Now that the NHL Entry Draft has come and gone, it’s time to take a look at the Chicago Blackhawks’ prospect pool. I’m not the biggest fan of rankings, so take these with a grain of salt. There is very little difference between being the 40th-ranked prospect and the 30th. I’ve determined the order of this list based on what I think each player’s NHL ceiling is. The prospects have been split up into groups of five, so think of those as tiers, where the order could be interchangeable. Everyone has a different standard for what they consider a prospect. For me, it’s any player in the system who hasn’t cemented an NHL roster spot yet, regardless of games played.  

We’ll revisit this list after the World Junior Championship in January, and then again next summer. Today, we’re moving into the top half of the pool with prospects 15-11.

15. Mason West, F – 17, 6-foot-7, 218 pounds

For the second straight draft, the Blackhawks traded with the Carolina Hurricanes to get back into the first round to make a third pick. This time around, they selected forward Mason West out of Edina High School in Minnesota. He’s the rare mix of size and athleticism, which he uses to quarterback his high school football team. He scored 27 goals and 49 points in 31 games for Edina. In his 10 USHL games for the Fargo Force, West netted a goal and nine points.

According to @NCloutierTVA, Mason West (aka Le Gros May West), the 6’6″ quarterback, confirmed he chose to play hockey.

Where do you think he’ll get drafted?

(“Pick 6” would be hilarious)

Btw… Here are some clips in the USHL (9 pts in 10 GP). pic.twitter.com/q4H8pXEBG7

— Briser la glace (@Briserlaglace_) May 29, 2025

West is similar to A.J. Spellacy, as they both excelled on the football field and are freakishly fast for their size. If they both reach their full potential, teams will dread when the Blackhawks appear on their schedule. West is incredibly raw and will need plenty of time to develop. He has speed, size, creativity, passing ability, and a physical edge. He will return to Fargo after he finishes his senior football season. He’s committed to play at Michigan State University for the 2026-27 season and beyond. The last time the Blackhawks used their third first-round pick on a high school player from Minnesota, it was Sam Rinzel. That’s worked out well so far, so I will give them the benefit of the doubt with West.

14. Vaclav Nestrasil, F – 18, 6-foot-6, 190 pounds

Vaclav Nestrasil was the second of three first-round draft picks the Blackhawks made this past June. He is part of the assertive effort to add size to the prospect pool. His name started popping up more as we got closer to the draft, so hearing his name called for the Blackhawks was not a surprise. The Czechia-born right wing had 19 goals and 42 points in 61 USHL games for the Muskegon Lumberjacks. He’ll return to Muskegon for the 2025-26 season and is essentially a lock to play on Czechia’s World Junior Championship team. He’s committed to play for the University of Massachusetts for the 2026-27 season.

Chicago will love Václav Nestrašil (#24), not just because he was meant to be drafted here, to his favorite team. He’s still raw and will likely need about three years before he’s ready to show himself in the league. He brings a big frame, with plenty of room to add muscle.… pic.twitter.com/rsoBDoLO2w

— Honza Zoufal (@HZoufal) June 28, 2025

Nestrasil is another raw prospect who will need plenty of time to develop and fill out his large frame. He’s a fluid skater with great hands who can move the puck around the ice with ease. He plays with a physical edge, but he’ll need to get bigger and stronger before he can use that aspect of his game to his advantage. He made steady leaps as the 2025-26 season progressed, which landed him in the first round. Another season like that, and Nestarsil will move up these rankings, too.

13. Colton Dach, F – 22, 6-foot-4, 196 pounds

The message from the organization to Colton Dach last summer was crystal clear: play with an edge, but play within yourself. He took that to heart and was disappointed he didn’t make the NHL roster out of training camp. He didn’t pout, as he scored 12 goals and 25 points in 30 AHL games for the Rockford IceHogs. Dach was recalled by the Blackhawks in early January and scored one goal in four points in 13 games before a three-game demotion back to Rockford. He scored a goal and three points in 12 games during his second stint before an elbow injury in March ended his regular season. He returned to the IceHogs for their Central Division Semifinal series against the Milwaukee Admirals, where he scored in overtime of his first game back.

This upcoming season is a crucial one for Dach. As the prospect pool gets deeper, he needs to prove that he is still part of the long-term plans. He is one of the only true power forwards on the NHL roster, and plays that role well. He has good offensive skills and stick-handling abilities to go along with his size and physicality. His two biggest negatives are his skating and ability to stay healthy. While he’s gotten better on his feet, he still struggles at times with NHL speed. He has yet to prove that he can stay healthy for a full season. Every time it feels like he has things figured out, the injury bug reappears to derail Dach.

12. Marek Vanacker, F – 19, 6-foot-1, 170 pounds

Marek Vanacker’s season got off to a late start due to offseason shoulder surgery. But once he made his debut for the Brantford Bulldogs in late November, his season took off. He scored 24 goals and 42 points in 45 regular-season OHL games before adding six goals and 11 points in 11 postseason games. He never had to do any of the heavy lifting with Nick Lardis and 2025 first-round pick Jake O’Brien combining for 103 goals.

Vanacker creates a lot of his offense off the rush, using his quick hands and accurate shot to catch goaltenders off guard. He plays with a lot of pace and a little bit of snarl. He seems to show up at the biggest moments with his best plays. He is developing nicely into a middle-six forward that can add some scoring depth to the team. His skating and defense still need some work, but there is plenty of time for that. He’ll return to the OHL for one more season, as he’s not eligible to play in the AHL. Once his season ends, he’s an easy candidate to join the IceHogs’ lineup for the stretch run.

11. Ethan Del Mastro, D – 22, 6-foot-4, 209 pounds

While other offensive-minded defensive prospects get the spotlight, Ethan Del Mastro keeps making strides to become the stay-at-home stalwart you still need in today’s game. After being an AHL All-Star and making his NHL debut in his first pro season, the young blueliner made even more strides last year. He scored two goals and six points in his 24 NHL games, while putting up nine assists in 47 AHL games. While there aren’t a lot of advanced stats in the AHL, for what it’s worth, he led all IceHogs defensemen with a plus-8 rating.

Del Mastro and Nolan Allan are the stay-at-home yin to the slick offensive defensemen like Kevin Korchinski and Artyom Levshunov’s yang. You need both types to have a balanced and successful lineup. Del Mastro is a reliable shutdown defender who can eat up a lot of minutes. He’s used in big game moments, as his hockey IQ always keeps him in the right places. He plays with poise under pressure and loves to finish a check when the opportunity presents itself. He has a good shot to make the NHL roster out of training camp this fall.

Blackhawks Prospects Rankings & Reviews

40-36: Kanarsky, Peltonen, Mast, Holmes, & Kuzmin
35-31: Svensson, Cumby, Henry, Tohila, Flecman
30-26: Sumpf, Harding, Behm, Ludwinski, Hayes
25-21: Thompson, Gajan, Misiak, Crevier, Slaggert
20-16: Pridham, Mustard, Savoie, Spellacy, Allan