The majority of the players who should make up the next good Hawks team are still in the juniors, NCAA, or KHL.

United States v Switzerland: Quarterfinals – 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship | Minas Panagiotakis/GettyImages

Going into this season, the Chicago Blackhawks’ roster was expected to feature a wave of young talent making their NHL debut.

The start of the 2024-25 campaign saw the team more hesitant to bring up young players and risk rushing them into a role they were not ready for.

However, that mindset has shifted in recent weeks since the coaching change that resulted in Anders Sorensen becoming the interim head coach.

Until the coaching change, Nolan Allan and Wyatt Kaiser were the only two players on the roster who were in their rookie season. Though, players such as Frank Nazar, Colton Dach, Kevin Korchinski, and Louis Crevier have all been rewarded with NHL games since Sorensen took over.

The addition of more young talent on the roster has been proving to be the right decision as these players have mostly outplayed some of the veterans on the team. This now opens the discussion of when more of the Blackhawks’ top prospects could make their way to Chicago and join those already in the NHL.

Here are a few of the Chicago Blackhawks’ top prospects and when they could jump into the NHL…

Primary assist from Oliver Moore (#11) #Blackhawks #HawksProspects pic.twitter.com/UBWbBN85mk

— Chicago Prospects (@Chi_Prospects) January 11, 2025

Oliver Moore may not be dominating the competition on the scoresheet this season, but he brings much more to his game that will be valued in an NHL lineup.

Currently sitting at 18 points in 22 NCAA games for the University of Minnesota, Moore’s production has not told the entire story of his play style. The 19-year-old plays a versatile game with elite-level skating ability and uses that to create offensive chances despite the finishing ability being a work-in-progress.

Moore is fresh off his second consecutive gold medal with Team USA at the World Juniors. He brings a sense of maturity to his game, understanding what role he needs to play to win games.

Although he was not one of the top scorers for the USA, he used his speed in an important checking role to wear opponents down, making him someone who can play almost anywhere in a lineup.

Though he will likely sign with the Blackhawks’ after his season in the NCAA ends, it would not be surprising if he has a similar path as Frank Nazar. One where he begins next season in the AHL but receives an NHL call-up before the mid-way point of the season.

Artyom Levhsunov has been a topic of discussion lately amongst Blackhawks’ fans, though some of those worries are premature.

Last week, Artyom Levhsunov was held out of a Rockford IceHogs (AHL) game as a healthy scratch. This resulted in fans worried about his play and wondering if the Blackhawks’ took the right player second-overall in the draft, though it turned out he was scratched due to being late for a team meeting and the coaching staff wanting to send a message (subscription required).

Levshunov’s 11 points in 31 AHL games has left some wanting more from the young defender and expecting much higher production. The 19-year-old is still very raw in his development and shows traits of being a top-pair defenseman, but that transition will not happen overnight.

The Blackhawks are treating Levhsunov like every other young defender and giving him the chance to round out his game in Rockford in all situations. Given the recent success of this development staff getting more out of young defensemen, there is good reason to believe Levshunov will be just fine in the long run.

Though he might need another full season in the AHL, Levshunov could be ready for meaningful NHL minutes come the 2026-27 season or even sooner.

This is why Artyom Levshunov (#55) was drafted second overall. It’s taken awhile but what a beautiful rush chance for the 19-year-old. #Blackhawks #IceHogs #HawksProspects pic.twitter.com/iFQZ4n7Wv3

— Chicago Prospects (@Chi_Prospects) November 30, 2024

Kevin Korchinski’s time in Chicago proved that was not year ready for NHL action, but has taken strides this year in Rockford.

A season playing top minutes in the AHL has benefitted Korchinski and allowed him to play in situations he likely would not see in the NHL.

His 15 points in 27 games has allowed him to stay true to his more offensive-minded game, while also becoming stronger defensively.

Fans got to see Korchinski for a nine-game stint before the holidays where he recorded zero points, but the biggest takeaway was the difference in poise he shows now as opposed to last season. Korchinski is learning to use his size and speed to his advantage more at both ends of the ice and looked like a completely different player doing so.

With the way his season has gone, there is an argument that Korchinski could be ready to come back up and play for the Blackhawks right now. Though, the organization seems content letting him grow even more for the rest of the season and he should be more than ready to return to Chicago full-time next season.

Sacha Boisvert’s name being called with the 18th pick in last year’s draft was a surprise to some fans, though his production this season has exceeded expectations.

Currently with 18 points in 21 games for North Dakota in the NCAA, Boisvert has been the team’s most dynamic offensive threat as a true freshman. He has risen to the occasion and continues to improve as the season goes on.

Boisvert is a centerman with a sneaky wrist shot and strong instincts at both ends of the ice. His understanding of the game and ability to read plays has rewarded him in the NCAA and makes him an exciting player going forward.

The Blackhawks’ drafted Boisvert knowing he has lots of raw talent and want to give him the chance to properly tap into his potential. This likely means he will spend at least one more season in the NCAA, similar to Nazar and Moore.

As an 18-year old, Sacha Boisvert may also see time in the AHL after signing his entry-level contract with the Blackhawks before jumping into the NHL. A reasonable expectation could be to see Boisvert in NHL games during the 2026-27 season or the year after.

Sam Rinzel might be the prospect Blackhawks fans are most excited about with the season he is having in the NCAA.

Rinzel started off as a true project who would take longer than others to develop, but he has blossomed into a legitimate top prospect and will be in the running for the Hobey Baker trophy as college hockey’s MVP.

His 24 points in 24 games is proving that Rinzel is ready for the next step in his career. The young defender is a gifted skater with size and a strong transition game that makes him effective all over the ice.

Most will want to see Rinzel step into the NHL as soon as possible, and the expectation is that he will sign with the Blackhawks after his current season is over. However, a full-season in Rockford with the development staff could do wonders for Rinzel, similar to how it benefitted the other young defensemen such as Alex Vlasic.

Rinzel’s ceiling seems to keep getting higher with the more he plays, and he will without a doubt be a player many fans eagerly await to make his debut in Chicago.