Chicago Blackhawks rank No. 2 in NHL Pipeline Rankings for 2023

After a few years of a tepid rebuild, Chicago has a foundation now to turn around their organization. It’s led by the obvious, in Connor Bedard, who has the potential to be a franchise-changing star. It’s more than Bedard though, as Kevin Korchinski, Lukas Reichel and Oliver Moore are very strong prospects as well and this is a deep pipeline in general, even if the top end past Bedard and Korchinski isn’t amazing.

Key additions: Connor Bedard, Oliver Moore, Adam Gajan, Roman Kantserov, Martin Misiak

Key graduate: Philipp Kurashev

2022 ranking: No. 13

2023 NHL Draft grade: A+

Full 2023-24 NHL Pipeline Rankings

Player Ranking

1. Connor Bedard, C

7/17/2005 | 5-foot-10 | 185 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 1 in 2-23

Tier: Bubble generational player and elite NHL player

Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: Elite
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Bedard is a potential franchise-changing prospect. His skill and shot are legit game-breaking attributes. His ability to beat defenders one-on-one is among the best I’ve ever seen by a 17-year-old, and the pace at which he displays that elite skill is going to allow him to execute those types of skilled plays in the NHL. Bedard is a highly imaginative puck handler and a very creative passer. That, combined with the fact his wrist shot is a top-tier NHL weapon from anywhere in the offensive zone, makes him a projected nightmare for NHL coaches to stop on the power play. The only downside to his game is his frame, which has some scouts wondering if he gets pushed off to the wing in the NHL. He isn’t a pushover though, as he plays hard and has a physical edge in his game.

2. Kevin Korchinski, D

6/21/2004 | 6-foot-1 | 185 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 7 in 2022
Tier: Top of the lineup player

Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average

Analysis: Korchinski was a dominant WHL player, scoring 73 points in 54 games from the blue line. His skating is an impact trait at his size that will allow him to have a lot of NHL success. His stride is very powerful and fluid. He easily picks up speed in all directions and will be a threat in transition in the NHL. Korchinski is a skilled offensive defenseman as well who can create with his feet but also his hands and vision. Defensively he’s fine but not as impressive. His skating and length will let him make stops and a lot of retrievals but he’s not the most physical player to line up against. Even if he’s not killing penalties in the NHL his even-strength and power-play value could allow him to be a top pairing defenseman.

3. Lukas Reichel, LW

5/17/2002 | 6-feet | 170 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 17 in 2020
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average

Analysis: Reichel started the season in the AHL where he was again excellent at that level. He then came up late in the season to Chicago where he put up 15 points in 21 NHL games. Reichel is a talented forward. He has great skill, but it’s the way he uses that skill that is exciting because it’s in a way that translates to NHL scoring. Reichel takes pucks to the net, and he pushes the pace with his strong skating. His feet plus his ability to think and make plays quickly will help him score in the league. I think he can be a quality top-six wing.

4. Oliver Moore, C

1/22/2005 | 5-foot-11 | 195 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 19 in 2023
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player

Skating: High-end
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Moore has very good speed and his edgework is NHL-elite caliber. He evades pressure so well and is able to go from a stop to a fast gear very quickly. He has very good hands to go with those feet and projects to get a ton of controlled zone entries in the NHL. I don’t think his pure offensive touch as a scorer or playmaker will ever dazzle, and he’ll be more of a secondary scorer on an NHL line. Moore lacks size and isn’t overly physical, but he’s a worker. He gets to the net, comes back hard on defense, and coaches trust him in tough situations. He has a ton of NHL projectability and looks like a potential good top-six forward, whether at center or the wing.

5. Frank Nazar, C

1/14/2004 | 5-foot-9 | 175 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 13 in 2022
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Nazar missed most of the season due to a hip injury. When he returned late in his freshman season at Michigan, he didn’t look like the same player that he was in his draft year. His high rating is based on the toolkit and his history and banking on a bounceback. When healthy, Nazar is a high-energy, high pace player. He has a ton of speed and plays with courage taking pucks to the net. He’s not an amazing playmaker, but Nazar can make high-skill plays with the puck and makes enough plays to create offense. I think he can be a quality NHL forward, although whether he’s for sure a center or not is to be determined.

6. Wyatt Kaiser, D

7/31/2002 | 6-feet | 173 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 81 in 2020
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Kaiser was a top defenseman in the NCHC and got nine games with Chicago toward the end of the year. Kaiser is a very good skater. He has a smooth, explosive skating stride that makes him dangerous in transition. He closes on his checks very well due to his feet and physicality, and projects to make a lot of stops in the NHL. The offense has always been the debate on Kaiser. He’s not amazing with the puck, but he showed in college he can move it well enough and isn’t devoid of skill. That element of his game will determine whether he’s a second- or third-pair defenseman.

