2025 Blackhawks Top 25 Under 25: Allan, Slaggert lead group ranked 21-25

The 2025 version of Second City Hockey’s Top 25 Under 25 rankings moves into the first group of prospects in the top 25 who were ranked on individual ballots submitted by SCH staffers .

No. 25 — AJ Spellacy

Position: Center/Right Wing

Birth date: Feb. 24, 2006 (19)

Acquired via: Third-round pick (72nd overall) in 2024 NHL Draft

2024-25 team : Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

2024-25 stats: 37 points (13 G, 15 A) in 62 regular season games; 3 points (1 G, 2 A) in 5 playoff games

Size: 6-foot-3, 205 pounds

Contract: Two years, 906,667 AAV (entry-level contract)

Rankings: 21 (Eric), 25 (Zack), Unranked (Dave, LBR)

Last T25U25 ranking: No. 21, down four spots

Spellacy spent the 2024–25 season in the OHL, where he served as an alternate captain for the Windsor Spitfires and continued to showcase his trademark physicality and motor. His production improved but was still rather modest with 37 points (13 G, 24 A) in 62 regular-season games and three points (1 G, 2 A) in five playoff appearances.

While the year marked steady progress, Spellacy didn’t necessarily make any major leaps developmentally. The raw tools are there -- the size, strength, and speed that catch the eye -- but translating those physical gifts into consistent, NHL-ready hockey skills remains the key challenge ahead. Although his performance earned him an entry-level contract with the Blackhawks that was signed in January, Spellacy is still more of a long-term project than a polished product, which is exactly what the Blackhawks anticipated when they selected him.

Because of that, Spellacy holds fairly steady in our rankings, with the four-position drop attributed more to the influx of new prospects than any dip in his own game. Still just 19, he continues to project as a high-energy, bottom-six forward with value on the penalty kill and potential to carve out a role as a reliable, disruptive presence.

One place where Spellacy could play a bigger role in the upcoming hockey season is at the World Juniors, and one-time SCH podcast guest Chris Peters appeared on CHGO to discuss that very possibility earlier this month:

What could AJ Spellacy bring to Team USA and, eventually, the Blackhawks?

"He's the kind of guy that helps you win." @chrismpeters gives us a scouting report. pic.twitter.com/74XNTg8O3r

— CHGO Blackhawks (@CHGO_Blackhawks) August 7, 2025

No. 24 — John Mustard

Position: Left Wing

Birth date: August 16, 2006 (19)

Acquired via: Third-round pick (67th overall) in 2024 NHL Draft

2024-25 team : Providence Friars (NCAA)

2024-25 stats: 20 points (7 G, 13 A) in 37 regular season games

Size: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds

Contract: Unsigned

Rankings: 22 (Zack), 25 (Dave, Eric), Unranked (LBR)

Last T25U25 ranking: No. 24, up one spot

Mustard took a solid step forward with his freshman season at Providence College in 2024–25, appearing in all 37 games and tallying 20 points (7 G, 13 A) and ranking fourth in team scoring and tied for second in assists. His best stretch of games in terms of production was a hot streak in late November and early December. Over a seven-game stretch, he recorded 10 points, highlighted by standout performances against Clarkson, Colorado College (including a career-high three-point game), Northeastern, Dartmouth, and St. Lawrence. His efforts earned him back-to-back conference honors as Hockey East Rookie of the Week and Player of the Week in early December.

Throughout the season, Mustard showed off his relentless motor, NHL-level speed, and ability to create offense on the rush. His eye-catching scoring bursts and recognition from the conference showed promise. His overall NHLe dipped slightly, but that\'s expected with the transition to the NCAA. While his defensive instincts require further refinement, particularly in managing overzealous rushes and positional awareness, his upside as a future bottom-six winger with two-way potential remained clear.

Overall, Mustard’s freshman campaign was marked by steady offensive contributions, high energy, and promising flashes, and that\'s part of why he moved up slightly on our rankings. As his role with the Friars expands in the coming seasons, Mustard will look to continue developing his game and evolving into a more complete, impact player at the collegiate level.

Improved scoring was a focal point of what Mustard discussed in this interview with Ben Pope of the Sun-Times back in July:

Blackhawks prospect LW John Mustard hopes to convert more of his plentiful scoring chances as he progresses toward his sophomore year with @FriarsHockey .

"This summer, I’ve put an emphasis on scoring in tight."

Story: https://t.co/n60fsrgcqk

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) July 3, 2025

No. 23 — Nathan Behm

Position: Wing

Birth date: April 18, 2007 (18)

Acquired via: Third-round pick (66th overall) in 2025 NHL Draft

2024-25 team : Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

2024-25 stats: 66 points (31 G, 35 A) in 59 games

Size: 6-foot-2, 203 pounds

Contract: Unsigned

Rankings: 19 (Zack), 22 (LBR), 24 (Eric), Unranked (Dave)

Last T25U25 ranking: N/A

Nathan Behm enjoyed a breakout 2024–25 season with the Kamloops Blazers, establishing himself as one of the WHL’s most productive young forwards. In 59 games, the 6-foot-2 winger racked up 31 goals and 35 assists, finishing second on the team in points. It was a season that not only showcased his offensive ability but also his growing presence as a complete forward.

