A pair of Blackhawks prospects are tearing up the OHL

The 2025-26 season has been rather forgettable for Blackhawks fans. At the Olympic break, they have a record of 22-26-9 good for 53 points. That puts them in sixth place and 10 points back of the last wild card spot in the West. There is not much hope that the Blackhawks will turn it around and go on a magical playoff run. All eyes seemed to be on the future and the prospects that could get fans excited.

Thankfully for Blackhawks fans, there are two prospects who are having great seasons in the Ontario Hockey League. Marek Vanacker and Jack Pridham are in the middle of career seasons with their respective teams. Vanacker leads the league with 39 goals, and Pridham is second with 35. Both of these players have been very impressive and should have the Blackhawks excited. But where do they fit into the team's long-term vision?

How do Marek Vanacker and Jack Pridham fit into the Blackhawks future

This is Vanacker's best season at the OHL level since the 2023-24 season. Along with the 39 goals, he has 26 assists and 65 points. He's currently on pace for 92 points, which is 10 points more than his 2023-24 total. Vanacker has taken major strides this season. He has bounced back from the torn labrum he suffered last season and has blossomed into the strong scorer everyone thought he could be.

What's good about Vanacker is that he can succeed in any role you give him. He's just as effective on a shutdown third line as he is on an offensive first line. This gives him a huge advantage in making the 2026-27 opening-night roster, as they can be creative in how they give him minutes. Even if he does not break camp with the team, he should be a mainstay of the Blackhawks' middle six for the next couple of seasons. He will give them a nice blend of offensive production and defensive responsibility.

On the other hand, this is a breakout season for Pridham. It's only his second OHL season, and he has blown past last season's numbers. Along with the 35 goals, he has 36 assists for 71 points. A 17-point increase from last season. This has eased some of the concerns analysts have about his average offensive skill set. Spending a few seasons at the junior level is paying off and helping him exceed his expectations.

Pidhram will play at Boston University for the 2026-27 season. So it will be a couple more seasons before we see him in a Blackhawks sweater. However, if he continues to develop as he has in the OHL, we'll likely see him at some point during the 2028-29 season. He will most likely become one of the main offensive weapons of the bottom six—a guy who will lengthen the lineup and provide depth on offense. But with him already defining expectations, it's possible he can become a top-six winger.

Now, sure, the level of play in the OHL is nowhere compared to professional hockey. But it's still a good sign to see these two dominate the way they have. It gives this franchise hope that the future is bright.