Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks Draft Profiles: Daniil Prokhorov

Published

1 week ago

June 11, 2025

We started our series of Blackhawks Draft Profiles by looking at six options for the third overall pick in this month’s NHL Entry Draft. The Blackhawks also have the 25th overall pick, acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2023 trade for Jake McCabe and Sam Lafferty. General manager Kyle Davidson has been aggressive on draft night before, so there is no guarantee that this pick will be made. Daniil Prokhorov from the MHL would be a great use of this pick.

Tale of the Tape

Date of Birth: April 27, 2007
Place of Birth: Krasnodar, Russia
Position: Right Wing
Shoots: Left
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 209 pounds
2024-25 Team: Arizona State University (NCAA)

Player Profile

The 25^th pick might be a little early to select Prokhorov, but once you get out of the top ten, this draft will be a roulette wheel. The giant Russian winger has a lot that the Blackhawks are looking for, so if he’s a target, grab him while he’s available. He spent the 2024-25 season with Dynamo St. Petersburg in the MHL, Russia’s second-tier league. He scored 20 goals and 27 points in 43 games during the regular season, and added four goals in eight playoff games.

Prokhorov uses his size to his advantage, as he is usually the biggest player on the ice. If you want size and physicality, he’s your guy. He is the most physical player in the draft. It’s his greatest attribute, and when you watch his highlights, he never passes up a chance to use it. His size, motor, and desire to punish make him an intriguing prospect.

The 6-foot-6 forward loves to play in front of the net. His wraparound shot is the favorite weapon in his arsenal. He will need to find more ways to be effective around the net when he plays against bigger and stronger players. That’s where his skating comes in. Prokhorov moves very well for such a big player. He can beat defenders wide while using his body to shield the pick and drive to the net. His shot is above average, while his puck-handling skills improved over the course of the season.

Defensively, Prokhorov is a heat-seeking missile, looking to hit anything that moves. Unfortunately, he has a little Nikita Zadorov in him, where his need to deliver a big hit can take him out of position. He sometimes suffers from tunnel vision, which leads to defensive breakdowns and scoring chances against his goaltender. These are fixable things with coaching and experience.

What Experts are Saying

“Daniil Prokhorov plays the game like he’s trying to leave a mark — literally. There is no player as violent and eager to throw huge hits. He sprints at opponents, seeing red the whole time, and looks to level them. His offence comes from fighting, battling off defenders behind the net to work his way around to the netfront.” – Elite Prospects 2025 NHL Draft Guide

“He has a really enticing and exciting toolbox to work with, but it’s not quite there yet. The passing, playmaking, and intensity need to come a ways, and he’s physical as you might expect, but I find he tends to use his physicality in unproductive ways too often: taking runs at guys without much care for actually getting the puck, and not leveraging his frame to shield off pressure as much as he could.”- Gray Matter, SMAHT Scouting

“Many of the numbers I’ve tracked so far are real, real good, with physicality, forechecking ability, huge transition involvement, and strong dual-threat offense. He is a player that I believe is going to be a bit of a project, though. He struggles to gain separation from opponents with his skating ability at the MHL level, and his skill level, while good in one-on-one confrontations, is a bit more questionable in transition on pass receptions. Finding targets to hit with passes is also a bit mixed, with questionable pass vision and quick decisions leading to turnovers.” – Will Scouch

Blackhawks Fit

The Blackhawks don’t have a player like Prokhorov in their system, and not many teams do. Most players of his size and physicality bring only those two things, but he can skate and score. He will be a long-term project, but with a top-three pick, the Blackhawks can take their time with him. That strategy worked well with Sam Rinzel in 2022. If the Blackhawks ultimately trade this pick, Prokhorov could be available with their early second-round pick.