2024-25 Midseason Blackhawks Top 25 Under 25, Part II: Nos. 1-10

The 2024-25 midseason version of Second City Hockey’s Top 25 Under 25 rankings was ranked by individual ballots submitted by SCH staffers. Since this is a midseason check-in, we\'re still including players who were under 25 by August, 1, 2024 . This is important to at least one player in this next batch, who is technically 25 right now but wasn\'t when we tallied votes for the summer ballots before August.

No. 10 — Nolan Allan

Position: Defense

Birth date: April 28, 2003 (21)

Acquired via: First-round pick (32nd overall) in 2021 NHL Draft

2024-25 team : Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)

2024-25 stats: 8 points (1 G, 7 A), 15 SOG, 16 PIM in 41 regular season games

Size: 6-foot-2, 194 pounds

Contract: Two-years, $825,000 AAV (Entry-level contract)

Rankings: 9 (Dave, LBR), 11 (Eric), 13 (Zack)

Last T25U25 ranking: No. 19, up nine spots

Allan surprised some by making the Blackhawks team out of training camp this season, but it\'s not shocking when you consider he was the best defensive defenseman in Rockford last season and arguably the best skater among Chicago\'s deep pool of defensive prospects. Allan has done a nice job of translating his style to the NHL when given the chance, where his solid positioning and quick instincts disrupt opposing players in the defensive zone quite well. He\'s also one of the most proficient defensemen at puck retrieval and transition, something the Blackhawks have sorely lacked for several seasons. His game is based on smart, simple defense that is carried by his well above average skating.

This is an example of what Nolan Allan has been doing well lately and what I wrote about today. Nothing fancy, just reads the forecheck, retrieves the puck, makes the right pass and it all leads to an exit.

Here's my story, too: https://t.co/jpW04kIpxo pic.twitter.com/ka3ny3tjqf

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) December 21, 2024

As a defense-first defenseman, one thing we saw this season that was unexpected were flashes of offensive abilities that could be nurtured so he can also contribute points here or there in the future. His one goal and seven assists in 41 games isn\'t exactly burning the world down, of course, but he\'s also not usually in a position to rack up points either. If Allan can contribute on the same level as, say, Niklas Hjalmarsson -- a player SCH has been comparing Allan to since our first post-draft analysis -- then that\'s just icing for an already useful shutdown defender.

Nolan Allan finishes off a beautiful little give-and-go and scores his first in the NHL! 😍 pic.twitter.com/RtTHqNIX7L

— NHL (@NHL) December 20, 2024

Nolan Allan has primary assists in consecutive games, including this impressive setup Friday in Detroit.

Sorensen: “I don’t know if [offense is] going to be his bread and butter, but nice to see. It’s been a pleasant surprise.” pic.twitter.com/Azs7q2C1mu

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) January 13, 2025

Allan isn\'t a perfect defender by any means, but most of his mistakes this season are due to inexperience rather than a deficiency in skill or hockey IQ, and he should improve even more as his playing time increases.

No. 9 — Nick Lardis

Position: Left Wing

Birth date: July 08, 2005 (19)

Acquired via: Third-round pick (67th overall) in 2023 NHL Draft

2024-25 team : Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

2024-25 stats: 86 points (52 G, 34 A), 86 SOG, 16 PIM in 50 regular season games

Size: 5-foot-11, 185 pounds

Contract: Three-Year, $896,667 AAV (Entry-Level Contract)

Rankings: 9 (Eric), 10 (Dave, LBR), 11 (Zack)

Last T25U25 ranking: No. 15, up 6 spots

The main complaint about the Blackhawks prospect pool as the season has progressed is that, despite the pool size, there are not many top-six projected forwards in their ranks. In our preseason edition of the T25U25, eight of the top 10 spots were filled by forwards, but that\'s dropped down to just four in this current evaluation. However, one forward that has taken an impressive jump forward is Lardis, the goal-scoring machine in the OHL.

Lardis has been absolutely ridiculous this season when it comes to goals, generating at an elite pace that made him just the eighth player player in OHL history to hit 50 goals in under 50 games. Not all seven of those other players made it in the NHL, but there\'s still good company in there.

