The Chicago Blackhawks have an important season ahead of them. The organization has committed to building through the draft, and a plethora of draft picks are NHL-ready, or on the cusp of being NHL-ready. Many young players will have a chance to make their mark this season; some becoming everyday players while many others will make their NHL debuts. Meanwhile, a small group of veterans will be tasked with helping the youngsters find their way.
In this series headed into the 2025-26 campaign, we’ll preview each player projected to make the roster, and what their role will be with the team. This edition’s spotlight is on Ethan Del Mastro.
Del Mastro By The Numbers
Drafted: Fourth round (105th overall) in 2021 by the Blackhawks
Position: Defenseman (Left Handed)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 210 pounds
Age/Birthdate: 22 years old (1/15/2003)
Country: Canada
2024-25 Stats: 2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points in 24 games
Career Stats: 2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points in 26 games
How He Got Here
Del Mastro was drafted in 2021 from the Mississauga Steelheads (now the Brampton Steelheads) of the OHL, where he had 76 points in 147 games over the span of three seasons, which also included him becoming the team captain in 2022. Steelheads head coach James Richmond said in 2022, “He is, in my opinion, by far and away, the best defenseman up here from the offensive blue line to our net, and I think he’s the best D in the whole league.” (from ‘Blackhawks prospect breakdown: Known as a defensive defenseman, Ethan Del Mastro has some hidden offensive upside’ – The Athletic – 04/12/2022).
He was on almost a point-per-game pace with Mississauga in 2022-23, with 21 points in 22 games, before he was traded to the Sarnia Sting, where he recorded 38 points in 30 games. On top of his growing success, he was also an alternate captain of Team Canada at the 2023 World Juniors, winning gold, with his now Blackhawks teammates Connor Bedard, Colton Dach, Nolan Allan, and Kevin Korchinski. Del Mastro also won gold in 2022, as well.
There’s always something to drafting a 6-foot-4 defenseman that skates well with both solid offensive and defensive instincts. Which have grown over time as he made his way to the Rockford IceHogs in 2023-24. He spent the majority of the last two seasons in Rockford, even becoming an AHL…
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