Behm is most known for his shot, willingness to drive through traffic, and generally smart puck decisions. He showed improved hands in tight areas and a growing knack for getting to high-danger scoring zones. Though his game is still developing, his combination of size, skill, and hockey sense made him a compelling prospect.

Although Behm dropped to the third round, he was touted as a potential first-rounder ahead of the draft and arguably has a more well-rounded, projectable floor than some others taken ahead of him (such as a 2025 Blackhawks first-rounder who was an honorable mention in this year\'s T25U25 list ). His placement in this list is a reflection of that firmer floor, but it\'s basically splitting hairs in this group and HM.

In all, Behm’s 2024–25 campaign marked a turning point in his development: his offensive leap, paired with a more refined, physical game, positioned him as one of the Blackhawks’ more intriguing longer-term forward prospects.

https://www.secondcityhockey.com/chicago-blackhawks-2025-nhl-draft-third-round-pick-nathan-behm-scouting-reports-analysis-projections

No. 22 — Landon Slaggert

Position: Left Wing

Birth date: June 25, 2002 (23)

Acquired via: Third-round pick (79th overall) in 2020 NHL Draft

2024-25 team : Rockford IceHogs (AHL) | Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)

2024-25 AHL stats: 25 points (10 G, 15 A) in 33 games

2024-25 NHL stats: 6 points (2 G, 4 A) in 33 games

Size: 6-foot-1, 181 pounds

Contract: Two years, $900,000 AAV (RFA)

Rankings: 22 (Dave, Eric, Zack), 23 (LBR)

Last T25U25 ranking: No. 18, down five spots

In 39 games with the IceHogs, Slaggert posted 25 points (10 G, 15 A), establishing himself as one of the team’s most consistent offensive contributors. He made his mark through relentless effort: hounding pucks, living around the net, and backchecking with urgency.

This level of play was enough to earn Slaggert a a call-up to the Blackhawks in late January and he wasted no time making an impression with his high energy. He was rewarded early, scoring in his season debut and making franchise history with a goal just seven seconds into a game against Florida -- the fastest to start a game in team history.

“The kid who played college hockey at Notre Dame.”

Pretty cool the Fighting Irish’s own Landon Slaggert now owns the Chicago Blackhawks’ all-time record for fastest goal to begin a game. pic.twitter.com/cICokbgvz5

— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) February 2, 2025

While offense isn’t his hallmark -- Slaggert finished with just six points (2 G, 4 A) in 33 NHL games -- he brought consistent energy and logged regular third-line minutes, averaging just over 12 minutes per night. He was also especially effective on the penalty kill.

A couple of Slaggert\'s highlights are below, starting with this neat pass to Lukas Reichel that triggered a breakaway goal:

Chicago goal!

Scored by Lukas Reichel with 14:21 remaining in the 3rd period.

Assisted by Landon Slaggert and Joe Veleno.

Montreal: 2 Chicago: 3 #CHIvsMTL #GoHabsGo #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/mtMZ9NFNRj

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 15, 2025

That same duo combined on this goal as well, which was Slaggert\'s first NHL tally of the season:

Landon Slaggert buries a pass from Lukas Reichel for his 1st goal of the season in his 1st game since being called up. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/SYX7TbRtcR

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) January 29, 2025

Slaggert\'s drop in the rankings says is more about new incoming talent than any regression in his own game. Slaggert remains very much in the mix for an NHL role: while much of his impact doesn’t show up on the scoresheet, his motor, work ethic, and forechecking instincts reflect a game that could translate to a utility bottom-six forward and penalty killer.

No. 21 — Nolan Allan

Position: Defenseman

Birth date: April 28, 2003 (22)

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

2024-25 team : Chicago Blackhawks (NHL) | Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

2024-25 NHL stats: 8 points (1 G, 7 A) in 43 games; 4 assists in 7 playoffs games

2024-25 AHL stats: 6 points (2 G, 4 A) in 20 games

Size: 6-foot-2, 194 pounds

Contract: One year, $825,000 AAV (entry-level contract)

Rankings: 16 (Dave), 21 (LBR), 23 (Eric), Unranked (Zack)

Last T25U25 ranking: No. 10, down 11 spots

Allan’s 2024–25 season was a mix of promise and growing pains. He made the Blackhawks roster out of training camp and impressed early on with smart positioning, solid defensive reads, and quick puck movement. His ability to retrieve and move the puck efficiently -- primarily through sharp passing -- even helped him crack our midseason T25U25 list at No. 10.

By January, though, his game began to slide: turnovers crept in, decision-making lagged, and he found himself scratched more often than not. He was ultimately sent down to Rockford at the end of February, finishing his NHL stint with eight points in 43 games and just over 15 minutes of ice time per night.

In the AHL, Allan took on a second-pair, defense-first role. He finished the regular season strong, but struggled in the playoffs, particularly against the Milwaukee Admirals, where sloppy, inconsistent, penalty-prone play held him back.

While his AHL postseason showing left a sour aftertaste, it doesn’t erase the strides Allan made over the course of the season. He earned valuable NHL reps, showed legitimate upside as a shutdown presence, and reinforced his strengths as a transition facilitator. Still, the late-season slide, combined with strong finishes from others and new faces in the Blackhawks\' system, has caused Allan to drop in our updated rankings.

2025 Blackhawks Top 25 Under 25 list (so far): Honorable Mentions: Pridham, Savoie, West

No. 25 — AJ Spellacy

Talking Points