50 goals in less than 50 games! 🚨 #Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis joins some elite #OHL company! pic.twitter.com/r2dBoL8yCQ

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) February 8, 2025

Lardis has always had an elite shot from distance, but it\'s the variety of his shot arsenal this season that has taken him to another level. He can still snipe with the best of them:

Nick Lardis’ OHL leading 30th goal this season #Blackhawks #HOTR pic.twitter.com/v7fJFKlOqT

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) December 29, 2024

FROM ARTY PARTY TO LARDY PARTY🥳 @NHLBlackhawks prospect Nick Lardis nets his 52nd and officially surpasses Arthur Kaliyev's single season goals record for the @BulldogsOHL !🐶🟡⚫️ #OHL | @CHLHockey | @OHL_History | #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/WfkRbS63C8

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) February 9, 2025

His one-timer is quick and accurate:

Nick Lardis (CHI) with four goals and 10 shots through two periods for Brantford, bringing him to 48 goals in 47 games.

The leading scorer in the CHL and one of the most underrated prospects in hockey. Lethal on the power play with that one-timer, too. pic.twitter.com/VKTkgWVFnK

— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) February 2, 2025

Goal #50 this season for Nick Lardis! #Blackhawks #HOTR (🎥 @OHLHockey ) pic.twitter.com/g5muxPEqVc

— CHGO Blackhawks (@CHGO_Blackhawks) February 8, 2025

He\'s gotten better with scoring off the rush this year:

🤢 #BFD | #Blackhawks | #OHL https://t.co/xd8ZHDAUKU pic.twitter.com/ymdip3jt9y

— Brantford Bulldogs (@BulldogsOHL) January 12, 2025

ANOTHER NIGHT, ANOTHER SCORING CLINIC FROM LARDIS🤯🤯🚨 @NHLBlackhawks prospect Nick Lardis just dropped a FOUR-GOAL masterclass in today's Bulldogs win—now up to 48 goals in 47 games!🤩 Elite. #OHL | @CHLHockey | #Blackhawks | @BulldogsOHL pic.twitter.com/Ofa0lgVWiW

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) February 2, 2025

With quite a few Blackhawks prospects stagnating this season, it\'s been exciting to see Lardis continue to grow. There is some concern about his size and whether he can adapt his somewhat perimeter playing style to the NHL eventually, but this is the type of development that you want to see from young players at this point in their careers.

For the guy that's been asking me for Nick Lardis every day for a month or so...

Very nice progression for Lardis. Model isn't fully sold on him because he's a bit small. Looks basically identical to Vincent Trocheck (also small) though. pic.twitter.com/kEVtJJMBG0

— Byron Bader (@ByronMBader) February 10, 2025

No. 8 — Arvid Soderblom

Position: Goaltender

Birth date: Aug. 19, 1999 (25)

Acquired via: Signed as an undrafted free agent

2024-25 team : Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)

2024-25 stats: .906 save percentage, 3.01 GAA, in 25 regular season games

Size: 6-foot-3, 180 pounds

Contract: One-year, $962,500 AAV

Rankings: 6 (Eric), 8 (Dave, LBR, Zack)

Last T25U25 ranking: Unranked

Yes, Soderblom is technically already 25, but we\'re still including him because he was eligible for the summer edition of the T25U25. It\'s been quite a ride for him on the rankings the last few years: he was No. 7 in 2023 after an impressive season in Rockford, then unranked last summer coming off a terrible rookie NHL season, and now is back in the top 10. Perhaps he\'s the best example of fans practicing patience when it comes to player expectations, especially for goalies, as they tend to develop more slowly.

Either way, Soderblom has been a nice surprise this season, putting up mostly steady performances in net throughout the season. The Swedish netminder was expected to be back in Rockford after the Blackhawks signed Laurent Brossoit in July , but the latter has missed the season due to continued issues with his right knee, and Soderblom has really made the most of the opportunity. His .906 save percentage may not seem particularly impressive, but it\'s well above the current NHL average of .895 and he\'s managing that with one of the heaviest workloads for goalies this season. The team in front of him has been very appreciative of his efforts all season too:

Arvid Soderblom saved 36 of 40 shots, although his save percentage looked a lot better when it was 36 of 38.

Nazar: "That was an unreal performance. No chance we're in that game without him. A few times on the bench, my jaw was on the floor. I was like, 'How did he save that?'"

