The Chicago Blackhawks entered the 2025 NHL Entry Draft with a clear mission: get bigger and tougher. With three first-round picks and a total of eight selections, General Manager Kyle Davidson and his team focused on adding size and skill to their prospect pool. The Blackhawks selected six forwards, one defenseman, and one goalie.

First Round Highlights

With the 3rd overall pick, the Blackhawks selected Swedish forward Anton Frondell from Djurgårdens IF. Frondell, standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 205 pounds, posted 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) in 29 games in HockeyAllsvenskan, earning Rookie of the Year honors. Chris Peters from FloHockey describes Frondell as a "hard-driving forward who can get to the interior and score goals". He is committed to playing a two-way game with physicality. Some scouts see Frondell as a potential top-six center.

At pick number 25, Chicago chose Vaclav Nestrasil, a towering 6-foot-6, 185-pound winger from the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL. He tallied 42 points (19 goals, 23 assists) in 61 USHL games during the 2024-25 season. Nestrasil is committed to the University of Massachusetts Amherst for the 2025-26 season.

The Blackhawks weren't done there. They traded their 34th and 62nd overall picks, along with a 2027 fifth-rounder, to Carolina to acquire the 29th overall selection. With that pick, they selected Mason West, a 6-foot-6, 218-pound forward from the Fargo Force (USHL).

Later Rounds: Continuing the Trend

The Blackhawks continued to prioritize size in the later rounds. In the third round, they selected Nathan Behm, a 6-foot-2, 203-pound winger from the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL. Behm, who was projected to be a late second-round pick by some scouts, scored 31 goals and 66 points in 59 games. Scouts praise his stick-handling and shooting ability but note he needs to be more consistent.

The lone defenseman selected by Chicago, Ashton Cumby (Rd. 6, No. 162), fits the size mold at 6-foot-5, 216 pounds. Cumby, from the Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL), is described as a big, punishing blueliner.

In the seventh round, the Blackhawks selected goaltender Alexei Kanarsky. Kanarsky, who played in the MHL, registered impressive stats with a .938 save percentage and a 2.24 goals-against average.

Overall Analysis

The Blackhawks' 2025 draft class is characterized by size and a focus on adding toughness to the forward ranks. General Manager Kyle Davidson addressed concerns about the team's future forwards being "too small" by selecting players with significant size.

While some may question the emphasis on size over pure skill, the Blackhawks clearly have a vision for building a bigger, more physical team around core players like Connor Bedard. The development of these prospects over the next few years will determine the success of this draft class.