Welcome to the latest installment of the “Future Hawks” prospect series. In this column, we take a look at the Chicago Blackhawks’ prospects who are standing out and enjoying success, whether they’re playing in Canadian juniors, the American Hockey League (AHL), Europe, Russia, or anywhere around the world.
While the Blackhawks continue to struggle, there is good news coming from their prospects. In addition to their AHL and Junior prospects, it’s a critical time for those playing in the NCAA as the regular season winds down and teams are jostling for postseason berths. A handful of Blackhawk prospects should play prominent roles down the stretch, which will show us how well they can play in critical situations.
Nick Lardis
Since day one of the Ontario Hockey League season, Lardis’s performance has been spectacular. He is giving Blackhawks fans something to look forward to in the coming seasons. Last weekend, Lardis became the first OHL player to score 60 goals in a season since Justin Brazeau did it in 2018-19 as a member of the North Bay Battalion. He stylishly accomplished this when he netted a hat trick against the Ottawa 67’s on Feb 23.
Another hat-trick for Nick Lardis
63 goals this season#Blackhawks #HOTR pic.twitter.com/gXQBHlBHyR
— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) February 23, 2025
Lardis has recorded 17 multi-goal games this season, scoring in bunches and helping Brantford become one of the hottest teams in the OHL with an 8-1-1 record in their last ten games. With ten games left in the regular season, he could hit 70 goals, which has not happened since John Tavares did it in 2006-07.
Expect him to get another look in the AHL with Rockford and possibly a look in a Blackhawks sweater when the OHL season concludes.
Artyum Levshunov
The Blackhawks’ first pick in last year’s draft had a bump in the road with a one-game suspension for cross-checking Chicago Wolves defenseman Domenick Fensore in a game on Feb. 23 in an otherwise good season. He was assessed a five-minute major and 10-minute game misconduct and will be eligible to return for Rockford’s game against the Tucson Roadrunners on March 1.
Before the suspension, however, Levshunov continued to showcase his offensive skills. He has two goals and eight points in his last eight games, with 21 points in 47 games this season. He looks more comfortable after missing the first month of the season with a fractured foot and has brought a ton of positivity with his on- and off-ice demeanor to the organization. The 19-year-old is another player who should see time in Chicago later in the season.
Oliver Moore
Oliver Moore’s fourth-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers take on the 18th-ranked Penn State for two games this weekend in a key NCAA matchup involving Blackhawk prospects. The Gophers need to do well this weekend as they continue to fight for a top seed when the NCAA tournament pairings are announced. Moore has had a very good February, scoring in four of Minnesota’s five games, including the last three.
Sacha Boisvert
Boisvert was named NCHC Rookie of the Week after a three-goal effort last weekend against Minnesota Duluth. North Dakota has two big games against the third-ranked Western Michigan this weekend. Boisvert has 12 goals, 11 assists, 75 shots on goal, and four game-winning goals for UND this season.
Kevin Korchinski
We knew Korchinski had a lot of offensive talent when the Hawks made him their seventh-overall pick in 2022. He put that on display when he was named AHL All-Star Challenge MVP. In addition to the goal and three assists he had in earlier games, he scored the shootout-winning goal to give Team Central the victory.
OUR MVP 🥹 https://t.co/grQGYuWNkZ pic.twitter.com/ClNBBortvN
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) February 4, 2025
We know that Korchinski has the offensive skills to play in the NHL, which is not why he spends most of his time with Rockford. The Blackhawks know he needs to work on his defensive skills to be a productive two-way defenseman. His AHL stats show that there is still work to be done: Through his first 40 games with Rockford, he has two goals, 20 points, and a minus-20 plus/minus rating.
Even though he did not pick up a point in his nine-game stint with the Hawks, he had a 47 Corsi and a 51% expected goals share (xG%) and looked like he could hold his own at the NHL level. If he gets just a little better defensively, he will have a high ceiling.
Related: Artyom Levshunov’s Positivity Bodes Well for Blackhawks’ Future Success
With many high draft picks in 2025, the Blackhawks’ talented prospect group will become one of the highest-ranked and deepest in the NHL. The hope is that many of these present and future prospects will have a major impact on the organization. Check back to see how these young players are developing to one day don a Blackhawks sweater.
