Training camp is still one week away, but the Blackhawks held a practice on Wednesday morning for the prospects suiting up in the Tom Kurvers Prospects Showcase.
For the first time in months, Fifth Third Arena in Chicago had a buzz as high-end prospects like Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel, and Oliver Moore hit the ice to prepare for two scrimmages this weekend.
Considering it was only the first day, and most of the prospects hadn’t skated in a practice setting for quite some time, the group mainly went through basic drills for the hour-plus session.
But there is still plenty to discuss from the opening day of rookie camp! Let’s dive in.
High-End Prospects Shine On Day 1
Even though he’s just 19 years old, it was still somewhat surprising to see Artyom Levshunov‘s name on the Blackhawks’ roster. The 2024 2nd overall pick was named to the Showcase roster last year and then played a full season at the professional level, including 18 NHL games.
Levshunov looked dominant against the rest of the Blackhawks’ prospects on Wednesday — as he should with his experience and high-end abilities. His size and strength are at a different level than most players his age, and he’s got skill to go along with it. I’m very excited to see what the young defenseman has in store this weekend in Minnesota.
Speaking of young defensemen, 2022 1st-round pick Sam Rinzel is also part of the Blackhawks’ Showcase roster and was on the ice Wednesday. However, the biggest takeaway regarding Rinzel came from off the ice when he told the media that he gained 15 pounds over the summer. After finishing last season at 180 pounds, the 21-year-old is now up to 195 pounds. Holy gains, Sam! I can’t wait to see how the added strength helps him take the next step in his development.
Sam Rinzel finished last season around 180 pounds. He’s up to 195 now. He was putting in work to gain weight this summer.
“A lot of shakes. It’s always easier to drink the calories.”
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) September 10, 2025
Another 1st-round pick heading to St. Paul is 2023 19th overall pick Oliver Moore. The speed is always evident when Moore is on the ice, and he could be the fastest skater among the three teams’ rosters this weekend. Moore fared well in battle drills and used his swift skating to create a few chances on Wednesday.
Nick Lardis is coming off a 71-goal regular season in the Ontario Hockey League. He’s back in the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase for a third consecutive year, only this time, it’s as a professional. Lardis’ goal-scoring touch was on display on Wednesday, as expected. The 2023 3rd-round pick also mentioned that he skated in the offseason with NHLers like John Tavares, Evan Bouchard, and Dylan Cozens. Lardis said he caught a few chirps from those guys about his mammoth season in juniors.
One of the leading scorers in college hockey last season, 2022 3rd-round pick Aidan Thompson used his speed and offensive creativity to make a few nifty plays on Wednesday. Thompson is older and more experienced than most of the competition he’ll face this weekend, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him be productive in Minnesota.
Levshunov & Rinzel Receive National Love
The NHL Network released a top 25 NHL prospects list on Tuesday night, and a pair of Blackhawks participating in the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase were featured!
Rinzel was the first to appear at No. 9, while Levshunov came in at No. 16. It’s also worth mentioning that 2025 3rd overall pick Anton Frondell was slotted at No. 12.
Between Rinzel and Levshunov, there’s going to be a fascinating battle over which young right-handed defenseman will be the future anchor on the team’s top pairing. Rinzel seems to have the higher ceiling between the two, but he’s also nearly two years older than Levshunov.
Internal competition is always welcomed, and these two will be pushing each other for years to come on the Blackhawks’ blue line.
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