This Blackhawks prospect must bounce back in Rockford or face being forgotten

Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson's first draft class could someday be considered one of the franchise's best.

That does mean Davidson hit on every pick he made in 2022.

There is one player from that draft class trending toward being a bust

Paul Ludwinski had a rough first year playing for the team's AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. He was the first of three second-round picks Davidson made in the 2022 draft.

The No. 39 pick had 12 points in just 65 games. He went from scoring 23 goals and 46 assists in his final season in the juniors to just seven goals and five assists with the IceHogs.

That dramatic of a drop in production from a player taken that high in the draft is concerning. Obviously, there will be a decline in scoring when transitioning from the OHL to the AHL. He went from looking like a promising prospect to being overmatched.

Ludwinski was also a healthy scratch for being late to a team meeting last season.

Must have a bounce back season

Ludwinski must produce better, or there is a good chance he gets lost in the prestige among his fellow prospects. Davidson has built up a strong prospect pool with three more strong drafts.

He can easily get passed by by other forwards Davidson has drafted.

Nick Lardis, A.J. Spellacy, Sacha Boisvert, Marek Vanacker, Roman Kantserov, and John Mustard could all make Ludwinski a forgotten name. Let's not forget this year's first-round picks, too. Anton Frondell, Vaclav Nestrasil, and Mason West have size and skill. While Nestrasil and West are years away, Frondell likely will join the Blackhawks, possibly toward the end of the season.

That will be another young forward potentially taking away a forward spot on the NHL roster.

The one thing working in Ludwinski's favor is that he still has the defensive game to make the NHL as a fourth-line player. Taking a fourth liner with the 39th pick is not exactly a great use of a top 40 pick.

That is why this season is huge for Ludwinski to prove he can be better than just reaching his floor.

The rest of the draft class is shaping up to be the most impactful in recent memory, especially in terms of sheer volume of quality players that could potentially be developed.

The three first-round picks all could be major core pieces on the next contending team.

Frank Nazar has impressed Davidson so much over 56 games that the general manager has already awarded a generous extension to secure the promising center services for years to come.

Kevin Korchinski and Sam Rinzel could be the top defensive pair.

Ryan Greene, Gavin Hayes, Samuel Savoie, and Aidan Thompson all could be solid bottom-six players on the next good team.

Ludwinski could join them, but he had better bounce back quickly, or he could be Davidson's first true bust.