The Chicago Blackhawks' future was on full display Sunday, as six of their first-round picks from the past three drafts took the ice against Utah Hockey Club.
Despite the 5-2 loss, this game was great for Chicago's future.
Mar 30, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Utah Hockey Club center Clayton Keller (9) and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Sam Rinzel (6) chase the puck during the third period at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images
The biggest storyline of the game was the NHL debuts of defenseman Sam Rinzel and forward Oliver Moore. Rinzel, the 25th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, showcased his puck skills and transition game, registering four shots on goal, and logging 20:15 of ice time.
Rinzel has the ability to develop into a top-four defenseman and potential to become a two-way defenseman for the Hawks throughout his career.
According to hockey insider Frank Seravalli, Rinzel could eventually emerge as a No. 1 defenseman in the league.
Moore, the 19th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, showed his offensive skills, registering two shots on goal and 15:03 of ice time, despite finishing with a -1 rating.
Both Moore and Rinzel made strong first impressions, delivering standout performances for Chicago's young core.
Headlining this group was 2023 first-overall pick Connor Bedard. After a slow start to the season, Bedard picked up his rhythm, recording six points (three goals, three assists) in his last seven games.
Defenseman Kevin Korchinski, the No. 7 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, has developed into a steady presence on the blue line. Called up from Rockford last Thursday, he tallied 27 points (3 goals, 24 assists) in 57 AHL games. Though he has yet to record a point in 11 games this season, he has shown signs of offensive potential for the Blackhawks.
Joining Korchinski from the 2022 draft class is none other than Blackhawks forward Frank Nazar, who was drafted as the 13th overall pick. Nazar brings speed and offensive creativity to the lineup, but has struggled to finish off of scoring chances.
Rounding out the group is Artyom Levshunov, the second-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old has adapted well to the NHL pace, with five points (0 goals, 5 assists) in 10 games played. Levshunov could be a key piece for the Blackhawks' blue line moving forward.
Following Sunday's loss, the Blackhawks have now dropped 10 of their last 11 games after a 3-0-1 start to March. However, with a young core filled with high-end talent, Blackhawks fans have a lot to look forward to in the future.
