The 2023 version of Second City Hockey’s Top 25 Under 25 rankings continues with a duo of smaller centers, two wingers with an advanced scoring touch and the list’s biggest power forward. The voters for this year’s installment consisted of each of the four SCH writers, who submitted individual ballots.
No. 20 — Paul Ludwinski
- Position: Center
- Birth date: April 23, 2004 (19)
- Acquired via: Second-round pick (#39) in 2022 NHL Draft
- 2022-23 team: Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
- 2022-23 stats: 34 points (9 goals, 25 assists) in 47 regular seasons games
- Size: 5-foot-11, 172 pounds
- Contract: Three-year, $931,667 AAV
- Rankings: 19 (Eric), 18 (Mil), 23 (LBR), 19 (Dave)
- Last T25U25 ranking: #23
Paul Ludwinski moves up three spots on the list from his entry point last year after a solid season in the OHL that saw him miss extended time while dealing with both concussion-related symptoms (due to an injury suffered at the Blackhawks Prospect Showcase) and ankle issues.
Ludwinski’s skating is a plus tool, which he utilizes effortlessly to drive his high energy, two-way style of play. While he’s a bit on the small side for a center, he’s an absolute puck hound who’s defensively responsible and loves to force turnovers.
Here he is early this summer at prospect camp talking about recovering from his ankle injury and how he felt his last season went:
Even though the Blackhawks signed him to his entry-level deal last spring, it sounds like their plan is to let him return to the OHL for an additional season to work on his development and make up for some of the time he lost last year.
Ludwinski seems like a great character guy who could be an important, bottom-six role player for the Blackhawks sometime in the next few seasons.
No. 19 — Colton Dach
- Position: C/LW
- Birth date: January 24, 2003 (20)
- Acquired via: Second-round pick (#62) in 2021 NHL Draft
- 2022-23 team: Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL), Kelowna Rockets (WHL), Canada U20 (WJC)
- 2022-23 stats: 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists) in 23 WHL regular season games played, 14 points (3 goals, 11 assists) in 19 WHL playoff games, 2 assists in 4 WJC tournament games
- Size: 6-foot-4, 196 pounds
- Contract: Three-year, $825,000 AAV
- Rankings: 16 (Eric), 25 (Mil), 18 (LBR), 20 (Dave)
- Last T25U25 ranking: #16
I’m higher than everyone else here at SCH on Colton Dach thanks due to his shot, size and his ability to line up at both center and left wing.
Dach had a frustrating developmental year last season as his playing time was interrupted by a litany of injuries, including multiple concussions and a nasty injury to his right shoulder that happened during last winter’s World Juniors.
Following his injury at the WJC, he was part of a WHL trade from the Kelowna Rockets to the Seattle Thunderbirds, allowing Dach to play alongside fellow Blackhawks’ prospects Kevin Korchinski and Nolan Allan. Dach rebounded to have a strong finish in Seattle (scoring 10 points in 9 regular season games) before helping the Thunderbirds with a deep playoff run that included the WHL title before coming up just short in the Memorial Cup Final.
Dach will suit up in Rockford for the IceHogs this season, where his predominant focus should just be staying healthy. He has a combination of size and skill that no other current forward in the Hawks’ system can match and, if he gets off to a good start, he’s definitely a candidate to be called up to Chicago at some point during the upcoming season.
No. 18 — Gavin Hayes
- Position: LW
- Birth date: May 14, 2004 (19)
- Acquired via: Third-round pick (#66) in 2022 NHL Draft
- 2022-23 team: Flint Firebirds (OHL)
- 2022-23 stats: 81 points (41 goals, 40 assists) in 66 regular season games, 2 assists in 7 playoff games
- Size: 6-foot-1, 176 pounds
- Contract: Three-year, $896,667 AAV
- Rankings: 10 (Eric), 24 (Mil), 19 (LBR), 21 (Dave)
- Last T25U25 ranking: N/A
After the Blackhawks snagged Gavin Hayes in the third-round last summer, he exploded for 41 goals (12th in the entire OHL) in 66 games, and he’s now scored 130 points in his last 131 OHL games.
