Blackhawks prospect Václav Nestrašil scores twice in win for UMass

For the last few off-seasons, the Chicago Blackhawks have had a top-tier prospect pool. Even with several players graduating to the NHL, it still has a wealth of up-and-coming talent. Many are already in the NHL, including Artyom Levshunov, Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore, Sam Rinzel, Anton Frondell, and Roman Kantserov. Even with those guys in the NHL, the system still ranks among the top five of prospect pools. The Blackhawks still have some first-round picks making an impact with their current teams, including a guy who just scored two goals for his college team.

Václav Nestrašil scored two goals for UMass

With the 25th selection in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Hawks took forward Václav Nestrašil of the Czech Republic. He committed to the University of Massachusetts, and he’s giving Hawks fans a little taste of what’s coming. 

Nestrašil, aka the Loch Ness Monster, scored two goals on Friday night (Oct. 16) against Northeastern. He is a guy the Hawks expect to be a long-term part of their future. The right winger is a two-way player who can score efficiently. He proved it early in his collegiate career. What you like about his first goal of the game is that he redirects it while standing in front of the net. It won't always be pretty, but one way to score efficiently in the NHL is to apply constant net pressure, which can lead to a redirection. 

Nestrašil then added a second goal to his night. It was on a breakaway and was a beautiful wrist shot. You like the speed, energy, and efficiency the kid can bring to the table.

Where does he fit for the Blackhawks?

The Blackhawks have depth on their current team, so it’ll be hard to find a role for Nestrašil. After his college season, will he sign an entry-level contract and finish with them at the end of their season? It’s possible. If he continues to play at the pace he is, then there will be no choice but to do that. If he were to make his season debut this year, one would expect him to work his way up. The Hawks have depth, but lack efficient right-handed shots on the right wing. 

If the Hawks make a few trades at the trade deadline, spots could open up for Nestrasil. He’s the next wave of young talent, which is expected to contribute to the team for years to come. If he ends up being on the third or fourth line, you call that a success. Anything above that is the icing on the cake! I could see a line of him, Connor Bedard, and Kantserov as the future top line.

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