Who Are the Chicago Blackhawks Top Breakout Candidates?

The Chicago Blackhawks find themselves in a tough spot after six seasons of postseason drought. With Connor Bedard sidelined until mid-November due to shoulder surgery, younger players must step up to help the team make a push for the playoffs. The Blackhawks have built a strong youth movement in recent years, with a top 10 NHL prospect pool ranking for the past four seasons.

Potential breakout candidates include Artyom Levshunov, Nick Lardis, Drew Commesso, Oliver Moore, Sam Rinzel, Roman Kantserov, Anton Frondell, and Frank Nazar. Levshunov, a top overall pick, has struggled to make an immediate impact. Lardis, a former OHL 71-goal scorer, could soon claim a spot in the Blackhawks' top-six forward group.

Commesso, a former 2020 draft pick, will compete for the backup goaltending role. Moore has refined his defensive skills and is expected to play a larger role despite playing primarily middle-six minutes last season. Rinzel, who shared top defensive pairings as a rookie, will have more opportunities now with Bowen Byram joining the lineup.

Kantserov, a 21-year-old KHL star, has shown explosive goal-scoring abilities but may need time to adjust to the NHL. Frondell, a 19-year-old prospect, has impressed with his size, speed, and playmaking abilities. Nazar, the top-ranked candidate, will take on top-line-center duties while Bedard is out, with a contract extension to prove himself. With these young talents stepping up, the Blackhawks could finally make progress in their rebuild.