Blackhawks Prospects Rankings & Reviews: 20-16

Now that the NHL Entry Draft has come and gone, it’s time to take a look at the Chicago Blackhawks’ prospect pool. I’m not the biggest fan of rankings, so take these with a grain of salt. There is very little difference between being the 40th-ranked prospect and the 30^th.  I’ve determined the order of this list based on what I think each player’s NHL ceiling is. The prospects have been split up into groups of five, so think of those as tiers, where the order could be interchangeable. Everyone has a different standard for what they consider a prospect. For me, it’s any player in the system who hasn’t cemented an NHL roster spot yet, regardless of games played.  

We’ll revisit this list after the World Junior Championship in January, and then again next summer. Today, we’re moving into the top half of the pool with prospects 20-16.

20. Jack Pridham, F – 19, 6-foot-1, 176 pounds

There wasn’t much fanfare when the Blackhawks selected Jack Pridham out of the BCHL in the third round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The young winger started last season back in the BCHL and scored five goals and 10 points in 12 games. His season and stock took a huge turn when he moved to the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL. Pridham exploded for 27 goals and 54 points in 48 games and rose up the prospect board. He carried over his success into the postseason with seven goals and 13 points in 16 OHL playoff games.

Pridham is a north-south player who is relentless on the forecheck. He’s a smart power forward with some offensive upside, who projects to be a bottom-six contributor. He decided to return to Kitchener this season, rather than attending Boston University as originally planned.

“I liked my game in Kitchener this year,” he said at development camp. “I want to put my best foot forward and try to earn a contract with Chicago this year. We had a great group of guys, and it was an easy transition for me.”

Pridham is betting on himself this fall, which you have to admire. If he doesn’t get signed to his entry-level contract this season, he could always go to Boston in 2026. Either way, he’s definitely garnered the attention of the Blackhawks front office and hopefully takes another step.

19. John Mustard, F – 18, 6-foot-1, 185 pounds

John Mustard was taken 25 picks ahead of Pridham in the 2024 third round. Outside of enjoying his name, the pick didn’t immediately turn heads. Much like Pridham, his post-draft season earned him plenty of attention. Going from the USHL to college, scored seven goals and 20 points in 37 games during his freshman season at Providence College.

It’s easy to see why the Blackhawks drafted Mustard. He does everything at full speed on the ice. He uses his speed and body well to protect the puck. When he doesn’t have the puck, he’s constantly hunting for open space in the offensive zone. He has a great wrist shot, above-average playmaking skills, and will mix it up physically when it’s necessary. He’ll return to Providence for likely two more seasons. He still needs to improve defensively and fill out his frame, but he could become an effective middle-six player one day. He’ll be joined this season by 2025 fourth-round pick Julius Sumpf.

18. Samuel Savoie, F – 21, 5-foot-10, 190 pounds

It was apparent after speaking with Samuel Savoie for the first time at the 2022 development camp that the fan base was going to fall in love with him. His style of play and boisterous personality endeared him quickly to not only the fans in Rockford but also his teammates. Savoie broke his leg during a preseason game in 2023, but returned to finish the season in the QMJHL. He scored seven goals and 22 points in 72 games for the IceHogs this past season. However, putting up points is not why he’s climbing the prospect list.

“He’s so fun to watch,” Joey Anderson said of Savoie during the playoffs. “He brings his energy and compete level every night. It’s infectious throughout the room. You feel good for him when he gets rewarded with some points, like tonight. He has that impact every night.”

Savoie is never going to be in the running for the Hart Trophy, but he could be an invaluable piece to the core. The 2013 and 2015 Staley Cup teams had Andrew Shaw, and Savoie could be a better defensive version of that. He is a good skater who brings hard work, energy, and tenacity to every shift. He’s a fearless player who is willing to accept any role given to him. Any successful team needs guys like Savoie.

17. A.J. Spellacy, F – 19, 6-foot-3, 205 pounds

Speaking of players the fan base quickly fell in love with, A.J. Spellacy was the darling of training camp last fall. The 2024 fourth-round pick stuck around for all of camp and was one of the final cuts. He returned to the Windsor Spitfires, where he scored 18 goals and 37 points in 62 OHL games. Nagging injuries limited him to just five playoff games, scoring one goal and three points. The Blackhawks rewarded Spellacy with an entry-level contract back in January.

Spellacy’s only scratched the surface of his potential. He is an athlete first and foremost, and a hockey player second. He has the rare combination of size and elite speed. He drives hard to the net and back checks hard. He is a match-up nightmare. Unless he makes the roster out of training camp, Spellacy will return to the OHL for a fourth season.

16. Nolan Allan, D – 22, 6-foot-2, 194 pounds

It looked like Nolan Allan had finally become a full-time NHL player, making the opening night roster. After playing the first 43 games of his NHL career, he was reassigned to Rockford for the remainder of the season. Allan spent the most time this past season paired with T.J. Brodie, which put a damper on his overall numbers. When paired with Connor Murphy, his Corsi-for percentage went from 37.5 to 50.5 in 11 fewer minutes.

Allan is your prototypical old-school stay-at-home defenseman. He’s a big and sturdy body whose best work is down in the defensive zone. He has decent mobility to help get the puck out of the zone and start the transition game. He will finish his checks and block shots willingly. While everyone loves the smooth-skating, offensive-minded defensemen these days, you still need guys like Allan to win come playoff time.

Blackhawks Prospects Rankings & Reviews

40-36: Kanarsky, Peltonen, Mast, Holmes, & Kuzmin
35-31: Svensson, Cumby, Henry, Tohila, Flecman
30-26: Sumpf, Harding, Behm, Ludwinski, Hayes
25-21: Thompson, Gajan, Misiak, Crevier, Slaggert
15-11: West, Nestrasil, Dach, Vanacker, Del Mastro
10-6: Commesso, Greene, Kantserov, Moore, Boisvert
5-1: Lardis, Korchinski, Rinzel, Frondell, Levshunov