7. Ilya Safonov, C

5/30/2001 | 6-foot-4 | 205 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 172 in 2021
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Safonov had a strong KHL season, scoring 37 points and being a big part of a top KHL team. Safonov has puck-on-a-string type of hands and routinely beat KHL defensemen with his stick handling. You add in that he’s a big center, and has physicality and it’s an exciting package. His skating is just okay and he’s not the smartest player, which makes me wonder if in the NHL he may be more of a wing than a center. But I think there are middle-six forward tools in Safonov’s game regardless of his position.

8. Colton Dach, C

1/4/2003 | 6-foot-4 | 196 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 62 in 2021
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average

Analysis: Dach was hurt for a large portion of the season but when healthy he was a solid two-way center in the WHL and made Canada’s U20 team. Dach’s pure toolkit looks like an NHL player. He’s a tall center who skates well enough for a big man. He has good hands and can make plays. With Dach the biggest issue in his game is consistency. When he’s on he looks like a no-doubt NHL player, but I haven’t always seen that player. I think he can be a bottom-six NHL forward and if he develops well he has a chance to be more.

9. Nolan Allan, D

4/28/2003 | 6-foot-2 | 195 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 32 in 2021
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Allan was an important player for Seattle in their WHL title run and made Canada’s world junior team too. Allan is a defense-first defenseman. He’s big, skates well, and is quite physical. That allows him to break up a lot of rushes and plays. His offensive touch is limited but good enough to play in the NHL. He can make a first pass and has a hard-point shot. He projects as a third-pair defenseman.

10. Gavin Hayes, LW

5/14/2004 | 6-foot-1 | 177 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 66 in 2022
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Hayes took significant steps forward this season into a top-scoring winger in the OHL, scoring 40 goals and 80 points for Flint. He’s a decent-sized forward with strong hands and offensive instincts. That was evident in his draft season but his pace and compete were concerns. His skating still isn’t great but I thought Hayes’ effort was better this season and he showed a lot of physicality too. There are components here of a bottom-six NHL winger.

11. Ryan Greene, C

10/21/2003 | 6-foot-1 | 174 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 57 in 2022
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average

Analysis: Greene had a solid freshman season at Boston University. He was invited to Canada’s world junior December camp but was a final cut. He ticks a lot of boxes you want in an NHL player. He’s a good skater. He handles the puck well. He can make difficult plays and can do so with pace. Greene isn’t the most physical player in the world, but he has decent size and is good enough away from the puck. The pure scoring in his game may never be amazing but he projects as a bottom-six NHL player, possibly at center.

12. Ethan Del Mastro, D

1/15/2003 | 6-foot-4 | 210 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 105 in 2021
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: High-end

Analysis: Del Mastro was a top defenseman in the OHL and on Canada’s world junior team. There isn’t anything sexy about Del Mastro’s game, but he’s a very good defender. He makes a lot of stops due to his great reach, solid hockey IQ, and high-end compete. He leans on forwards constantly with his big body and competes hard to win pucks. With Del Mastro, the pure talent will be the question. He’s just an OK skater and puck handler who may struggle with the pace of the NHL. His motor is so good I think he can play in the league but it’s not a sure thing.

13. Sam Rinzel, D

6/25/2004 | 6-foot-4 | 177 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 25 in 2022
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Below NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Rinzel was up and down this season in the USHL. His pure athletic tools are obvious. He has an easy skating stride, especially for a 6-foot-4 defender, and can motor up the ice. You add that he has some offensive touch and playmaking and he can look like a legit player some shifts. Rinzel is a work in progress though. He doesn’t defend well despite his size and feet and his overall decision-making at both ends isn’t the best. The skating should get him to the NHL but I need to see more to be convinced he will have a career.

14. Isaak Phillips, D

9/28/2001 | 6-foot-3 | 205 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 141 in 2020
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Phillips has developed well since turning pro, playing a significant role this past season on Rockford. Phillips skates quite well for a big defenseman and projects to be able to make stops in the NHL due to his length and mobility. His puck-moving has been much better as a pro than I anticipated in junior. He’s not overly skilled, and while he can make a decent first pass, his pure offensive touch is the main question in his NHL projection. It’s why I see him more as a third-pair defender in the league.

15. Martin Misiak, RW

9/30/2004 | 6-foot-2 | 200 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 55 in 2023
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: NHL average

Analysis: Misiak is an NHL-caliber athlete. He’s 6-foot-2 and he skates well. His stride is powerful and efficient. He showed he could consistently push the pace versus men. The issue is, how much does he offer outside his skating? I see some skill and offense but I don’t think his puck game and playmaking stand out. He’s just OK off the puck as well with some physicality but he’s not a great two-way forward. There’s a lot to work with, he should play games, but what he becomes as a pro is uncertain.

16. Adam Gajan, G

5/6/2004 | 6-foot-3 | 180 pounds | Catches left

Drafted: No. 35 in 2023
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average

Analysis: Gajan has clear NHL athleticism. He has an explosive lower half with the power to make the toughest lateral saves at higher levels. He’s an aggressive goalie, sometimes to a fault, as he can take himself out of position too much, but at times it works well. I do think he generally reads the play and anticipates the play well, but he will need to control his slides and aggression against better players. There’s a lot of development work left still, but Gajan has a lot of pro potential.