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) January 25, 2025

The biggest complaints regarding Soderblom\'s efforts from last season were in regards to his rebound control (which seemed nonexistent), his allowance of soft goals through his body, and his reaction time when moving side-to-side. This season, rebounds still aren\'t perfect, but he\'s better at both freezing the puck on the initial shot and directing rebounds to safer areas of the ice -- especially as the season has progressed. His improved positioning has really helped take away space in the net, even on quick, dangerous plays in close:

Great stop by Arvid pic.twitter.com/V1lB2SwhuS

— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) February 9, 2025

And his reflexes have been on point when it comes to more athletic saves.

Arvid Soderblom: “I feel confident, I feel calm, and that’s when you play your best — when you just go out there having fun and not really thinking too much.”

He said this was his favorite of his 34 saves: pic.twitter.com/tbzZ7bjKYq

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) January 29, 2025

pic.twitter.com/z243mwUZzf

— BlackhawksFocus (@FocusBlackhawks) February 6, 2025

pic.twitter.com/DrSQPMp486

— BlackhawksFocus (@FocusBlackhawks) February 6, 2025

Now, this is just one good season, so Soderblom shouldn\'t necessarily be heralded as the Blackhawks goaltender of the future. But he may be the best shot right now, considering the other two goaltenders in the Blackhawks prospect pipeline aren\'t exactly lighting the world on fire with their play. Whatever happens in the long run, it\'s at least been nice to have a glimmer of hope that the Blackhawks could develop a goalie, because they haven\'t really done that since Corey Crawford.

How the Blackhawks plan to address goaltender in their rebuild ⤵️ https://t.co/JssS6yqEKp

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) February 6, 2025

No. 7 — Roman Kantserov

Position: Winger

Birth date: Sept 20, 2004 (20)

Acquired via: Second-round pick (44th overall) in 2023 NHL Draft

2024-25 team : Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)

2024-25 stats: 27 points (12 G, 15 A), 6 PIM in 33 regular season games

Size: 5-foot-9, 176 pounds

Contract: Unsigned

Rankings: 6 (Dave), 7 (LBR, Zack), 8 (Eric)

Last T25U25 ranking: No. 9, up 2 spots

As mentioned above, the top 10 of these current rankings is lacking in forward prospects compared to other editions, but Kantserov is one of the few that has not only remained near the top but has actually moved up.

Kantserov had a solid first season in the KHL last year, picking up eight goals and seven assists in 53 games, capping that rookie campaign with impressive postseason numbers of 13 points (4 G, 9 A) in 23 games after being moved up the lineup during the tournament. This year, he\'s already almost doubled his point totals with 27 points (12 G, 15 A) in 20 less games.

The main thing that stands out for Kantserov is his playmaking, which is smart, creative and, most interestingly, deceptive in a way not unlike Patrick Kane\'s style. Elite Prospects recently had this to say about his playmaking:

His playmaking habits look refined: deception with head fakes, delaying the maximize chances, and manipulating his handling before releasing. He had a really nice, no-look pass to nearly pick up an assist in the third, staring down the goalie as he slid down toward the slot before attacking the open lane to his left to set up a one-timer for his teammate. He spots movement effectively to assist chances in dangerous areas consistently.

Here is an example Kantserov performing a a similar slow-down-and-wait move Kane was famous for to set up his teammate for a goal:

🚨 Связка «8 – 16» работает. #Металлург #Магнитогорск #ММК #Братьяпоогню pic.twitter.com/puVVYrxDHU

— ХК «Металлург» (@MetallurgMgn) November 24, 2024

Although he is more of a playmaker than a scorer, a big reason for his improved offense is the evolution of the latter: he\'s been better off the rush thanks to his speed, he\'s learned to find pockets of space for his shooting, and he\'s applied the ability to use opposing players as screens:

Roman Kantserov off to a breakaway in the first shift of a game! pic.twitter.com/712LU0id62

— KHL (@khl_eng) January 5, 2025

Roman Kantserov celebrated 100th KHL career game with a goal! pic.twitter.com/bf5ojhphNc

— KHL (@khl_eng) January 11, 2025

Whether Kantserov will be able to make the transition to the NHL is still unknown. Sometimes smaller, skilled players excel on the bigger ice in the KHL and cannot adapt to the limited space available on North American rinks. But he\'s got a similar style of play as Kane, as seen above, in that he\'s quite sneaky and able to slip around or use opposing players to his advantage -- so it could be possible. He\'s a high-risk, high-reward player who will need to play with other high-quality players to make the best of his skill set.

