it hard to ignore the budding talent. He's efficient with his movement up and down the ice, and his defensive game is far above where his peers are at the same age. As he continues to get stronger and faster, there's a clear middle-six to top-six potential for O'Brien, a guy who can play both on the second power play, but also on the first PK. It also doesn't hurt the Blackhawks that O'Brien has chemistry with Nick Lardis and will develop it further with Marek Vanacker either. The Blackhawks will be watching O'Brien very closely - don't be surprised to see Kyle Davidson make a move to trade up for him.
15. Jackson Smith (LHD) - It's hard not to like the profile that Smith offers. He's strong, tall, and an effective enough skater. Smith is incredibly raw and ultimately his development still does hinge on how much he applies himself. Smith has a great understanding of shut-down positioning, an active stick, and stellar physical play already at his age. As he continues to develop, he will likely need to continue to work through some of his skating concerns - as he skates like a younger Duncan Keith without power, his total strength and his anticipation. Smith isn't an effective finisher as a defenseman, nor is he someone who's able to carry the puck effectively at this point. Despite all the current flaws, though, the upside is still tantalizing. Smith has the ability to neuter opponent offensive rushes by boxing out players to the perimeter and stripping them of the puck against the boards. His passing isn't super accurate, but with refinement, there's a chance he's able to become a top-end defensive defenseman who can actively contribute to the rush at the next level.
TIER 5 - Middle of the Lineup
16. Cameron Schmidt (RW) - If Schmidt wasn't 5-7, there's a genuine argument that he would be a top-10 player, if not higher, in this draft. Supremely skilled, Schmidt has some of the best hands and electric decision making in this draft. He's a speedster and has no problem rushing the net, throwing hits against unsuspecting defenders, and utilizing his agility to get around much larger and stronger opponents. A natural goal scorer, Schmidt creates chances almost entirely on his own from up close, and continues to impress with his hands and puck protection ability. His shot is genuinely great despite the lack of power. He releases with small amounts of space and he's so deceptive with his body that he often makes goalies look foolish. Despite his size, he's got a physical edge to his game, never afraid to hop into a forecheck or a puck battle. While Schmidt was unfortunately injured and therefore has limited tape, there's a chance that he could be one of the biggest steals of this draft if he can overcome his size.
17. William Moore (C) - Moore has been inconsistent this season, but there's no reason to doubt his talent still exists to be brought out with development. He's a steady offensive player with a great shot and even more impressive skating. The IQ is obvious in his play, and his agility has allowed him to evade defenders, transition effectively, and begin to develop his defensive game. He's an impressive playmaker as well. If Moore is able to add strength to his profile, refine his defensive game, and learn to put a bit more touch on his passes, there is still genuine top-six upside in his game.
18. Carter Bear (C) - Carter Bear is one of our favorite up and comers in the 2025 draft who could conceivably go much higher before the season ends. A high compete player, Bear doesn't shy away from contact or following the puck, even in the dirty areas. Despite his willingness to get into battles, Bear is elusive and rarely takes hits, often finding himself creating stellar cross-crease passes or handling the entire opposing team himself. Defensively sound as well, Bear plays special teams on both ends of the ice -- a very rare trait for young centers in the CHL. While Bear isn't a great skater, he's a talented offensive creator and adept at creating high-end scoring chances especially against pressured situations. Bear has high-end hockey IQ and decision making which allow him to continually drive play. Bear is equally impressive in his puck protection ability to lead the team through transition and play from the perimeter. If his skating and strength can improve, Bear could be a seriously impressive top-six center in the NHL.
19. Alex Huang (RHD) - A dynamic defensive prospect, Huang is known explicitly for his hockey sense and playmaking abilities in all three zones. A supremely versatile defenseman, Huang creates offense through accurate passing, rapid-fire decision making, and strong puck control for such a young defensemen. While he can occasionally get a bit too lost in his positioning, he's a fluid skater and often able to self correct before mistakes are taken advantage of. He backchecks aggressively and has also begun to take the next step in the physicality of his play. Huang needs to continue to add size and strength to his game. As a defenseman, he still doesn't have a great shot, nor is he often able to successfully convert a lot of his individual efforts. Nonetheless, the high-end skill should safely help Huang land in a top-four NHL role.
20. Blake Fiddler (RHD) - Fiddler doesn't have a lot of top-end skill or elite traits. He's not the best skater or the best puck mover, and he can struggle at times with consistency in his current game. Nonetheless, Fiddler's size and compete are going to make him an impact player. While unlikely to generate offense at a high level in the NHL, Fiddler's defensive game is THE shining star. He's constantly able to lift sticks of his opponents, shut down lanes through size and stick movement, and use his size to deliver major hits. As Fiddler continues to develop his skating and acceleration, there's a good chance that he sees more ability to break the puck out and recover against missed assignments. He's already starting to become a two-way defenseman - he should only improve from here. Not to jinx the profile, but he genuinely could become another Alex Vlasic-level player, who's reliable every single night.
Ultimately, there's a lot of talent in this draft that could greatly benefit the Blackhawks. In this draft, Chicago has a chance to bring in complimentary talent for Bedard, and it's critical that the organization gets it right. The Blackhawks will continue to gauge the production of higher end prospects like Levshunov, Nazar, Moore, Boisvert, and Korchinski this year, and depending on their respective growth, the organization is likely to pick their biggest need. For the sake of Blackhawks fans, we hope it's a forward or it's unlikely we'll even keep pace with teams like San Jose and Montreal.
Stay tuned in March for an updated ranking and how the top prospects could fit into the Blackhawks system. We'll also be pushing out more in-depth scouting reports on all of the top-four players in the draft as we lead into the second half of the season. It's not a fun time to be a Blackhawks fan, but with a few more great draft picks, the hope is that the next 15 years will be!