Although it’s just the beginning of August, October is just around the corner. It won’t be long before the United Center is packed with excited hockey fans cheering on the Chicago Blackhawks.
It is unlikely that the Blackhawks are going to be a playoff-caliber team, but there will be excitement due to the youth on the roster. Stars like Connor Bedard, Artyom Levshunov, and Frank Nazar, among other young players, will lead the way.
There may be a few prospects that make their NHL debuts during the 2025-26 season. We saw plenty of debuts at the end of last season. Even more are on the way. These three could be up with the big club before the season is complete:
1. Nick Lardis
Nick Lardis had one of the greatest goal-scoring seasons in the history of the OHL while playing for the Brantford Bulldogs. In 65 games played, Lardis scored a total of 71 goals. He also added 46 assists for 117 points.
Now, Lardis is signed and is expected to turn pro in 2025-26. Although he is slated to start with the Rockford IceHogs, you never know what his training camp/preseason could earn him.
"He's slotted to be a pro next year," said Assistant GM of player development Mark Eaton. "Which pro team [he ends up with] will be up to him in September".
It sounds like the Blackhawks are going to let him decide where he lands with his play. After all the goals he scored in 2024-25, it's hard to ignore his potential to play in the NHL as soon as this year.
"Hopefully, this will be my first year pro." Nick Lardis said on the topic. "That's going to be my goal going into the summer. Stay motivated, try to make the team. Whatever happens, happens. Keep getting better."
The good news for Chicago is that he is highly motivated to make the team. He is also okay knowing that if he falls short of making the NHL roster right out of camp, he will continue to work on his game wherever he's asked to play. The NHL is usually where players in his situation end up by the time it's all said and done. There's a great chance he makes his debut in 2025-26.
2. AJ Spellacy
AJ Spellacy is on a nice little run. Since being drafted in the third round, 72nd overall, he’s made a great impression on the Chicago Blackhawks organization. He was so good in the 2024 preseason that he looked like someone who deserved to make the NHL team right out of the draft.
The Blackhawks made the wise choice to send him back to major junior, where his development continued. Now, it’s fair to wonder if there is a chance…