Roman Kantserov has been on a heater all year in the KHL. I'm curious to see how he looks when he comes over to North America. #Blackhawks https://t.co/det1HRyvtq pic.twitter.com/gmENd0PwOb

— Nick (@nickthehabsfan) January 9, 2025

No. 6 — Sam Rinzel

Position: Defense

Birth date: June 25, 2004 (20)

Acquired via: First-round pick (25th overall) in 2022 NHL Draft

2024-25 team : Minnesota (NCAA)

2024-25 stats: 25 points (9 G, 16 A), 74 SOG, 8 PIM in 30 games

Size: 6-foot-5, 190 pounds

Contract: Unsigned

Rankings: 6 (LBR, Zack), 7 (Dave, Eric)

Last T25U25 ranking: No. 16, up 10 spots

One of the largest jumps from the summer on this list is Rinzel, who has been one of the best defenders in the NCAA this season. He\'s currently tied for fifth with 25 points (9 G, 16 A) in 30 games while playing top-pair minutes for the University of Minnesota. Drafted as a raw player with a solid toolkit, Rinzel has really started to put it all together in a way where we\'re finally seeing that he could be the top-four defender -- some even believe he could be top-pairing if he continues to develop as he has the last few years.

Frank Seravalli from the Daily Faceoff made a bold claim (starts at the 1:06 mark in the clip below) recently that \"[Rinzel] is a bonafide, sure-fire top-pair defensemen in the NHL… I see no reason why [he] can’t have the type of impact that Brock Faber has had in Minnesota.”

"I'm going to say that Artyom Levshunov is the key prospect in this entire rebuild." @frank_seravalli thinks the #Blackhawks 2nd overall pick can provide a lot of flexibility for Kyle Davidson in the future. pic.twitter.com/Cdn4FCTNks

— Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks) January 14, 2025

Now, it feels a bit of a stretch that Rinzel will ever be as good as Faber is currently is, but it does highlight how much Rinzel has improved this past season. Scott Wheeler from The Athleti c summed up his progress well in his latest Top 100 Drafted NHL Prospects Ranking, where he placed Rinzel at No. 54:

His game used to be a little haywire, his play selection needed some buttoning up and he’d occasionally get burned, but all of those things have started to fall into place nicely for him as he has gotten more reps and his skill and talent have taken over from there. You can see the tools and he’s starting to figure out how to deploy and utilize them in a more cohesive way. You can see his confidence building in real time as he starts to look like more than just his length and skating, too. He can really impact play when he’s reading the game well.

And while he was a work in progress when he was drafted and still has plenty of development in front of him, he’s already much less raw than he was.

Scott Wheeler, The Athletic

Offensively, the biggest improvement for Rinzel has been his decision making, especially when it comes to his shots. He\'s finding the space and lanes to get shots through at a much higher rate, resulting in both more goals and rebound opportunities for his teammates.

Rinzel's 9th of the year pic.twitter.com/a4dY7T1TDt

— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) January 10, 2025

Also, Rinzel has always had great skating ability and has been able to get the puck up the ice when needed, but this season he\'s figured out how translate that good transition play into more scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. He\'s been especially effective at joining the rush:

SIGNATURE SNUGGY SNIPE ™️ pic.twitter.com/wUAjW0ZWlc

— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) December 7, 2024

SIGNATURE Snuggerud 🚀 pic.twitter.com/mKq5ATplei

— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) January 26, 2025

Defensively, Rinzel has a nice foundation as well: solid positioning and decent gap control combined with his size and skating allows for Minnesota to use him as a shutdown guy when needed as well. There\'s still more refinement needed on both ends of the ice, but the progress has been nice to see from a player who was drafted as a project.

