Blackhawks Prospects
Blackhawks Prospect Check-In: Plenty of Future NHLers in the College Ranks
Yesterday, we looked at what the Chicago Blackhawks prospects are doing in the Ontario Hockey League. Today, it’s time to go to school and check in on the nine players doing their thing in the NCAA ranks.
Oliver Moore – University of Minnesota (2023, Rd 1)
The jury is still out on what Oliver Moore will be at the NHL level. Will he be a dynamic top-six forward or an energy player on the bottom-six? Will he be a center or a winger? There is still plenty of time to sort that out. Moore’s offensive production is about the same as in his freshman season. He has seven goals and 23 points in 29 games. He also had a goal and five points in helping the United States win back-to-back gold medals at the World Junior Championships while becoming one of their best defensive players.
Moore’s game flourishes on speed and his high-end motor. He prides himself on being the first on loose pucks. He will need the rest of his game to catch up to his speed before he can excel in the NHL. While the points may not blow you away, Moore gives you the same effort every night and never takes a shift off. There is a good chance he turns pro when his season ends with the Gophers.
Sam Rinzel – University of Minnesota (2022, Rd 1)
When defenseman Sam Rinzel was drafted by the Blackhawks three years ago, he was viewed as a long-term project. However, his progress since arriving in Minnesota has been impressive. He has nine goals and 25 points in 32 games this season. One more goal would mark his first double-digit goal season at any level.
Rinzel is another tall defenseman, at 6-foot-4, and skates exceptionally well. He is the prototype for today’s NHL defenseman, a big guy who moves the puck and is not afraid to activate in the offensive zone. The young blueliner, like Moore, could be heading to Chicago after Minnesota’s season ends.
Ryan Greene – Boston University (2022, Rd 2)
The pressure of being captain of one of the most prestigious college programs has not gotten to Ryan Greene. He’s tied his career-high with 12 goals in 11 fewer games than he needed last season. He’s got 27 points in 29 games for the Terriers. He’s nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the best player in college hockey.
Puckhandling is one of Greene’s top attributes, as he uses it to beat defenders up and down the ice. He is a tremendous playmaker who uses his expertise with the puck to set up his teammates. His production would increase if he is paired with a sniper at the NHL level. He has a solid two-way game, which will help his rise to the NHL, as the Blackhawks need help down the middle. Green is a candidate to turn pro when his season in Boston ends.
Aidan Thompson – University Denver (2022, Rd 3)
College hockey has been great for Aidan Thompson, as he’s improved each year. His junior year has been the best of his career, with 16 goals and 37 points in 30 games. He already has set new career highs in goals and points and needs two more helpers to do the same for assists. At 22, he’s one of the organization’s oldest prospects, which should help him transition to the professional level faster.
Thompson is another prospect who has NHL-caliber speed and quickness. When he isn’t using his speed to create chances, he’s putting pucks into the back of the net with his dangerous one-time. He’s become a stronger player, playing both at center and on the wing. He will likely turn pro after this season, and many hope he brings his head coach, David Carle, with him. He should be a big part of the IceHogs next season as he takes the next step in his career.
Dominic James – University of Minnesota-Duluth (2022, Rd 6)
A dislocated shoulder cost Dominic James all but two games of the 2023-24 season. The 6-foot has rebounded nicely this season with 11 goals and 23 points in 27 games. He’s cooled off after a red-hot start when he scored nine goals and 17 points in the first 13 games of the season.
James does his best work when he doesn’t have the puck. If he is going to have any success at the professional level, it will be because of his stout defensive play. Like Thompson, James is 22, and if the Blackhawks see a future for him, he will have to earn his way by starting with the IceHogs next season.
Sacha Boisvert – University of North Dakota (2024, Rd 1)
The second of three 2024 first-round picks, Sacha Boisvert, is having a heck of a freshman season at North Dakota. The 18-year-old center has nine goals and 20 points through the first 28 games of his NCAA career. Getting as much ice time and a top program like North Dakota for a freshman is no easy feat. Boisvert averages nearly 16 minutes a game and is second on the team in goals and points. He missed their recent game with an undisclosed injury.
Boisvert has shown why the Blackhawks traded up to draft him. Once he grows into his 6-foot-2 frame, he will have the size to be a formidable center at the NHL level. He’s not the best skater in the system, but he’s no slouch, either. He has an excellent release, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to his 200-foot game. He’ll return to North Dakota for at least one more season.
John Mustard – Providence College (2024, Rd 3)
When you look at the last three draft classes, Kyle Davidson’s vision becomes crystal clear; he wants to skate opponents out of the building. John Mustard fits this mold, as full speed is the only speed he knows. The 6-foot-1 left wing is having a solid start to his college career, with seven goals and 18 points in 30 games.
Future Portillo’s endorsements and Cluereferences aside, there are many reasons to root for Mustard to get to Chicago. He uses his speed not only to create scoring chances in the offensive zone but to hunt for the puck when he doesn’t have it. He has a natural goal-scoring touch and could be a mid-round gem if he reaches his full potential. He’ll be back at Providence next season to continue his development.
Taige Harding/Connor Kelley – Providence College (2021, Rd 3/2021, Rd 7)
We’ll wrap this up with a pair of defensemen who were part of Stan Bowman’s final draft class. Harding was a third-round pick and was an intriguing prospect at 6-foot-7. He’s scored two goals and 13 points during his senior season. In 116 NCAA games, he has eight goals, 39 points, and a plus-20 rating.
Kelley is your prototypical stay-at-home defenseman who can eat up a lot of minutes. He has seven goals and 35 points in his 149 games for Providence while boasting a plus-33 rating. Harding and Kelley will become free agents if they aren’t signed by Aug. 15. Based on how deep the defensive prospect pool is, that is the likely path unless they sign AHL contracts to see what they can do in Rockford.
