NEWSLETTER
With the NCAA hockey season beginning over this past weekend, The Hockey News published their top 100 prospects to be excited about this season in the collegiate ranks. And the Blackhawks are incredibly well represented on their list.
Somewhat interestingly, Landon Slaggert did not appear in their top 100 despite having such a strong summer at the World Juniors and in Chicago. He’s an assistant captain at Notre Dame, so his exclusion is noteworthy.
Also missing from the list is Minnesota-Duluth center Dominic James, who also looked good at the WJC this summer. I guess they couldn’t have every Blackhawks prospect on the list but those are a couple I would have thought would show up somewhere. Aidan Thompson looked good for the Blackhawks early in the summer but an injury cost him an appearance at the WJC; he’s a freshman at Denver.
Here’s where the Blackhawks’ six prospects ranked and what THN had to say:
10. Frank Nazar, C, Michigan: The kid’s got a wicked motor and a ton of skill, which is why the Chicago Blackhawks made him a first-rounder in 2022. Now Nazar gets the chance to wheel with the talented Wolverines.
28. Ryan Greene, C, Boston University: A great skater with smarts who projects as a two-way center, Greene is a Chicago Blackhawks pick who took on a big role with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers last season.
30. Wyatt Kaiser, D, Minnesota-Duluth: He has all the traits of a modern NHL defenseman and is playing for a program that has excelled at developing blueliners. Kaiser is a Chicago Blackhawks pick who nearly doubled his production year over year.
35. Drew Commesso, G, Boston University: If the Terriers want to make some noise this season, a lot will come on the back of Commesso, their star goalie. The Chicago Blackhawks pick has been a stalwart for the program.
45. Dominic Basse, G, St. Cloud State: Coming over from Colorado College, the towering Basse now joins a team with a lot of depth and a solid ‘D’ corps. That should put the Chicago Blackhawks pick in a good spot.
61. Ryder Rolston, RW, Notre Dame: After a quiet freshman year with the Fighting Irish, Rolston caught fire as a sophomore and now returns for a third campaign with higher expectations. He’s a Chicago Blackhawks prospect.
81. Connor Kelley, D, Providence College: Coming over from Minnesota-Duluth, Kelley brings some nice experience and defensive acumen to the Friars. The junior blueliner is a Chicago Blackhawks pick.