🥅Drop the Mitts Episode 52🥅

🏒 Sam Rinzel joins the pod 🏒 State of the Minnesota Gophers 🏒 Friendship with Jimmy Snuggerud 🏒 Natty run? 🏒 Winning Gold at the WJC 🇺🇸 🏒 Getting drafted to #Blackhawks 🏒 #4Nations 🇨🇦/🇸🇪 Breakdown 🏒 CROSBY’S STILL GOT IT

📺:… pic.twitter.com/6rdlU6IB0r

— Drop the Mitts Hockey (@dropmittshockey) February 13, 2025

No. 5 — Kevin Korchinski

Position: Defense

Birth date: June 21, 2004 (20)

Acquired via: First-round pick (7th overall) in 2022 NHL Draft

2024-25 team : IceHogs/Blackhawks

2024-25 stats: 19 points (2 G, 17 A), 60 SOG, 24 PIM in 37 AHL games; 0 points, 7 SOG, 4 PIM, 16:46 ATOI in 9 NHL games

Size: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds

Contract: Two years, $918,333 AAV (Entry-level contract)

Rankings: 5 (Dave, Eric, LBR), 4 (Zack)

Last T25U25 ranking: No. 5, no movement

After playing most of last season with the Blackhawks, it was probably a disappointment for Korchinski to be in Rockford this year, but it\'s honestly been good for his development. He was objectively not ready for the advanced speed and physicality of the NHL last season, and the young defender seemed to become meeker as the season progressed. But there were some bright spots -- especially with some of his underlying numbers that corresponded to his skating ability -- that signaled Korchinski has the skillset to be an NHL defender, even if some development is still needed.

https://www.secondcityhockey.com/chicago-blackhawks-defenseman-kevin-korchinski-rookie-season-breakdown-analysis-commentary-projections

With the IceHogs, the season started somewhat slow for Korchinski, as he was basically re-learning what made him special in juniors, but you could see him start to get his swagger back as the season progressed. He\'s back to utilizing his speed and hands in combination to make impact plays, whether that\'s exiting or entering zones, controlling possession, and hitting up teammates with impressive passes. Offensively, he\'s still not showing up as much on the scoresheet as much as you\'d maybe want, but some of that it due to the lackluster roster in Rockford rather than anything Korchinski is doing wrong.

Excellent offensive sequence from Kevin Korchinski (#14). Ryan Gagnier (#74) just can’t connect with his pass #Blackhawks #IceHogs #HawksProspects pic.twitter.com/dpBiQ5qvV8

— Chicago Prospects (@Chi_Prospects) February 1, 2025

Another on the money stretch pass from Kevin Korchinski (#14) #Blackhawks #IceHogs #HawksProspects pic.twitter.com/hLJS0bSUFa

— Chicago Prospects (@Chi_Prospects) January 9, 2025

And he\'s been robbed a few times this season by outstanding goalies:

Kevin Korchinski (#14) absolutely robbed on the power play #Blackhawks #IceHogs #HawksProspects pic.twitter.com/NU4eruLs3X

— Chicago Prospects (@Chi_Prospects) January 18, 2025

Like last season with the Blackhawks, transition has really been a strong suit of Korchinski\'s game with the IceHogs:

Another clean zone entry for Kevin Korchinski (#14). He also draws the opposing forward towards him which creates space for Cole Guttman (#70). #Blackhawks #IceHogs #HawksProspects pic.twitter.com/ABzQDixGhR

— Chicago Prospects (@Chi_Prospects) January 9, 2025

The same types of plays were fairly successful with higher quality players on the ice, though:

Dacher PPG from Korchinski & Hayes 🤌 https://t.co/vF0u5BBQMz pic.twitter.com/ZvSQMG36sm

— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) December 1, 2024

And he has his own highlight-reel worthy goal efforts, too:

KEVIN KORCHINSKI COAST TO COAST✈️ @goicehogs | #GRvsRFD pic.twitter.com/Kgt3Syq0mX

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) October 13, 2024

Korchinski with the moves 😮💨

From Del Mastro & Nazar!! https://t.co/GEL5tufzhb pic.twitter.com/YDWajqreGJ

— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) December 1, 2024

Defensively, Korchinski has been improving too, though he still needs work in that area, and his best attribute is his ability to pass or skate the puck out of his own zone:

Kevin Korchinski (#14) has been great at these little transition plays out of the defensive zone #Blackhawks #IceHogs #HawksProspects pic.twitter.com/RFokKva5zb

— Chicago Prospects (@Chi_Prospects) December 5, 2024

Korchinski has been one of the most consistent defensive prospects in Rockford, so it wasn\'t surprising he got a call-up with the Blackhawks as a reward for his play. While the brief stint in the NHL showed he still has a bit to go before he\'s ready for a full-time gig in the big show, there were some really nice moments too, including a move that basically shut down Artemi Panarin.

