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Ranking the Chicago Blackhawks Top 25 Prospects: No's. 21-25

By Ethan Gawronski |
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The 2024 NHL offseason got off to a chaotic start with the draft, re-sign period, and free agency all happening within a week of the Stanley Cup Finals' conclusion. Now that the dust has settled and free agency signings have mostly slowed, it's time to discuss other offseason topics.

Throughout the Blackhawks rebuild, they have rapidly added talent to their system, making their prospect pool one of the strongest in the NHL.

Today kicks off a five-part series on the Chicago Blackhawks top-25 prospects.

Since 2022, the Blackhawks have selected eight times in the first round, and have two more first-round selections in 2025. Their approach with a "tear it down" rebuild has allowed them to gain many draft picks spread out across the next few drafts.

For this list, players like Connor Bedard, Kevin Korchinski, Alex Vlasic, and Lukas Reichel will all not be included due to them becoming full-time players.

Wyatt Kaiser almost was left off due to him having over 40 NHL games under his belt, but we felt he still is considered a prospect in the Blackhawks organization.

Honorable Mentions: Cole Guttman, Ryder Rolston, Jiri Felcman, and Victor Stjernborg.

No. 25: Isaak Phillips (2020 Draft: Round 5 #141 overall)

Isaak Phillips feels like he's been with the Blackhawks longer than he has. Despite being only 22-years old, he just finished his fourth professional season between the AHL and NHL.

Due to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) shutting down due to COVID-19, Phillips was able to step into the AHL at 18 years old and performed very well. He became a high-riser in the Blackhawks system, but did not take that next step forward this past season.

Phillips has good size at 6-foot-2 inches and 205 pounds and skates well too, though the question lies in what his ceiling is at the NHL level. He has been surpassed by other defenseman in the system, which makes 2024-25 a big season for Phillips.

No. 24: Ilya Safonov (2021 Draft: Round 6 #172 overall)

Safonov was drafted as an over-age player after spending the 2020-21 season fully in the KHL (Russia). He's a big center (6'4" 205lbs) who plays a strong defensive game, though his skating is a weakness.

The 2022-23 campaign saw Safonov tally 37 points in 64 KHL games for Ak Bars Kazan which made him stand out as someone the Blackhawks would want to bring over to North America.

This past season saw a dip in production for Safonov with 13 goals and 20 points in 67 games. When he was drafted, he was not known for his offensive production, though he has proven to be a solid contributor at the professional level.

Safonov also is among the leadership group for Ak Bars Kazan, he has worn a letter on his jersey for the past two seasons which is looked upon favorably in a prospect. His contract in the KHL expires at the end of the 2024-25 season (subscription needed) which will be interesting to see if he makes the jump to North America.

Ilya Safonov's potential is likely that of a bottom-six center who can possibly play on special teams units.

No. 23: Aidan Thompson (2022 Draft: Round 3 #90 overall)

Aidan Thompson, similar to Ilya Safonov, was drafted as an over-ager at 20 years old after playing in the USHL for the Lincoln Stars.

Thompson is the first on this list to have been drafted by Kyle Davidson, and he has the tools of a prototypical Davidson draft pick. He is a strong, fast skater who plays with a high motor and a strong two-way game.

At the University of Denver, Thompson tallied 30 points in 44 games, a drop in production from his 32 points in 32 games during the 2022-23 season.

After winning the NCAA Championship with Denver, Thompson is returning for his junior season. He will be 23-years old when his season ends, and it could be argued a prospect of his age should be transitioning to the AHL this season.

He will look to be one of Denver's top players as they look to defend their championship. If he takes a step forward, he could possibly join the IceHogs roster toward the end of next season.

No. 22: AJ Spellacy (2024 Draft: Round 3 #72 overall)

AJ Spellacy is a very intriguing prospect due to his natural athleticism. The two-sport athlete had NCAA Division I offers to play football, but ultimately decided to join the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League.

Spellacy was one of the fastest players in the entire 2024 Draft and plays like a true power forward. He stands at six-foot three inches tall and 201 pounds, immediately bringing great size and speed to the prospect pool.

Scoring 38 points in 67 games in the OHL, Spellacy started slow but picked up his game as the season continued. He is expected to build off his strong finish to last season as he returns to Windsor.

Going into next season, Spellacy will be a player to watch due to his potential to be a high-riser in the Blackhawks system.

No. 21: John Mustard (2024 Draft: Round 3 #67th overall)

John Mustard brings a lot of what the Blackhawks look for in their forward prospects. He is a great skater with a strong shot and a high compete level.

After scoring 56 points in 60 games for the Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL), Mustard was named USHL rookie of the year. His scoring this past season took him from being a potential late-round selection, to being picked in the top-75.

Mustard's speed and shot made him a threat offensively in the USHL this season. His playmaking is an area he will need to work on, as his talent is still quite raw.

Next season, Mustard will be playing for Providence College in the NCAA where he will look to round out his game. He will likely spend at least two seasons in college before signing a contract with the Blackhawks.

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