Every season in the NHL features plenty of breakout players. Sometimes one team has a few and other times a team doesn't really have much going for them and don't have any. There will be many more players breaking out in 2025-26 and the Chicago Blackhawks should have some be amongst the list of players.
Not only will this be a great thing for Chicago, but it is needed as the team is getting even younger soon and these high draft picks and players with high expectations need to fill more important roles. The two Blackhawks chosen by NHL writers to break out in 2025-26 include Sam Rinzel and Frank Nazar.
Rinzel debuted in the NHL at the end of last season for nine games after his NCAA season ended. He recorded five assists and played top pairing minutes (23:22) as he was already ready for the responsibility and looked seasoned. There isn't any clear competition for his top pairing role next season either with Connor Murphy as a second pairing d-man at best and a trade candidate while Artyom Levshunov is just 19 years old and played one season of professional hockey (18 NHL games).
Rinzel should be the defenseman on the top power-play unit again and also spend at least 1:30 of ice time per game killing penalties. He is thrown right in the fire and is ready for it. Next season should be exciting to see what level he takes his game for a full season.
Nazar is another great pick because he will be surrounded by some solid wingers who can produce offensively and the second year player should have a big role on the team. Jason Dickinson won't challenge him for second line center minutes, so Nazar should be playing at least 16:30/17 minutes per game next season between a mix of Tyler Bertuzzi, Teuvo Teravainen, Ryan Donato, and Andre Burakovsky.
Like Rinzel, Nazar will play on both the power play and penalty kill. He debuted in the NHL at the end of the 2023-24 season and scored one goal in three games. He forced his way into the NHL last season after starting in the AHL and finished the year with 14 goals and 26 points in 53 games. He is fast and will have lots of opportunities. The former 13th overall pick has already proven he can produce and now has a year of professional experience to build off of. He should know that the second line center role is his now and for the foreseeable future.
Some of the other players chosen to break out include Zayne Perekh, Yaroslav Askarov, Ryan Leonard, Matvei Michkov, Ivan Demidov, Zak Bolduc, Logan Stankoven, and Will Smith. The San Jose Sharks and Montreal Canadiens both have multiple players projected to take their games to a whole new level in 2025-26.
