Blackhawks Prospects
Four Blackhawks Prospects Thriving Across Different Professional Leagues
After watching the Chicago Blackhawks in their first seven games, it’s clear that the promising young talent that’s now together on the NHL scene can turn the tide of the organization.
Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar have both had incredible flashes of their skill and swagger early on in the season, while 24-year-old goalie Spencer Knight has been the backbone of the team’s success.
Wyatt Kaiser and Artyom Levshunov have fared well as a tandem when playing together, and even former seventh-round pick Louis Crevier has handled himself properly in a minor role. Then, of course, there’s Alex Vlasic, who is seemingly always steady as a defensive anchor on the top pairing. Sam Rinzel has also started to improve his play as he’s racked up more experience.
It’s been a lot of fun observing this young Blackhawks group as they grow together, and what’s possibly even more exciting is that additional help will be on the way in the next year or two.
The Blackhawks have established a remarkably deep prospect pool under GM Kyle Davidson, and many of his top draft selections in recent years are dominating their respective leagues so far this season.
Here are four prospects who are already playing professional hockey, just not in the NHL, and are off to fast starts in 2025-26.
Oliver Moore & Nick Lardis
The Rockford IceHogs are off to a sturdy 4-1-0 start to the AHL season, and Oliver Moore and Nick Lardis have been two big reasons for that in their first professional campaigns.
Moore, the 19th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, lifted the IceHogs to a 6-2 win over the Iowa Wild two weekends ago by scoring his first two pro goals and adding an assist. Then, in Rockford’s next outing this past Friday against the Texas Stars, Moore had yet another two-goal performance, including the overtime winner.
Through his first five AHL games, Moore has recorded six points (4G, 2A) and has shown off his swift skating ability. He has also clearly improved his shot since the end of his sophomore season in college with Minnesota. All four of his goals have been blistered past the opposing goaltender.
Then, for Lardis, he found the back of the net for the first time as a pro in Saturday’s 3-2 overtime win for the IceHogs over the Chicago Wolves.
Lardis, a 71-goal scorer in the Ontario Hockey League last season, also scored in Sunday’s 6-5 loss to the Wolves. The 20-year-old winger added three assists during the second period, which now gives him a league-leading eight points (2G, 6A) through five games.
Because of his monster weekend, Lardis was named the AHL Player of the Week on Monday, as he tallied at least one point in all three contests. Lardis seemed to improve his play with each passing game.
There were lots of people wondering if Lardis’ skill set could translate over against grown men, and the 2023 third-round pick has quickly answered that question at the AHL level.
Anton Frondell
Blackhawks 2025 No. 3 overall pick Anton Frondell and Djurgarden were promoted to the SHL for the 2025-26 season, as they won the HockeyAllsvenskan Final in the previous year. Frondell hasn’t had his production drop off at all while now playing in Sweden’s top professional league, as he’s tallied nine points (7G, 2A) through his opening 12 games.
One of the seven goals that Frondell has netted was a highlight-reel Michigan goal back in early October that caught the attention of many Blackhawks fans.
Then, in his very next game after scoring the lacrosse-style goal, Frondell became the second-youngest player in SHL history to record a hat trick, showing how comfortable and confident he already is against top-tier competition.
Despite still being only 18 years old, Frondell is now tied for fourth in the SHL with seven goals. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound forward decided to remain in Sweden instead of immediately coming over to North America after being drafted, and that looks to be a very wise choice. He’ll likely be ready to join the Blackhawks for the 2026-27 season, especially if he keeps up this production.
Roman Kantserov
Not to be forgotten is 2023 second-round selection (No. 44 overall) Roman Kantserov, who’s now playing in his third full season with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the KHL. After being nearly a point-per-game player last year, Kantserov has been one of the top producers in the league early on this season, with 18 points (11G, 7A) through 18 games.
Kantserov is still only 21 years old, but he’s handling pro hockey over in Russia with ease. He currently leads the league with 11 goals and ranks sixth in points. The speedy and skilled forward is one of just two players 21 or younger to currently sit inside the top 50 in the KHL in points.
Here’s a look at Kantserov’s league-leading 11th goal that he scored on Tuesday.
Kantserov is in the final year of his current KHL contract, and he’s expected to come over to North America to join the Blackhawks organization for the 2026-27 campaign.
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