Ranking the Chicago Blackhawks' Top 25 Prospects: No's 6-10

No. 9: Drew Commesso (2020 Draft: Round 2 #46 overall)

Both of the Blackhawks' top goaltending prospects find their way into our top 10 with Drew Commesso at number nine.

Coming off his debut season in Rockford (AHL), the 22-year-old Commesso showed promise as he got better and more consistent down the stretch. He finished the year with an 18-16-4 record and a .906 save percentage. Though those numbers aren't world-beating, having a save percentage above .900 as a rookie in professional hockey is solid work.

After finding his footing better in the latter half of the season, Commesso posted a .915 in three playoff games with the IceHogs, going 1-3.

Commesso has decent size for a goaltender at 6-foot-2 inches, which might even be considered shorter for a modern-day netminder. Despite not having the same level of natural athleticism as Gajan, Commesso plays a very sound game between the pipes with poised positioning and a calm presence.

This season, the IceHogs will be jam-packed with young players and Commesso is expected to be their starting goalie yet again. Goaltenders usually take longer to develop, so he may spend another two seasons in the AHL before truly being ready for an NHL role full-time.

No. 8: Roman Kantserov (2023 Draft: Round 2 #44 overall)

Roman Kantserov made a name for himself this season in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), widely regarded as the second-best league in the world behind the NHL.

After a strong draft season in the MHL, the Russian junior league, Kantserov played the entirety of the 2023-24 season for Metallurg Magnitogorsk where he tallied 15 points in 53 games. The KHL is a very difficult league for young players to get playing time, as it is more about results rather than development.

Kantserov earned his coach's trust and found himself playing higher in the lineup come playoff time, he posted 13 points in 23 playoff games on a championship winning team.

Despite his smaller stature at 5-foot-9 inches and 176 pounds, Kantserov plays a shifty game and uses his skill to evade bodychecks in the corners. He is very skilled with the puck on his stick and shows good creativity as a playmaker. His natural skill and willingness to commit to a two-way game is promising as the young forward continues to improve his game.

Kantserov is under contract in the KHL until the conclusion of the 2025-26 season (subscription required), but will be more acclimated to the professional game when he comes over to the NHL. The question will be how his game translates to the North American game.

No. 7: Nick Lardis (2023 Draft: Round 3 #67 overall)

When he was selected early in the third round of the 2023 draft, many immediately called Nick Lardis a steal for the Blackhawks.

Starting his draft season with the Peterborough Pete's (OHL), Lardis was traded to the Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL) and finished the year with 37 goals in 69 games. His speed and great shot made him a no-brainer for the Blackhawks when he was still available at pick 67.

Lardis' 2023-24 season saw him return to the Bulldogs, now playing in Brampton, Ontario. Despite only playing in 37 games due to a wrist injury, Lardis scored 29 goals and 50 points. His strong play resulted in the young forward signing his entry-level contract with the Blackhawks.

The biggest strengths to Lardis' game are his skating ability and his shot. He is a natural goal scorer who is dangerous from just about anywhere in the offensive zone. Lardis uses his speed and shot to quickly surprise goalies off the rush. Some believe that his speed and shot are already not far off from being NHL caliber.

A weakness of Lardis' game is his defensive play. He has the speed and abilities to grow in that area, but it still needs some refining. That is an area of his game likely to be worked on in his season as he returns to the OHL for his final year of junior hockey.

No. 6: Sacha Boisvert (2024 Draft: Round 1 #18 overall)

The 18th overall selection in the most recent draft by the Blackhawks, Sacha Boisvert brings size and high intelligence to the Blackhawks system.

The 6-foot-2-inch center played the last two seasons with the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL where he tallied 68 points in 61 games this past season. His 36 goals give fans a glimpse of the kind of deception Boisvert brings to the table.

Boisvert's skillset is still fairly raw at this point in his development, but he shows the upside of being an exciting player in the future. He has an accurate shot and sees the ice very well. As a center, it helps to have great vision and Boisvert has just that.

As a shoot-first type of player, Boisvert utilizes his high hockey IQ and size well when the puck is on his stick. He analyzes plays at a high level, often showing strong positioning at both ends of the ice.

His skating is not as strong as others in the prospect pool, but it is not a major weakness. The skating is fairly average and his playmaking is also average as well. Neither of those components drag his game down, but are both areas for him to improve upon in the coming seasons.

Boisvert also brings an edge to his game, he is not afraid to get physical and bring up the intensity during a game.

This season, Boisvert will join University of North Dakota in the NCAA. He will likely spend a couple of seasons there before turning pro.