3 Blackhawks prospects to watch in 2026-27

The Chicago Blackhawks are in trouble. What was supposed to be a playoff year has quickly taken a turn for the worse. They are off to a 3-7 record. It's been a brutal start, but it's still early on in the season. The Hawks need to improve, and fast. The young guys on the roster give the team hope for years to come. Led by the captain, Connor Bedard, the Hawks still have time to make a comeback.

With that said, the Rockford IceHogs haven’t done any better. Although they won and played well against the Toronto Marlies in overtime, they still have a 2-5 record. It’ll be interesting to see whether those young draft picks take the next step. Several players there could make their way to the NHL this season. 

There are still plenty of other young players in the prospect pool who are years away from making a significant impact in the NHL. Yet, it’s hard not to get excited about what they can bring to the team. Here are three prospects to keep an eye on this season.

Mason West will be a project worth waiting for in the years to come. 

Mason West was taken 29th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft. As a first-round pick, he is viewed as a building block for the Hawks. There is no guarantee that it’ll work out, but if it does, the Hawks can build something special with him. West is currently playing for the Michigan State Spartans and is off to a great start. He recently scored his first goal of the year and is getting top minutes.

West is an exciting prospect because he brings something the Hawks have been lacking: size. Their focus has been on drafting speed. Connor Bedard, Oliver Moore, Frank Nazar, and Roman Kantserov are a few examples.

The shift toward size helps the Hawks become a more balanced unit. At 6’6", you expect him to be a dominant net presence. That should be his development focus. His elite two-way style of play can make him an elite penalty killer for the Hawks. The Hawks' penalty kill is struggling to find success. Ranking 25TH in the league, their percentage sits at 73.9%. 

West has the potential to be the lead guy because of his size. Add that size to the front of the net on the power play, and the Hawks can become a more physically minded team. It reminds you of Dustin Byfuglien. He was 6’5. The potential is unmatched, and he’s projected to be a long-term solution for years to come.

If he lives up to his full potential, a line of Kantserov-Bedard-West would give the Blackhawks a well-balanced unit.

Xavier Villeneuve speed makes up for his lack of size.

When the Blackhawks traded away their 2026 first-round pick for Bowen Byram, the focus shifted to the second-round picks. The Hawks selected two players, including defenseman Xavier Villeneuve.

Although Villeneuve lacks size, he provides speed on the back end. It’s something the Blackhawks have needed to add. Bowen Byram is a balanced defenseman, Alex Vlasic relies on his size, and Villeneuve is the bottom-pairing player with elite speed. When the Hawks selected him, he was considered the best player available.

With Bryam and Vlasic holding the first two left defensive spots, expect Villeneuve to compete for that third spot. Originally, many thought Kevin Korchinski could be that third option, but the coaching staff doesn’t see it that way. They haven’t given him any playing time to develop, so do they see him as a long-term option for them? It opens up an opportunity for Villeneuve.

He has elite speed, and scouts have taken notice of his defensive play. Villeneuve plays at Boston University and has had five assists in his last six games. That includes three assists in their 6-3 win over UConn on Saturday night.

The potential is there for him to be something special. The Hawks have a potential piece to add onto their defense moving forward. If he continues to dominate at the collegiate level, expect him to be signed by the Blackhawks sooner rather than later.

Ryan Roobroeck is on a goal-scoring tear.

The other prospect the Blackhawks drafted in the second round of the 2026 draft was Ryan Roobroeck. A 6’3 winger, he was also the best available player taken when the Hawks selected him. He was projected to be a first-round pick, but fell into the Blackhawks laps, and they couldn’t resist the selection. When the Hawks have so many picks, there are opportunities that you can jump at. 

He has the potential to be something special. He’s been a dominant force in the OHL and has all the tools necessary to be a well-rounded player. Roobroeck can score and play great defense. His problem has been his lack of consistency. Roobroeck fell because of that, but if he continues to play at the level he has been playing, then he can earn a spot soon.

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