17. Roman Kantserov, RW

9/20/2004 | 5-foot-9 | 176 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 44 in 2023
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Kantserov is undersized at 5-foot-9 but has a lot of other traits that make you think he will score as a pro. Most important is the way he skates and plays with pace. Kantserov can generate a lot of controlled entries and make plays in transition. Kantserov has very good puck skills, showing great small-area skill and the ability to improvise with the puck. He can move the puck well while also being a shot threat from the circles. His size is a concern though, and while he competes fine and killed penalties in the MHL, I don’t know if he’s so competitive that it will get him over the hump as a smaller forward to be a regular in the NHL. I think he can get some games though.

Has a chance to play*

Drew Commesso, G

7/19/2002 | 6-foot-2 | 180 pounds | Catches left

Drafted: No. 46 in 2020

Analysis: Commesso is an intelligent, athletic goaltender with a strong track record of success at various levels. He’s an average-sized goalie though whose pure toolkit isn’t high-end, so I wonder if there’s a place in the NHL for him or if he’s just a very good AHL goalie.

Taige Harding, D

1/3/2002 | 6-foot-6 | 235 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 91 in 2021

Analysis: Harding is a huge defenseman who moves well for a guy his size. His hockey sense and pure offense are issues.

Nick Lardis, LW

7/8/2005 | 5-foot-11 | 168 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 67 in 2023

Analysis: Lardis’ skating and skill are both assets for the pro game and he has some scoring touch. He will be able to transition pucks up ice at higher levels. His shot is his best weapon as he’s a threat to score from the dots. He can make some plays but I wouldn’t call him overly cerebral. Lardis is an undersized winger, though, with average compete and I’m not sure he’s talented enough to overcome those issues, but has a chance because of his goal-scoring touch.

Paul Ludwinski, C

4/23/2004 | 5-foot-11 | 172 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 39 in 2022

Analysis: Ludwinski is a great skater who competes hard but he’s undersized and his offensive touch is just average.

Milton Oscarson, C

2/18/2003 | 6-foot-6 | 216 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 167 in 2023

Analysis: Oscarson’s biggest strength is, well, his size. He’s a 6-foot-6 center. Because of that frame, Oscarson excels at the net front. He’s so tough to move and gets a lot of sticks on pucks to create offense around the net. He’s reasonably physical, works hard, can kill penalties, and embraces his role as a big man. The natural puck skills are just OK but he can make some plays with the puck. Oscarson’s skating is quite worrisome. He has a slow, clunky stride that will be massively tested in the NHL.

Alex Pharand, C

1/5/2005 | 6-foot-2 | 205 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 99 in 2023

Analysis: Pharand is a big forward who can skate well, which is immediately interesting as a pro prospect. That he shows good puck skills and some finishing touch adds to the intrigue. The pure offense in his game isn’t amazing. In particular, I don’t see him making that many plays or being a true driver of chances for his team. He competes well enough, has some physicality, and can be a solid penalty killer. The athletic tools combined with some two-way ability and skill give him a chance to make it.

Ryder Rolston, RW

10/31/2001 | 6-foot-1 | 175 pounds | Shoots right

Acquired via trade

Analysis: Rolston is an excellent skater with some skill and a good shot. He plays way too much on the perimeter, though, and doesn’t have a ton of natural offensive sense.

Samuel Savoie, LW

3/25/2004 | 5-foot-10 | 189 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 81 in 2022

Analysis: Savoie is fun to watch because he plays like his hair is on fire. He’s an elite skater who brings a ton of speed, energy and physicality to his shifts. He’s also a small winger who lacks hockey sense so I’m unsure if the feet are good enough to get him to the league.

Alex Vlasic, D

6/5/2001 | 6-foot-6 | 199 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 43 in 2019

Analysis: Vlasic is a huge defenseman who skates quite well for a big man and has played real minutes in the AHL. His offensive sense with the puck is a real question, though, in terms of whether he can move pucks in the NHL.

*Listed in alphabetical order

Player Eligibility: All skaters who are 22 years old or younger as of Sept. 15, 2023, regardless of how many NHL games they’ve played, are eligible. Player heights and weights are taken from the NHL.

Tool grades: Tool grades are based on a scale with six separate levels, with an eye toward how this attribute would grade in the NHL (poor, below-average, average, above-average, high-end and elite). “Average” on this scale means the tool projects as NHL average, which is meant as a positive, not a criticism. Skating, puck skills, hockey sense and compete for every projected NHL player are graded. Shot grades are only included if a shot is notably good or poor.

Tier Definitions: Tiers are meant to show roughly where in an average NHL lineup a player projects to slot in.

(Photo of Connor Bedard: Dennis Pajot / Getty Images)