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The 32-in-32 Series is an annual event here at DobberProspects and has been condensed from two articles to one. The article will bring you: The highlighted team’s draft; insights into its off-season moves; looking at prospect risers, fallers and likely prospects to play NHL games; and of course, the writers’ top-20 prospects. Articles may be brought back when an important team update occurs, so check back because we plan to fill your hockey withdrawal needs all off-season!

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Make sure to check out the Chicago Blackhawks team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/chicago-blackhawks/

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The Blackhawks came into the 2024 offseason with a very different tone compared to the year prior. Last summer, they went big on veterans like Tyler Bertuzzi, Teuvo Teravainen, TJ Brodie, and Pat Maroon in hopes of guiding the rebuild with experienced hands. The result? A second-to-last finish and a shift in direction. GM Kyle Davidson avoided big free-agent swings this time, opting for patience and development over veteran band-aids. With Connor Bedard as the clear centerpiece, and names like Frank Nazar emerging, the focus is now on internal growth. Chicago still has over $18 million in cap space and could make one more move before puck drop, whether it is adding a scoring winger or weaponizing that space to absorb a bad contract in exchange for picks. However, the rebuild remains in full swing, the real challenge lies in showing measurable improvement.

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NHL Draft Recap

Round 1, 3rd overall: Anton Frondell, C

Frondell steadily climbed into top-three draft talk thanks to his full-package power forward game. He blends speed, strength, and smart puck play and was excellent in the second half with Djurgården, showing poise and control against men in the Allsvenskan. His NHL Combine showing backed it up, with scouts being very impressed with his maturity and confidence. Frondell is not the most dynamic offensively, but he is dangerous in motion with a heavy shot and has been compared to Alexander Barkov, not a bad comparison. He has signed his three-year ELC and looks like he will return back to Sweden for the upcoming season.

Round 1, 25th overall: Vaclav Nestrasil, RW

Nestrasil was one of the USHL’s biggest second-half risers, playing a key role in Muskegon’s Clark Cup win with 42 points in 61 games. At 6-foot-3, he skates well in straight lines, competes hard, and brings playoff experience, all traits Chicago continues to target. He can kill penalties, battles well along the boards, and shows flashes of skill around the net, though he could lean into his size more. Nestrasil has committed to UMass, where he will get the development runway he needs. He may top out as a trusted bottom-six forward, but there’s still room for a middle-six ceiling if his offensive game keeps trending up.

Round 1, 29th overall: Mason West, C

West was one of the boldest swings in the draft, a 6-foot-6 dual-sport athlete with numerous Division I football offers who is now fully committed to hockey. His skating is impressive for his size, and the raw tools suggest real upside. Chicago’s betting on long-term growth. West will finish his senior football season before joining the USHL, and the Blackhawks have the time to be patient. If the skill continues to catch up to the athleticism, there is a solid a middle-six center ceiling here. It is definitely a project pick, but the size-speed combo gives it a shot at real value down the line.

Round 3, 66th overall:  Nathan Behm, RW

Behm stood out as a top point producer in Kamloops, flashing strong hands, good size, and speed off the rush. He is comfortable carrying the puck through traffic and creating space on the wing, with the kind of skating and offensive instincts that give him a real shot at the pro level. However, when the puck is not on his stick, his impact fades. The tools are there, strong frame, fluid stride, natural scorer. If he adds some grit and inside presence, he could grow into a solid middle-six winger. Chicago’s betting on the upside here.

Round 4, 98th overall: Julius Sumpf, C

Chicago took a swing on Julius Sumpf, a 6-2 overager who put up 26 goals and 65 points in 58 games with Moncton. He was a solid contributor for one of the QMJHL’s better teams, blending solid two-way play with flashes of scoring touch. The upside is not flashy, but the steady climb and versatility make him a bet on continued growth. He is the type who chips away at his ceiling by rounding out his game and he could carve out a role as a dependable bottom-six center in time.

Round 4, 107th overall: Parker Holmes, F

The growing trend with Chicago was adding size to their prospect pool and they continued that with Parker Holmes. At 6-4 and 220-plus, he moves well for his frame and brings plenty of physical bite, but there’s very little offense in his game. He posted just one point in 21 games for Brantford, with limited touches and time lost to injury. Chicago sees value in what he brings without the puck, tough, honest shifts, a willingness to scrap, and an old-school edge that is becoming rare. Holmes isn’t making the NHL with offense, but there is a path as a bottom-line forward who plays hard and brings edge.

Round 6, 162nd overall: Ashton Cumby, D

Chicago did not focus on defense this draft, but they come away with at least one in Ashton Cumby and they stuck to taking a player with size in the 6-5, 215-pound blueliner out of Seattle Thunderbirds out of the WHL. Crumby fits the late-round theme: size, grit, and edge. He plays a heavy game, finishes checks, and is not afraid to drop the gloves. Like Holmes, he adds to the grit element and identity the Hawks are aiming for.

