6 young Blackhawks played real minutes and not all took advantage

For as bad as the Blackhawks have been throughout what’s already been half a decade (can you believe it?), they have some intriguing young talent. Well, we knew that, but there’s also reason to be excited about most of their core who appeared in at least half of their games in 2024-25. 

Overall, six players in their age-24 season or under saw time in at least 41 contests, and most of them showed play that will make you believe they can be Blackhawks for a while now. 

So, I figured it’s time to rank these six players and see where each one stands following what was a season of growth for the Hawks, even if the points total barely showed it. And that will set the stage for a continuing youth movement.

6 - Lucas Reichel

Lucas Reichel didn’t have the lowest amount of production on this list, with eight goals and 22 points in 70 games. But he’s ranked sixth because he’s had so many chances, yet has never lived to expectations.

At this point, what is he? He can’t score consistently, he can’t win face-offs, and he’s not physical. Honestly, I’d package Reichel in a deal and see if he can get a fresh start somewhere else.  

5 - Nolan Allen

Nolan Allen had eight points and a goal across 43 games, with a minus-13. And to be honest, what you saw from Allen is likely what he’s going to keep giving you if his long-term future is in Chicago. He’s playing third-pairing minutes, and he’ll make the most of them with physical play. 

He showed that this past season, with 48 blocks and 61 hits. So, if you span that across 82 games, you’re getting something in the triple digits across both categories, or at least close to. That will make him valuable when he suits up to play, but right now, I see him as a low third-pairing, or seventh D-man. 

4 - Wyatt Kaiser

Through 57 games, only put up four goals and eight points, but scoring's not his forte in the NHL. No, Kaiser logged low second-pairing minutes and showed off some physical play with 54 hits and 93 blocks. He also ended the year with a decent 23 takeaways, further showing us he can be a solid defensive defenseman in this league. 

Another stat that impressed me? He broke even in the plus-minus. While some of us won’t take that statistic seriously, it’s huge for a youngster who appeared in over half the games on a team in which it seemed like everyone finished with a negative rating. 

3 - Frank Nazar

Frank Nazar may not have stolen the No. 1 ranking here, but he’s my favorite player on the list. When you look at slow, steady growth, Nazar’s the first player on the Blackhawks you think about. Through 53 games this year, he put up 26 points and 12 goals, putting a solid 13.2 percent of those shots into the net. 

I was also impressed that he routinely handled nearly 16 minutes of average total ice time per game. No, he didn’t show much physicality or willingness to sacrifice his body, but that will come in time. And fast-forward 365 days, and you’re going to see improvement across the board. 

2 - Alex Vlasic

A two-way playmaker in the making, Alex Vlasic finished the year with four goals and 30 points, alongside 23:16 of average total ice time. You’re looking at a surefire blueliner snagging first-pairing minutes in Chicago from now until, well, early the next decade, and he’s one who will routinely frustrate opponents. 

Sure, Vlasic could’ve been better at setting up more finishes for sequences, but he got in front of 157 shots, stole the puck 53 times, and played good defense, considering how bad the team was. Look for his offensive and defensive output to make a leap as the core starts to show signs of solidifying.

1 - Connor Bedard

For all of his perceived shortcomings, Connor Bedard still deserves the top spot among this crop of players. Through 82 games, Bedard ended the 2024-25 campaign with 67 points and 23 goals. And while his scoring output should’ve been higher, we’ll accept the fact he’s becoming a surefire playmaker. 

Oh, and here’s a prophecy for you: Bedard will figure out how to score regularly once the 2025-26 campaign wraps up. Remember, he struggled through a scoring drought this season and put it behind him with more consistent play as the year dragged on.