The Chicago Blackhawks prospect pool has had a very strong season and that continued in the OHL playoffs over the weekend. With all eyes around the team being set at the youth movement taking over the NHL squad, it is still important to keep tabs on how the rest of the talent across the organization.
A handful of NHL debuts have been made over the last month and general manager Kyle Davidson has a fantastic hit rate on first round draft choices making it to the highest level. Six of Chicago’s eight first round picks from the 2022-2024 drafts are currently with the team and three of them have debuted this year.
The two who haven’t reached the NHL level yet should be making their debuts at the end of next season. Marek Vanacker and Sacha Boisvert tore it up at their respective amateur stops this season and will play one more year at that level before turning pro.
Two non-first round draft choices from the 2023 draft have had incredible seasons in the OHL, and they continued to perform well over the weekend on a big stage.
Chicago Blackhawks prospect Martin Misiak recorded a hat-trick
Martin Misiak was a second round pick of the Blackhawks in the 2023 draft. The forward went in the same draft as Connor Bedard and has spent the past two seasons with the Erie Otters. Misiak netted a hat-trick and added an assist in the Otters 6-3 playoff victory on Friday. The effort from Misiak eliminated the potential top pick in this summer’s draft, Michael Misa and the Saginaw Spirit.
Misiak finished his 60-game regular season with 23 goals and 36 assists (59 points). The 20-year-old had an uptick in production from his first season in Erie, as he had 47 total points (23 goals, 24 assists) in 60 games. Despite being a higher pick than other prospects in the pool, many people have overlooked Misiak’s future in the Blackhawks organization. It’s understandable for guys to get lost in the shuffle with how loaded the pool is, but Misiak has done more than enough to stand out.
His growth in the OHL and ability to score consistently makes him a candidate to serve as a middle-six winger for the team down the road. If the pool continues to get stronger and Misiak doesn’t appear to be in the long-term plans, he could make for an extremely solid trade chip for the front office.
Nick Lardis continued his legendary OHL season in a big way
Nick Lardis has put up on of the best seasons in OHL history in his second year as a Brantford Bulldog. He had 71 goals and 46 assists for 117 regular season points in 65 games. He collected a hat-trick to clinch a first-round series victory over the North Bay Battalion. Lardis finished with seven goals and two assists in the opening round and is primed to join the Blackhawks organization next season.
Lardis was a third-round draft choice in 2023, joining a loaded class with Bedard, Misiak and Oliver Moore. The winger has turned into a dynamic goal-scoring threat who possesses real potential to thrive at the NHL level. He did play a game in Rockford last season, and it is very clear that his last season in the OHL proves that he can be successful at the next level.
Chicago Blackhawks interim head coach praises young defenseman for his maturity
Read MoreFor More Great Chicago Sports Content
Get the latest Chicago sports news, analysis, and breaking stories on the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs, White Sox, Sky, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, so you never miss a story on your favorite Chicago teams.
Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE
