Welcome to the most recent installment of the revived “Future Hawks” prospect sequence. On this column, we check out the Chicago Blackhawks prospects who’re standing out and having fun with success, whether or not they’re taking part in in Canadian juniors, the American Hockey League (AHL), Europe, Russia, or anyplace all over the world.

This version will concentrate on prospects taking part in on the NCAA and junior ranges. Many of those prospects had wonderful begins to their seasons, and a pair are close to the highest of their league in scoring. Additionally, Oliver Moore and AJ Spellacy are the 2 Blackhawk prospects invited to Group USA’s camp in preparation for the upcoming World Junior Championships.

Nick Lardis

Canada’s nationwide U20 group is loaded with expertise, nevertheless it was nonetheless a shock to see that Nick Lardis was not invited to their camp forward of the upcoming World Juniors. He was second within the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in objectives and led the league in photographs on aim. The Blackhawks drafted Lardis within the third spherical (No. 67) of the 2023 NHL Draft. He handled a wrist damage that restricted him down the stretch final 12 months, however he nonetheless produced 29 objectives in 37 regular-season video games in his post-draft season.

In his first seven video games in November, Lardis had 15 factors (9 objectives and 6 assists) and 36 photographs on aim, together with back-to-back hat methods on Nov. 15-16 in opposition to the Kitchener Rangers. Now totally recovered from his damage, Lardis has been deadly from in every single place on the ice. His 24 objectives in 24 video games put him on a tempo to be the Blackhawks’ best-scoring junior prospect since Alex DeBrincat.

Aidan Thompson

The Blackhawks’ third-round choice in 2022 (ninetieth general) has ten objectives and 22 factors in 14 video games taking part in for the College of Denver this season. Aidan Thompson is one level again of the scoring lead in school hockey and ranks fourth within the NCAA, averaging 1.57 factors per recreation. Thompson has utilized his velocity this season and has performed properly in a checking-line function on a nationwide championship-caliber group. He’s presently on a 14-game level streak, the longest for a Denver participant since 2022.

Ryan Greene

The Blackhawks tried to signal Ryan Greene within the offseason. Nevertheless, the 20-year-old needed to return to Boston College after the Terriers got here very near successful the NCAA Championship the previous two years. It’s important to admire a participant who desires to complete a job he helped begin. Final season, Greene was a big offensive contributor for a Terriers group that completed with a 28-10-2 document to rank third in NCAA Division I hockey. This season, he has 13 factors in 14 video games because the Terriers have began the season with an 8-5-1 document.

Dominic James

Chosen 173rd general in 2022, the left-shot ahead is taking part in in his fourth season with the College of Minnesota-Duluth. Dominic James has 15 factors in 12 video games, however his most spectacular stat is his 61.1 p.c success price within the faceoff circle, which places him among the many NCAA leaders. James has good dimension and quite a lot of velocity. Most scouts really feel he may fill a bottom-six function within the NHL.

Jack Pridham

Jack Pridham began his season at West Kelowna within the British Columbia Hockey League and had 10 factors in 12 video games. Nevertheless, when the NCAA opened the door for college-bound prospects to play within the Canadian Hockey League, he rapidly signed with the Kitchener Rangers within the OHL and had an impressive begin. Pridham is dedicated to taking part in at Boston College subsequent 12 months and has 4 objectives and 4 assists in his first 5 video games within the OHL.

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The Blackhawks traded a third-round decide within the 2025 NHL Draft to the Carolina Hurricanes in trade for the 92nd general decide to pick out Pridham. Extensively thought-about a proficient two-way ahead, Pridham recorded 49 factors and 30 penalty minutes in 54 regular-season video games for West Kelowna final season, drawing the eye of the Blackhawks group and resulting in the commerce that introduced him into the fold.

Martin Misiak

Misiak was drafted by the Blackhawks within the second spherical (fifty fifth general) of the 2023 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old transitioned properly after transferring from Slovakia’s skilled league to the Erie Otters of the OHL. After scoring 47 factors final season, he has 13 factors in his first 16 video games with the Otters. Whereas engaged on his playmaking talents, Misiak has excelled in sticking to his verify, pressuring the opposition, participating opponents on the partitions, and driving to the entrance of the online.

Final Could, the Blackhawks signed Misiak on a three-year, entry-level contract that runs by means of the 2026-27 season ($878,333 wage cap hit). He suited up in a single recreation with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League, making his skilled debut on April 21 in opposition to the Chicago Wolves.

The vital factor to recollect about prospects is that improvement is non-linear. Some gamers take longer to determine it out than others, and a few gamers by no means do. Because the Blackhawks proceed to rebuild, they’ve acquired many draft picks, which has helped their prospect group develop into one of many highest-ranked and deepest within the NHL. They’ve been inspired by the stellar play of their prospects to begin the season on the NCAA and Junior ranges.