Blackhawks' Greene looks to improve after a stellar rookie season

The Chicago Blackhawks may not have had their best season in 2025-26, but they did allow their youngsters to carry the play. Chicago has an abundance of young talent on its roster, and it is starting to make noise. One of those players, Ryan Greene, had a phenomenal rookie season and looks to make a bigger impact in the 2026-27 season.

What went right for Greene?

Greene was a prospect that went fairly early to the Blackhawks in the 2022 NHL Draft (57th overall). He is a rare breed in terms of jumping right from college hockey, where he played for Boston University, to the NHL. In 2024-25, he made his NHL debut after signing a three-year, entry-level deal and played two games with the Blackhawks, going scoreless.

However, the 2025-26 season would be much different. After making the team out of training camp, he impressed the coaching staff enough that he played 81 games and played well enough that he got first-line duty with Connor Bedard. His season was no fluke. He recorded 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points and played an impressive 17 minutes a night. The former captain of Boston University played solidly on the first line and did not look out of place alongside one of the league's best players. Greene brings a bit of everything to the table. While he is more of a defensive player, he can produce offensively, play a two-way game, win puck battles, and play a game suited to the Blackhawks. He is a player every team would like to have and would want representing them. He is not an elite star but a player who could make a real difference.

What can he improve on for next season?

While Greene did have a terrific season, he is still a young player who can continue to develop his game to become a standout. One thing that stood out was that he was a minus-14. This is understandable because he is young, and it is bound to happen on an average team. Greene is a center, and one thing that the position prides itself on is faceoff winning percentage. In his first full NHL season, his faceoff win percentage was 42.7%, which is not horrible but could be improved if he wants to win important faceoffs in crucial moments.

His offensive production was solid for a rookie. However, if he wants to play with Bedard more, he has to contribute more in the offensive zone. He does not finish his chances when they present themselves, and he does not drive the play, which is important for a center. He can win board and puck battles, but he needs to fill out more and put on more muscle to compete in the NHL. Last season, he was often overpowered by larger players, losing the puck and a scoring chance.

Chicago is blessed with young talent. Bedard, Greene, Oliver Moore, Sam Rinzel, Kevin Korchinski, Louis Crevier, and Anton Frondell. He will get a bigger opportunity the more he plays. If he can step his game up a bit every season, then the organization will see that he is a player to count on. Greene has a bright future and is on the right path to success.

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