Kevin Korchinski on defending Panarin: “It's cool stopping the best players in the world, but it's just a hockey play. You've got to be able to make that play 100 times out of 100 to be an NHL-er.” pic.twitter.com/uR8HVs20gm

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) December 13, 2024

If the Blackhawks move any of their defenders at the trade deadline, there is a chance that Korchinski could be one of the players elevated to play in the NHL to finish the season.

No. 4 — Artyom Levshunov

Position: Defense

Birth date: Oct. 28, 2005 (19)

Acquired via: First-round pick (2nd overall) in 2024 NHL Draft

2024-25 team : IceHogs

2024-25 stats: 16 points (4 G, 12 A), 119 SOG, 40 PIM in 41 AHL games

Size: 6-foot-2, 209 pounds

Contract: Three years, $975,000 AAV (entry-level contract)

Rankings: 4 (Dave, Eric, LBR), 5 (Zack)

Last T25U25 ranking: No. 2, down 2 spots

As we mentioned in our last AHL update report, Levshunov is having a fine -- albeit not spectacular -- season with the IceHogs. He\'s not exactly popping off offensively like many hoped, considering he was billed as a high-producing defender, and he hasn\'t been outstanding in terms of defense, either. There\'s a lack of refinement to his game that the Blackhawks knew of when they drafted him, but the upside of his toolkit was enticing enough that they selected him with their No. 2 pick. This is not to say Levshunov hasn\'t made any progress -- he has, absolutely -- it\'s just that the transition from the NCAA to professional hockey hasn\'t been as smooth as one would hope for a No. 2 overall pick. Patience is key, even if it\'s hard.

https://www.secondcityhockey.com/blackhawks-ahl-prospect-update-1-15-midseason-check-ins-on-levshunov-korchinski-commesso-and-more

The strong foundation of size, skill, and skating is still there for Levshunov, it\'s primarily decision making that has been an issue for the defender. He tends to react without thinking and his puck management isn\'t always the best -- especially when under pressure. However, it\'s important to note that these problem areas have been improving slowly but steadily as the season has progressed, and he seems to be playing more aggressive on both ends of the ice.

Since the above article touches a lot on those issues, let\'s look at some of the highlights Levshunov\'s made in recent games:

Artyom Levshunov (#55) has been fantastic for the #IceHogs tonight. Some of his best plays from the first period #Blackhawks #HawksProspects pic.twitter.com/nKx6Ll2aTv

— Chicago Prospects (@Chi_Prospects) January 18, 2025

Nothing too crazy from Artyom Levshunov (#55) here, but it felt important to show how aggressive he’s been tonight. Especially at holding the blue line and defending entries. #Blackhawks #IceHogs #HawksProspects pic.twitter.com/rh2Yg9OhUk

— Chicago Prospects (@Chi_Prospects) January 18, 2025

One of the many things that Artyom Levshunov (#55) has gotten better at in the matter of a few months is his passing ability. I also love his aggressiveness to keep pucks in at the offensive blue line. #Blackhawks #IceHogs #HawksProspects pic.twitter.com/9LrsZmdsff

— Chicago Prospects (@Chi_Prospects) January 19, 2025

Artyom Levshunov 👀 #Blackhawks #IceHogs #HawksProspects pic.twitter.com/aKwlKkkl4f

— Chicago Prospects (@Chi_Prospects) January 26, 2025

Artyom Levshunov (#55) immediately makes up for it, and scores after exiting the penalty box! Tied 1-1. #Blackhawks #IceHogs #HawksProspects https://t.co/pEWZtbAQMz pic.twitter.com/PYQZWpc8Rg

— Chicago Prospects (@Chi_Prospects) February 1, 2025

A good shift from Artyom Levshunov (#55), in my opinion. Lands a reverse hit, has a couple shots, and pushes the puck up the ice. #Blackhawks #IceHogs #HawksProspects pic.twitter.com/9WlNt9VuOK

