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Ranking the Chicago Blackhawks' Top 25 Prospects: No's 1-5

These are the players who find themselves in the top 5 amongst Blackhawks' prospects.

By Ethan Gawronski |
2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft - First Round
2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft - First Round / Bruce Bennett/GettyImages
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As the NHL offseason continues on and the Blackhawks' rookie camp just over a month away, it is as good of time as any to complete our top-25 prospect rankings.

In the last part, we began the top-10 by showcasing some enticing young goaltenders and a few strong forwards with impressive skill. The current management group in Chicago has put a lot of focus on stocking their system full of versatile forwards with speed and tenacity, and those traits have been talked about at length throughout these rankings.

Now, we get into the top-5.

No. 5: Sam Rinzel (2022 Draft: Round 1 #25 overall)

At the 2022 NHL Draft, the Blackhawks made a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs which saw the 38th pick sent to Toronto in exchange for the 25th pick and Petr Mrazek's contract. With that 25th selection, the Blackhawks drafted defenseman Sam Rinzel.

When he was drafted, it was known that Rinzel would be a project. His height and effortless skating ability showed promise to NHL teams, but he was still very raw in his development and was yet to play against true top-level competition.

He spent the 2022-23 season in the USHL for the Waterloo Black Hawks where he posted 36 points in 58 games, showing that he was ready to play at the next level. This led to Rinzel playing his freshman season at University of Minnesota (NCAA) in 2023-24, rooming with fellow Blackhawks' prospect Oliver Moore.

Rinzel's development has shown great progress since entering the NCAA. He tallied 28 points in 39 games while getting consistent reps against top competition. His play led Rinzel to being selected to Team USA for the 2024 World Juniors, where he showcased strong play in a bottom-pair role.

Now weighing in at 6-foot-4 inches and 190 pounds, Rinzel has put on that much needed muscle and has a frame that is more pro-ready. He has developed into a strong defender in transition who has good offensive instincts and high-level skating ability. He will play another season in the NCAA and will be a player who could sign with the Blackhawks after his college season is done.

No. 4: Ethan Del Mastro (2021 Draft: Round 4 #105 overall)

Ethan Del Mastro's has continued to get better every season since being drafted by the Blackhawks. The 21-year old defender was a part of the large number of prospects who did not play during their draft year due to COVID-19.

After the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) did not play for the 2020-21 season, Del Mastro was selected in the fourth round and did not look back after being drafted. After being seen as a true defensive defenseman, Del Mastro's offensive production took off as he became one of the more well-rounded defenders in the junior ranks.

This past season saw Del Mastro play his debut season with the Rockford IceHogs (AHL) where he was a standout player. As a rookie, the 6-foot-4 inch, 205 pound, defenseman found himself as a staple on the IceHogs top pair and earned himself a spot in the AHL all-star game.

Del Mastro is a strong defender who uses his size effectively in his own zone and off the rush. He is very mobile and plays with great poise, he became an "all-situations" player for Rockford this season which earned him an NHL call-up.

While primarily playing the right-side, Del Mastro proved his versatility as a defender and even tallied 37 points in 69 games. He will be fighting for a spot on the Blackhawks roster during training camp, though will probably spend another season in Rockford.

With another season playing as one of the IceHog's top defensemen, Ethan Del Mastro could be ready for the NHL, full-time, sooner than we may think.

No. 3: Oliver Moore (2023 Draft: Round 1 #19 overall)

When Oliver Moore fell into the Blackhawks' lap at 19th overall during the 2023 NHL draft, many were saying he would be one of the biggest draft-day steals.

After tallying 75 points in 61 games with the U.S. National U18 program, Moore was projected to be a possible top-10 pick due to his electrifying skating and strong playmaking ability. The Blackhawks were even trying to trade up to draft Moore, but ended up getting their guy anyway.

Moore just concluded his freshman year at University of Minnesota (NCAA) where he was roommates with Sam Rinzel. The speedy centerman posted 33 points in 39 games and earned himself a spot on the 2024 World Juniors roster for Team USA, the eventual champions.

Playing primarily as a center who can shift to the left-wing, Moore is an elite skater who is always active in the play. He uses his speed to win puck battles and is versatile on both ends of the ice. His playmaking is a strong facet of his offensive game, showcased by his 24 assists during this past season.

Moore is the kind of player who will be able to play different roles on a team. He is skilled enough to play in a top-six, but also has the tenacity and defensive play to take on more of a checking role as well. It is currently unknown if he will play center or wing at the professional level, but he has the ability to be an effective player at either position.

This season, Moore will return to the NCAA for his sophomore season and may turn pro afterwards if all goes well.

No. 2: Frank Nazar (2022 Draft: Round 1 #13 overall)

After playing only 13 games in 2022-23 due to hip surgery, Frank Nazar came back healthy and impressed mightily this past season.

Playing in his sophomore season with the University of Michigan (NCAA), Nazar proved himself as one of college hockey's top players with 41 points in 41 games. His great speed and calculated playmaking made him a deceptive player when the puck is on his stick. This great season led to him being on Team USA for the 2024 World Juniors where he tallied 8 points in 7 games as a major contributor to the Gold Medal victory.

Nazar signed his entry-level contract with the Blackhawks after his NCAA season ended and immediately made his presence known. In his first game, Nazar scored on his very first shot in the NHL on front of the United Center crowd. That would be his only point in three games with the Blackhawks, though each game he showed promise.

A dual threat on the ice, Nazar knows how to make things happen in both the offensive and defensive zones. He has a sneaky release on his wrist-shot and has very strong vision. Despite being only 5-foot-9 inches tall, Nazar plays with a deception and skill that is effective all over the ice.

Going into this season, Nazar is going to be a top candidate to become a full-time NHL player. He did not look out of place during his stint at the end of the season, and could fit into the second-line center spot if he performs well in camp.

Nazar will be a player to watch come training camp, as he has the skill to be a top-six player in the NHL. Whether he spends the year in Chicago or Rockford, Frank Nazar looks to be a big part of the Blackhawks' future.

No. 1: Artyom Levshunov (2024 Draft: Round 1 #2 overall)

The Blackhawks believe they have found their future number-one defenseman with Artyom Levshunov, and there is good reason to believe them.

Levshunov has developed very quick since coming to North America during the 2022-23 season. He had not played against top competition at home in Belarus, but impressed quickly for the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) when he came over.

This past season, Levshunov played in the NCAA for Michican State where he posted 35 points in 38 games. His production surpassed defensemen Quinn Hughes and Owen Power's production in their draft years. However, his offense is not the only strength of his game as he plays a very well-rounded game.

Levshunov plays a strong two-way game and continues to implement his size into his game. He stands at 6-foot-two inches and 209 pounds, giving him pro-ready size as an 18-year old. This led to Levshunov continuously improving over the course of his season while playing against top competition.

Levshunov has already signed his entry-level contract with the Blackhawks which means he will not be returning to college hockey. Instead, he is likely to spend the season playing top-pair in Rockford where the Blackhawks' staff can work with him on a day-to-day basis.

With him being ready to turn pro already, Levshunov has the tools to be a top-pair defenseman in the NHL. He is a good skater who uses his size well and has good instincts on the offensive and defensive sides of the puck. Going forward, he is going to be looked at as the future leader of the Blackhawks' blueline.

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