Round 7, 194th overall: Ilya Kanarsky, G

Chicago took their lone goalie of the draft, grabbing Ilya Kanarsky out of Russia. He put up a .938 save percentage and 2.24 GAA with AKM Tula, going 22-8-1. With Commesso, Soderblom, and Knight already in the pipeline, Kanarsky has a lot of time for development. He will like stay overseas, develop at his own pace, and see if he can work his way into the mix. It is a calculated low-risk swing with solid value late in the draft.

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Off-Season Moves

Incoming

Andre Burakovsky – 2 years, $5.5M (remainder on contract)

Dominic Toninato – 2 years, $850K

Sam Lafferty – 1 year, $2M

Stanislav Berezhnoy – 2 years, $975K

Outgoing

Joe Veleno

Philipp Kurashev

T.J. Brodie

Andreas Athanasiou

Patrick Maroon – retired

Alec Martinez – retired,

Re-Signed

Ryan Donato – 4 years, $4M

Louis Crevier – 2 years, $900K

Arvid Soderblom – 2 years, $2.75M

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In the System

Risers

Frank Nazar, C

Frank Nazar hit an important stride last season, shifting from just a promising name on paper to someone who could hold his own at the NHL level. His elite skating and relentless pace made him noticeable across all three zones, and there were enough flashes of creativity to suggest he’s got top-six upside. He’ll need to bulk up to handle the full-season wear and tear, but with more ice time and a bump in linemates, there’s a clear path for Nazar to grow into a high-end complementary scorer behind Bedard.

Nick Lardis, LW

The Blackhawks prospect had a fantastic season for 71 goals and 117 points in 65 games with the Brantford Bulldogs . His shot is lethal, and his ability to find space has led to 17 multi-goal outings. After an injury-shortened season last year, Lardis bounced back with more pace control, improved reads, and smarter off-puck movement. The high-end speed and finishing have always been there, now if the two-way detail comes along, Larids is proving to be a solid third round steal and could see some time in the NHL sooner than we think.

Sacha Boisvert, C

Boisvert’s development took a big step forward this year. He posted a 68-point campaign in the USHL and then transitioned to the NCAA and made an immediate impact, posting 32 points in 37 games.  Boisvert has a solid release, is strong puck protection, and is reliable on both ends of the ice, attributes that project well in a middle-six NHL role. If the offensive touch continues to progress, he could slot in as a versatile 50-point player in a middle-six role, complementing Chicago’s forward core nicely.

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Fallers

John Mustard, C

Mustard entered the year with some buzz off of his USHL production however his first NCAA season did not hit. Just 12 points in 34 games at Providence, and he looked like he was still catching up to the pace and structure. The raw tools are there, but consistency and impact were missing. Right now, he is more flash than foundation, and others are leapfrogging him in the pecking order. He will need a big step forward next season to get back on track as a relevant offensive prospect.

Paul Ludwinski, C

Ludwinski’s pro transition has not gone as hoped. He wrapped up his OHL career with a solid 69-point season but hit a wall in his first year with Rockford, something that is not unusual, but still notable. His motor and compete level are there, and he plays an honest two-way game, but the offensive tools have not kept pace. It is important to keep in mind it was his first year in the AHL and he will likely see a bound back year for Ludwinski but he will likely need to show real growth next season to stay in the mix.

Kevin Korckhinski, D

Korchinski played 76 games with Chicago in his rookie year at 19, but the growing pains were clear. His skating and offensive flashes are real, but his reads and defensive game still need work. He likely would have benefited from an earlier AHL stint—something the Blackhawks eventually did last season. Now, with Levshunov and Rinzel pushing for NHL spots, his grip on a top-four role isn’t guaranteed. Chicago still sees him as part of the long-term core, but he’ll need to take a step forward soon or risk getting squeezed into a lesser role. The margin’s thinner now.

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Likely to see NHL action

Artyom Levshunov

Oliver Moore

Kevin Korchinski

Drew Commesso (If goalie injuries occur)

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Top 20 Prospects

This section is intended to paint a picture of the Blackhawks prospects whose current trajectory projects them making the most positive fantasy impact at the time that they reach the NHL. Arrival date and NHL certainty have been taken into consideration; however, potential upside is the most important factor in determining this list.

1. Sam Rinzel
2. Artyom Levshunov
3. Anton Fondell
4. Oliver Moore
5. Kevin Korchinski
6. Sacha Boisvert
7. Nick Lardis
8. Marek Vanacker
9. Roman Kantserov
10. Ethan Del Mastro
11. Colton Dach
12. Ryan Greene
13. Drew Commesso
14. A.J. Spellacy
15. Martin Misiak
16. Mason West
17. Samuel Savoie
18. Adam Gajan
19. Vaclav Nestrasil
20. John Mustard

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Final thoughts

The Blackhawks stayed quiet this off-season and that was by design. Davidson’s done chasing short-term fixes with aging vets. The plan now is clear: let the young core take the reins. However, Bedard needs help, and it will come, but this season still feels like a bridge year. Chicago does not want to rush this but it looks like it is going to be another tough year while this group finds its legs.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on X  @Punters_hockey for more content and fantasy hockey analysis.