3 Rockford IceHogs players fans should keep an eye on this season

The Chicago Blackhawks have had many of their prospects graduate and contribute at the NHL level. Even so, plenty of guys in the system will be part of the core in the future. Players such as Václav Nestrašil and Xavier Villeneuve have been playing well for their teams, but the focus will be on the AHL. Several players on the Rockford IceHogs will contribute to the team for years to come. Here are three players that fans should keep an eye on moving forward. 

1. Nick Lardis is almost ready to make an impact

When Connor Bedard made his return, many weren’t sure what the transactional move would be. It turns out the Blackhawks sent Nick Lardis down to Rockford. Lardis started with the Blackhawks, but after early struggles, they sent him down.

On the bright side, it has given Lardis the chance to play some premium minutes. He's been playing on the first line and taking advantage of every opportunity. It has paid off. In his second game back with the IceHogs, Lardis scored a top-shelf goal off a beautiful pass from Gavin Hayes. 

He’s off to a great start. You want to see Lardis stay aggressive and keep scoring at a high rate for the IceHogs. It’ll help him develop into a reliable piece for the Blackhawks for years to come. You don’t expect Lardis to be on a top-six line, but if he can contribute to the Blackhawks on a bottom-six line, that would be considered a success. It’ll take some time, but fans should be excited about what Lardis can bring when he returns from Rockford. He’s on the right track. 

2. Sacha Boisvert has elite potential

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Sacha Boisvert could make a significant impact with the Blackhawks. He’s still very raw, but the potential is there. After finishing his collegiate career, he signed with the Blackhawks last offseason and gave fans a preview of what he can do. He scored his first career goal and wasn't afraid to lay down the gloves. 

Since last season, he has been with the IceHogs and is working his way up through the system. He currently centers the third line and is gaining the experience he needs. Being in Rockford lets him play his style of hockey and show the Blackhawks he has the potential to be a core piece. 

The question is, though, where will he fit into the lineup? When he goes back to the Hawks, will he be a center or slot into a winger position? The Hawks already have a plethora of centers, including Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, Anton Frondell, and Ryan Greene. Not to mention, Oliver Moore and Ryan Donato can also play the position. Will his best chance be to play the wing? That's probably the best route. 

3. Marek Vanacker has a long way to go

When the Blackhawks selected Marek Vanacker with the 27th pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, many fans knew that he would be a long-term developmental project. Similar to Sam Rinzel and Mason West, Vanacker has shown his skills and potential. Vanacker dominated the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and is now a member of the IceHogs. In the OHL, he led the league with 47 goals and dominated the competition. 

Although he wasn’t ready to make the jump to the NHL, Vanacker has been getting accustomed to his time in Rockford. He needs to take the next step in his development and show what he can do. He’s the opposite of what the Blackhawks have drafted. General Manager Kyle Davidson is trying to build a balanced team of speed and strength. He's found plenty of speed; now he needs guys who can play with power and strength. Vanacker has that capability.

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