Meet The Prospects: Paul Ludwinski

Welcome back to Meet The Prospects. This article highlights the Blackhawks 2nd Round Selection in this past draft. At 39th overall, the team selected Paul Ludwinski from the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL after he played 67 games, and put up 43 points. At 5’11, 172 pounds, Ludwinski has a speedy side to him, with a hockey IQ that was praised by many scouts going into the draft. 

Ludwinski is 18, and was born in Toronto, Ontario. In the 2019-20 season, he played in Toronto and served as the captain of the Toronto Marlboros U16 AAA team, where he scored 15 goals and added 17 assists through 31 games averaging just over a point per game. 

He didn’t play a single game in the 2020-21 season but was owned by the Frontenacs, and the 2021-22 season was a good showing for the young gun. 43 points in 67 games with 20 penalty minutes is a really impressive rookie season, and was definitely one that caught the eye of the Hawks. 

Ludwinski won’t be ready for the NHL for a couple seasons but I would fully expect him to get an increased role in Kingston, while pushing for a point per game. I’d say by 2024, he’s ready to try and crack the Blackhawks roster as a middle six forward. His speed and shot are only bonuses to his potential upside as a really smart playmaker. 

He isn’t at the top of the Blackhawks prospect pool by any means, but he’s definitely someone any team would want to have developing in their system. He fills all the boxes as far as skill, heart, defensive game, goal scoring and more. I really like Ludwinski, and I’ll be keeping tabs on him the entire season.