— Chicago Prospects (@Chi_Prospects) January 23, 2025

It’s a power play party in the 3rd 🪩 https://t.co/wgzlzdXIRh pic.twitter.com/4zXyI9jqpM

— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) February 12, 2025

The Blackhawks recently invited Levshunov up to practice with the team while the AHL was on break, and while he didn\'t get into any games (because he\'s not ready), interim Blackhawks head coach Anders Sorensen (and former Rockford head coach) liked what he saw in terms of development over the season:

Blackhawks interim head coach Anders Sorensen says Artyom Levshunov looks like a different player since he last saw him in Rockford. pic.twitter.com/7DdVdeB662

— CHGO Blackhawks (@CHGO_Blackhawks) February 3, 2025

So, yes, Levshunov is perhaps not where many believe his development should be for his draft selection, and that\'s why he\'s dropped some here, but it\'s important to note that he\'s not stagnated by any means and is getting better the more he plays.

No. 2 (tie) — Frank Nazar

Position: Center/Wing

Birth date: Jan. 14, 2004 (21)

Acquired via: First-round pick (13th overall) in 2022 NHL Draft

2024-25 team : Blackhawks/IceHogs

2024-25 stats: 10 points (4 G, 6 A), 36 SOG, 8 PIM, 14:40 ATOI in 26 NHL games; 24 points (11 G, 13 A), 60 SOG, 8 PIM in 21 AHL games

Size: 5-foot-10, 190 pounds

Contract: Two years, $950,000 AAV (entry-level contract)

Rankings: 2 (Eric, Zack), 3 (Dave, LBR)

Last T25U25 ranking: No. 4, up 2 spots

After not making the Blackhawks roster out of camp, Nazar made the most of his time in the AHL, dominating offensively as expected as an almost-top-10 pick. His 24 points (11 G, 13 A) in 21 games with Rockford earned him a call up to the Blackhawks in mid-December, and he\'s picked up another four goals and six assists in 26 NHL games since. That 0.39 points-per-game rate isn\'t exactly top-six yet, but his production took off when playing with high quality linemates and when playing on the wing.

FRANK NAZAR, EVERYONE😤 pic.twitter.com/pQP3JT9RQf

— Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks) January 25, 2025

Louis Crevier keeps the party going 👏 pic.twitter.com/MMy5w5KM5C

— Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks) January 25, 2025

Nazar was NOT given an assist, which feels unfair TBH: https://t.co/r7OTueCoWx

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) January 21, 2025

Chicago goal!

Scored by Frank Nazar with 15:44 remaining in the 3rd period.

Assisted by Ethan Del Mastro.

Chicago: 2 Minnesota: 3 #MINvsCHI #Blackhawks #mnwild pic.twitter.com/32fElNLZic

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) January 27, 2025

Like with several Blackhawks young players and prospects, it\'s the skating that has been key to Nazar\'s early NHL success, especially his straight-line speed. Nazar is a perfect combination of speedster and high-effort player who is useful both offensively and defensively.

Here are a couple of examples of his speed in action, although they don\'t result in any points:

Frank Nazar is shot out of a cannon and pulls off a nice move but he's denied. That was fun to watch his speed. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/34J2uq0tz8

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) January 4, 2025

Between the AHL and NHL, Frank Nazar has had an unreal amount of shorthanded breakaways this season. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/J64ypFiiOh

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) February 8, 2025

And then success:

foligno goal 🤝 Frank Nazar's first NHL assist pic.twitter.com/RzONeNOCgI

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 24, 2024

Here is an example of Nazar using his speed to get back quick and disrupt the opposing team\'s regroup:

Frank Nazar's top speed is blistering fast. Wow. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/hKdbra8eme

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) January 21, 2025

Currently, Nazar isn\'t quite getting the results for his play, but he\'s doing a lot of little things right, especially when it comes to driving plays.

Frank Nazar is one of the most middle-driven prospects in years. This video explains why that’s key to NHL success.

So far, he’s been inconsistent at executing these plays but relentless in trying them. Once he masters them, he’ll be a great off-the-rush player. #Blackhawks https://t.co/dsAF2u7Ew7

— The Rinkside General (@RinksideGeneral) January 23, 2025

Nazar hasn\'t solidified himself as a top-six regular yet, but it has been great seeing him build chemistry with other quality players this season -- at least when given the chance -- and it\'s those flashes and tangible results that have moved him up slightly on this ranking.