Despite the fact he was called up to Rockford for a few games at the end of last season, Kyle Davidson confirmed Hayes will re-join the Flint Firebirds this year. It’ll be interesting to see if he can hit the 50 goal plateau this year — which could be very possible if Hayes keeps rocking a shot percentage of 19 — as only two skaters in the OHL did last season. And it sounds like Hayes is already fired up and ready to get to work:
Hayes is an aggressive forechecker with a nasty shot who uses his bigger frame to muscle his way in to high-danger areas. He’s already shown he has a proclivity for finishing scoring opportunities and he might be the best player the Hawks have had in the OHL since Alex DeBrincat. I’m excited to see if he can take another big leap forward in his development this season and close the gap in this trajectory even more.
No. 17 — Roman Kantserov
- Position: Forward
- Birth date: September 20, 2004 (18)
- Acquired via: Second-round pick (#44) in 2023 NHL Draft
- 2022-23 team: Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk (MHL)
- 2022-23 stats: 54 points (27 goals, 27 assists) in 45 regular seasons games, 1 goal and 2 assists in 3 playoff games
- Size: 5-foot-9, 176 pounds
- Contract: Unsigned
- Rankings: 22 (Eric), 16 (Mil), 16 (LBR), 16 (Dave)
- Last T25U25 ranking: N/A
Russian forward Roman Kantserov is a brand new addition to the list after being drafted by the Blackhawks in the second round this summer (at No. 44, which some scouts considered to be a steal).
If Kantserov does end up being a find at that range it’s likely he fell that far because of his size. He’s a smaller, quick-twitch winger who defaults to using his speed to beat defenders. He’s also an above-average stickhandler and dual-threat playmaker who seems to be equally efficient at creating scoring chances with both with his shot as well as his vision.
Kantserov has been a point-per-game player the last two seasons in the MHL — which is Russia’s second-tier league — so the biggest question(s) surrounding him this year will be whether or not he gets bumped up to the KHL full-time, and how he handles that promotion, whenever it comes. Unfortunately, as is the case with virtually all Russian prospects, the Blackhawks will have to keep tabs on his development from afar, as he’s still years away from being able to compete in North America.
No. 16 — Cole Guttman
- Position: Center
- Birth date: April 06, 1999 (24)
- Acquired via: Free agent signing
- 2022-23 team: Rockford (AHL), Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
- 2022-23 stats: 30 points (16 goals, 14 assists) in 39 AHL games, 6 points (4 goals, 2 assists) in 14 NHL games
- Size: 5-foot-10, 181 pounds
- Contract: Two-year, $950,000 AAV
- Rankings: Honorable Mention (Eric), 14 (Mil), 15 (LBR), 15 (Dave)
- Last T25U25 ranking: N/A
Cole Guttman came to the Blackhawks last summer as an unsigned college free agent once his rights expired after he didn’t sign a contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning (the Lightning drafted him 180th overall in the 2017 draft).
Guttman’s college production was solid, and his reputation as a speedy and competitive two-way center seems to be what piqued Kyle Davidson’s interest enough to take a flyer on him. Guttman started the year in Rockford by scoring 30 points (16 goals, 14 assists) in his first 39 games before earning a call-up last February when Jonathan Toews was placed on injured reserve. He was thought of highly enough during his time in Rockford that he was named the team’s Rookie of the Year for last season.
He scored his first career NHL goal (off a nice rush) in his third NHL game and had 6 points (4 goals, 2 assists) in 14 games before being shut down in March to have shoulder surgery. He was a positive story in a season that was essentially barren of joy, and in a small sample size he showcased enough skill and playmaking ability that he’ll warrant a nice, long look during training camp with a legitimate shot at making the opening night NHL roster.
While I might not be as high on Guttman (I had him as an honorable mention) as some…
… I do think he can be a useful NHL player going forward, but most likely as a bottom-six contributor. So if anything his ranking through my eyes is more about the significant depth of the prospect pool that Kyle Davidson has built the last two summers as opposed to anything Guttman does or does not bring to the table. And the fact we’re able to have these debates, where the place in which we rank these players so differently might legitimately be a point of contention, is a breath of fresh air compared to the conversations surrounding the type of prospects the Blackhawks had in their system even just a few seasons ago.
2023 Blackhawks Top 25 Under 25 list (so far):
Nos. 16-20: Guttman, Kantserov, Hayes, Dach, Ludwinski
Nos. 21-25: Safonov, Luypen, Lardis, Savoie, Gajan
Honorable Mentions: Misiak, Roos, Stauber, Thompson