The Blackhawks are still a month out from preseason hockey, but the summer checklist isn’t quite finished yet. Before the focus shifts fully to 2026-27, it’s time for another run of Top 25 Under 25.
The annual ranking is back in its familiar format: individual ballots from the SCH staff, plus a collective ballot from the Second City Hockey community. That process is being used again to sort out the top 25 players and a few honorable mentions.
This year’s list should bring more movement than usual. The most recent rankings came during February’s Olympic break, and since then the Blackhawks have seen some players leave in trades while others have simply aged out of eligibility.
Here’s the current group of players no longer eligible for the T25U25 rankings: Connor Bedard, Spencer Knight, Alex Vlasic, Frank Nazar, Wyatt Kaiser, Anton Frondell, Artyom Levshunov, Roman Kantserov, Sam Rinzel, Nick Lardis, Oliver Moore, Kevin Korchinski, Ryan Greene, Drew Commesso, Marek Vanacker, Vaclav Nestrasil, Louis Crevier, Ethan Del Mastro, Nathan Behm, Sacha Boisvert, Colton Dach, Jack Pridham, Adam Gajan, Landon Slaggert, and John Mustard. Crevier and Dach were traded, while Pridham’s team rights expired. Mason West and AJ Spellacy were named honorable mentions.
The bigger-picture change is even more striking when you step back a few years. Go back to the summer Bedard arrived in Chicago, and the Top 25 Under 25 looked very different. That list featured Connor Bedard, Kevin Korchinski, Lukas Reichel, Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore, Wyatt Kaiser, Arvid Soderblom, Phillipp Kurashev, Drew Commesso, Isaak Phillips, Alex Vlasic, Ethan Del Mastro, Sam Rinzel, Nolan Allan, Ryan Greene, Cole Guttman, Roman Kantserov, Gavin Hayes, Colton Dach, Paul Ludwinski, Ilya Safonov, Jalen Luypen, Nick Lardis, Samuel Savoie, and Adam Gajan.
In Other News...
Blackhawks Young Forwards Could Change Everything Around Connor Bedard
The Blackhawks rebuild has reached a point where the conversation is no longer just about Connor Bedard carrying the offense. With the roster depth beginning to sort itself out, Chicago can start looking at the next wave of forwards who might grow into real support pieces, and that is where names like Ryan Greene and Oliver Moore come into focus as the organization eyes the 2026-27 season.
Greenes rookie season gave the Blackhawks a first look at how he might fit, while Moore spent his offseason adding to the picture by skating at the World Championships and training with Bedard. Both are still in the projection stage, but Chicagos long-term ceiling could look very different if those young forwards develop into more than secondary options. [Read more 🡒]
Spencer Knight Is Becoming A Huge Part Of Chicagos Next Step
Spencer Knight just finished his first full NHL season as the Blackhawks starting goaltender, and it gave Chicago a clearer picture of where the position stands as the rebuild moves forward. In 55 games, Knight put together 19 wins with a 2.82 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage, numbers that reflect both the growing pains of a young team and the steadiness the Blackhawks have been trying to find in net.
Jeff Blashill praised Knights calm, competitive demeanor and the way he handled the pressure that comes with being the backbone of a developing roster. Knight, for his part, sounded confident in his own growth and ready for a heavier workload going forward, which makes his role one of the most important pieces of Chicagos next step. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Korchinski Faces A Huge Blackhawks Season For His NHL Future
Kevin Korchinski is heading into a pivotal stretch for his Blackhawks future, and it comes with the usual mix of promise and pressure that follows a first-round defenseman. Drafted in 2022, he has spent most of his pro career with the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL, where he has collected two All-Star selections while also getting a taste of the NHL with 13 games last season.
Chicagos coaches and front office have stayed upbeat about his development, and they expect him to be in the mix for a roster spot when camp opens. For a young blueliner whose skating and puck-moving remain his calling cards, this season is shaping up as a chance to prove he belongs in the NHL picture for good. [Read more 🡒]