No. 2 (tie) — Alex Vlasic

Position: Defense

Birth date: June 5, 2001 (23)

Acquired via: Second-round pick (43rd overall) in 2019 NHL Draft

2024-25 team : Blackhawks

2024-25 stats: 20 points (2 G, 18 A), 76 SOG, 8 PIM, 23:47 ATOI in 55 games

Size: 6-foot-6, 217 pounds

Contract: Six years, $4.6M AAV

Rankings: 2 (Dave, LBR), 3 (Eric, Zack)

Last T25U25 ranking: No. 3, up 1 spot

After a breakout rookie season, Alex Vlasic basically picked up where he left off and has arguably been the backbone to the Blackhawks defense this season. Not only has he been a consistent force defensively, he\'s also improved his offense: he has 20 points (2 G, 18 A) already this season, four more than he had last year in 21 fewer games. That\'s a 30-point pace and, for those who like math, is pretty close to what players like Duncan Keith were producing in their second season in the NHL. Now, it\'s unlikely that Vlasic is ever as productive as Keith was, but the flashes seen this season have shown Vlasic is capable of being more of a two-way defender than a defense-first player he was billed as when he was drafted.

Vlasic has one of the hardest shots in the NHL, which is nice obviously, but it\'s how he\'s been much smarter with his shooting choices that have made a difference this year. He\'s not necessarily scoring off his shot much -- though below is an example of one of his goals -- but it\'s quick and accurate in a way that allows for quality rebounds or deflection opportunities.

Goal, meet Alex Vlasic 🤝 pic.twitter.com/2rQRjanGRT

— Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks) December 5, 2024

Here is a shot that was tipped for a goal:

Vlasic makes it a one goal game 👀 pic.twitter.com/6R08GTW18J

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 9, 2024

The most impressive times for Vlasic are related to skating: he\'s been much more willing to jump into plays, whether on the rush or in his own zone. Here are a couple of examples of him using his skating to circle the zone behind the net before setting up teammates:

Frank celly alert🚨 pic.twitter.com/jAuPFetmGg

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) February 8, 2025

Philipp Kurashev scores on the power play for his second goal of the season.

What a play by Alex Vlasic, who picks up the primary assist. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/4Bgbwb4pTH

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) October 29, 2024

In terms of defense, Vlasic is still one of the best on the Blackhawks. His team level numbers have taken a bit of a hit -- likely due to him being paired with Louis Crevier, who is fine but not great, compared to Seth Jones, who is a top-pair defender still -- but his individual numbers are still strong. He\'s very active in own zone, his stick seems to always be in the right spot, he\'s great on the penalty skill, and more.

Seth Jones and Alex Vlasic combine to stop the Sharks' rush. pic.twitter.com/sscRHpug6p

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) October 18, 2024

When Jones was out in November and December, it was Vlasic that really stepped in to eating those minutes, and he excelled in that role.

The Blackhawks claimed they would replace Seth Jones by committee, but they actually haven't. Instead, Alex Vlasic has stepped directly into Jones' shoes.

Analyzing Vlasic's progression: https://t.co/e2z6MHjiVE

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) November 27, 2024

As mentioned with Nazar and is true of several players on this midseason ranking, the voting panel emphasized more realized results from players, and Vlasic is one of the most established young players on the Blackhawks currently, so it\'s easy to see why he\'s slid up in this ranking.

No. 1 — Connor Bedard

Position: Center

Birth date: July 17, 2005 (19)

Acquired via: First-round pick (1st overall) in 2023 NHL Draft

2024-25 team : Blackhawks

2024-25 stats: 49 points (16 G, 33 A), 130 SOG, 30 PIM, 20:06 ATOI in 55 games

Size: 5-foot-10, 186 pounds

Contract: Two years, $950,000 AAV (entry-level contract)

Rankings: 1 (Everyone)

Last T25U25 ranking: No. 1, no movement

Duh.

You need to check out this shot by Connor Bedard...

WOW! 😱 pic.twitter.com/RBwjwt2LuM

— NHL (@NHL) January 29, 2025

No. 10 — Nolan Allan

Talking Points