Get ready for the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase! Discover Chicago Blackhawks prospects to watch in upcoming games.
The Chicago Blackhawks play hockey this weekend.
No, it’s not NHL hockey, and it’s not even pre-season hockey. But it’s close. It’s the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase. The Blackhawks take on the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 6 pm CT and the Minnesota Wild on Sunday, Sept. 14, at 3 pm CT. For those in the area or looking for a road trip, the games will be at TRIA Rink at Treasure Island Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. On Tap Sports Net will have a “How To Watch” article as more details come out.
Until then, I thought I would share my thoughts on a handful of prospects. These are the guys I find the most intriguing.
Is it worth watching? Honestly, if you’re a prospect-nut, it is. And there are a couple of names that catch my eye for right and wrong reasons.
Artyom Levshunov
I’m what the kids might call an “Artyom Levshunov-enjoyer.” I have a lot of faith in his ceiling because of his reads and skating ability. The big lug impressed me—mistakes and all—in his NHL debut last season. I personally don’t expect Arty to put too much effort out there. I think high competition engages him more than lower levels. For example, you can observe how interested he is in playing AHL games versus NHL games. More importantly, I don’t want Levshunov to go HAM and find himself injured at the start of another season.
Sam Rinzel
One of the most impressive prospects at the end of last season was Sam Rinzel. I’m much more interested in seeing how he performs during training camp and beyond than this prospect showcase. I don’t expect Rinzel to dominate during the showcase only because of injury mitigation. Rinzel added serious size during the summer, going from around 180 to 195.
More Sports News
.wp-block-group__inner-container:has(> .embla),
.wp-block-group:where(.alignfull) > .wp-block-group__inner-container:has(> .embla) {
width: calc(100vw – (var(–side-spacing) * 2)) !important;
}
.embla {
position: relative;
overflow: hidden;
}
.embla__container {
display: flex;
flex-wrap: nowrap;
gap: 0 !important;
width: 75%;
}
.embla__slide {
margin-inline-end: var(–column-gap);
}
.embla__arrow,
.embla__arrow:active,
.embla__arrow:target,
.embla__arrow:hover,
.embla__arrow:focus-visible {
display: none;
position: absolute;
top: 50%;
transform: translateY(-50%);
width: 40px;
height: 40px;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
line-height: 0;
background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.75);
color: var(–color-primary);
border-radius: 100vw;
svg {
width: 24px;
}
}
.embla__prev {
left: 0;
}
.embla__next {
right: 0;
}
]]>
Nick Lardis
Now we can get into the players whose performance I think will matter (somewhat). Nick Lardis is a goal-scorer. He recorded 117 points in 65 games last season in the OHL. There are questions surrounding his ability to score at the NHL level. Some believe his production to be reliant on the perimeter, although Lardis has been working on scoring from the middle. I would like to see Lardis dominate in the showcase, but if he doesn’t, I won’t hold it over his head. Lardis’ performance during actual training camp will matter.
Oliver Moore
Oliver Moore is likely to be headed to the Rockford IceHogs to start the regular season. Other than his speed, I was impressed with some of his reads at the end of last season. And that’s about it. There was some concern about the role Moore was utilized in during his final year with the University of Minnesota, but I’m not as high on Moore as others. Ben Pope commented that he looked a “little rusty” during the first practice. Anything to worry about? Hardly. But I will hold an underwhelming performance against Moore.
Apr 8, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Oliver Moore (11) skates with the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Honorable Mentions: A.J. Spellacy was the fan-favorite throughout the prospect showcase and training camp last season. It will be interesting to see if Spellacy matches his energy from last year. Ryan Greene only played two NHL games at the end of last season. Almost as limited as a sample size one can get. That said, I did like what I saw.
Subscribe to On Tap Sports Net on YouTube and the Four Feathers Podcast for more Chicago Blackhawks content, updates, and hot takes!