Several Blackhawks prospects are close to making the jump to professional hockey. Sacha Boisvert is the first of a few we could see before the end of the season.
Boisvert was a first-round pick in the 2024 draft. The Blackhawks acquired this pick in a trade that sent Brandon Hagel to the Lightning in 2022. Boisvert has had an interesting path through the North American hockey circuit, with it all culminating in the signing of his ELC earlier this week.
Boisvert’s Path to the Show
Boisvert grew up playing in the Quebec leagues but moved to the United States for AAA. He posted 51 goals and 94 points in 56 games in his final year at Mount St. Charles Academy. He then spent two years in the USHL with the Muskegon Lumberjacks. Boisvert wasted no time, putting together a near point-per-game season in year one. In year two, his draft year, he wore the ‘A’ and posted a 36-goal, 68-point season in 61 games.
Boisvert’s college career has had some bumps. He started at North Dakota, where he had an impressive 32-point freshman season in 37 games. He then transferred to Boston University for his sophomore year after North Dakota unexpectedly fired their coach. BU wasn’t as nice to Boisvert as he dealt with inconsistency in his play and minutes. Towards the end of the campaign, Boisvert was scratched at times for disciplinary reasons.
Where Does He Fit in Chicago?
If we have learned anything about coach Blashill, it’s that he expects the young guns to earn their minutes. Take Nick Lardis, for example, who has spent this most recent stint with the NHL roster on the fourth line. Many argue that playing him fewer minutes has hindered his production. Realistically, it’s an attempt by the coaching staff to let Lardis hone his craft before taking on a larger responsibility.
Boisvert is an intriguing two-way player who projects as a center at the NHL level. His playstyle and frame drew comparisons to Anze Kopitar and Jonathan Toews on draft night. With the Blackhawks out of the playoff hunt and the roster getting younger, Boisvert centering a line with Bedard and Greene on the wings is not out of the question. With that said, and to pull on a previous point, Boisvert will have to work for his minutes. Centering a third or fourth line with Lardis and Slaggert/Lafferty is more likely for a majority of the remaining games.
Who Else Could Make Their Blackhawks Debut This Season?
The Blackhawks have made it a point to give some players a taste of NHL action if they feel they are ready. Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore, and Sam Rinzel are a few examples of players who joined the Blackhawks after their college season ended. Here are a couple of prospects who could make their debut before the end of the season.
Anton Frondell
Frondell is going to be a major piece of the Blackhawks’ future and is widely considered a top prospect in the league. Selected third overall in the 2025 draft, Frondell has been nothing short of impressive in the SHL with Djurgårdens IF.
In 43 games, the 18-year-old has posted 20 goals for 28 points. As the second-youngest player on the squad, Frondell sits at fourth in points and leads the team in goals. He’s a similar player to Boisvert; he can rip a puck and plays a sound two-way game. With a smaller frame than Boisvert, he can also move to the wing.
One thing to keep an eye out for is Djurgårdens IF and their pending playoff run. As the ninth seed, Djurgårdens will play a best-of-three series at a minimum. This means Frondell’s debut can happen no sooner than 3/24 at the Islanders, and will likely take longer since he’s coming over from Sweden. In the event Djurgårdens makes a deep run, we may not see Frondell suit up for a single game this year. If they get bounced early, then look for 3/31 at home against the Jets after the East Coast road trip as a potential debut.
With his ELC signed and Djurgårdens an underdog, Frondell coming over to the NHL is the most likely possibility. The following prospect is less likely but still fun to consider…
Marek Vanacker
Vanacker was a late first-round pick in 2024 and has been lighting up the OHL with the Brantford Bulldogs. He currently leads the league in goals despite many predicting a down year after some injury trouble. The CHL-NHL transfer agreement disallows players under 20 to play in the AHL. This means the 19-year-old would have to bypass Rockford entirely for the time being. We saw this same thing happen when Kevin Korchinski made the jump, a player many have questioned the progression of.
This move would also burn the first year of Vanacker’s entry-level contract. This would essentially push up his timeline and could make contract negotiations down the road more favorable for the Blackhawks. In theory, you give the player less time to break out and jack up their price tag. Frank Nazar is a perfect example of this, and he ended up signing a deal that was considered favorable for the Blackhawks.
It’s unlikely we see Vanacker make the jump. He’s having an awesome season, but with Brantford poised to make a deep playoff run, there’s a chance he isn’t even available before the season’s end. Regardless, an early exit for the Bulldogs and an itch to get more youth in the organization could inform a roster decision.
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