Black Hawks 2025 Development Camp Summary: Youth Sports Here – Hockey Writer – The Black Hawks’ Prospects
This is the third consecutive year that the Chicago Blackhawks have held their own development camp around ICE. As a reconstruction team, the idea is to get a lot of young prospects to know each other and become a bond and growth for future teammates. After all, if these guys are going to fight for it eventually, they need to build it together.
This year’s development camp also started quite well with the Blackhawks’ free agents, which led to the team’s reliance on their young players and prospects next season. General manager Kyle Davidson, assistant general manager of Rockford Icehogs coach Jared Nightingale and player development assistant Mark Eaton confirmed this throughout the week. Plus, you may feel the excitement of potential customers, especially those who are likely to become professionals this year.
Eaton’s speech
Eaton has been asked over the past few years about the Blackhawks’ first round selection and their success.
Exciting. I think we saw a glimpse of it last year until the end of the year. Well, Frankie (Nazar) is doing most of the year. Sam and Oliver (Moore) entered at the end of the year and we then got a glimpse of what they could do. It’s the first draft of Kyle, like those first-rounders and second-rounders are starting to go to the NHL, you know, there are a few courses behind them, so the depth is there, and I think that’s where we want to be. The outlook pool is deep and it is creating internal competition that will allow the cream to rise to the top.
Indeed, we are watching these young people heading to the NHL before our eyes. Looking at the 2022 draft class, defender Kevin Korchinski ranked seventh overall. Frank Nazar 13 years oldTh Overall and Sam Rinzel 25Th. We know that Nazar has graduated from the full-time NHL and it sounds like Rinzel and Korchinski are sure to be everyday NHL players in this upcoming season.
Entering the 2023 draft, the Blackhawks first took Connor Bedard away, MooreTh And goalkeeper Adam Gajan 35Th. Goalkeepers always spend more time developing. However, Bedard jumped straight to the NHL. Moore is another striker who will compete for daily locations.
Related – Starting from the first day of Blackhawk Development Camp
We ranked second overall in the 2024 draft, Artyom Levshunov, defensive player of Sacha BoisvertTh Overall and Marek Vankel 27Th. Boisvert plans to play at Boston University next season. But Levshunov already has 18 NHL games in his game, and it sounds like Vanacker will continue to move forward this season. This is Eaton on Vanacker.
When his season ended in the OHL, he joined us at Rockford to finish. But, you know, he will be in training camp this year, and if he doesn’t form a team and the Blackhawks leave the camp, he’ll likely be back (in Rockford).
The above only covers the first round of the game! There are a lot of second and third round picks who will compete for a spot with the Icehogs or Blackhagks in 2025-26. If you like to see new, young faces and get success, the Blackhawks are the place for the next season. As General Manager Davidson said,
…This year there will probably be a big young player here to break in with us for a long time. So, I think it’s really exciting. I think this is the progress we have been in the past. It’s a different look for this team and I think that’s where we are heading.
The role of the Nightingale in Rockford
It’s clear that the Blackhawks are trying to take the next step in rebuilding by bringing players out of the draft, which means their AHL members will play a big role in this. Jared Nightingale, the new head coach who entered Icehogs. The 42-year-old former defensive player is an assistant coach for the Icehogs before heading to the Echl South Carolina Strays for the 2024-25 season. Under Nightingale’s guidance, the Stingrays played a stunning battle, losing 52-15-0 in the first round of the playoffs.
Catch up with coach at Chicago Development Camp 📍 pic.twitter.com/ow76dwxank
— Rockford Icehogs (@goicehogs) June 30, 2025
Former Icehogs head coach Anders Sorensen took on an assistant role with the Blackhawks, and Eaton returned to his former player development position, which the organization believes Nightingale will be a perfect fit to return to the Icehogs and are now their head coach. His job is to prepare all these young prospects for success in the NHL. That’s not a small task!
Nightingale is in the development camp. He was asked about his system and the identity he would promote in Icehogs.
Often, Rockford follows the system running in Chicago…definitely try to use the same identity and the same makeup, so, you know, it’s easier to transition up and down the player. ”
You know, there are a lot of hockey teams now, they want to play quickly. We want to be aggressive. I think, as most coaches say, we think a component is definitely that we want to be super competitive and make BMO (center) a very tough place.
Regarding what he is looking for from players, Nightingale will promote team-first roles.
I love selfless players, rank the team first and zero equity. I think you made everything. Being able to play hockey is a blessing. So we will create this culture around it.
As all these prospects in the system compete for a location, there will be a lot of competition among players. But you know the old sentence: “There is no ‘me’ in the team. It’s important to put forward this mentality from the beginning. Plus, as we’ve seen over the past few seasons, from Rockford to Chicago, there are a lot of players going back and forth. It’s important for players to understand the process and not be discouraged when sent down. So it’s a blessing to play hockey.
Regarding the Nightingale’s coaching method, he answered
I’m trying to be really approachable with the players, real, real, real, you know? I won’t encounter it like I have all the answers, you know? I really rely on leadership from staff and players. Like I said, it’s a relentless work ethics team and you know that it’s really done for your teammates to stand up and that makes it really hard to come up with a team that comes up with a little while playing.
The new coach also talks with veterans who have signed to help young people.
Yes, I think that’s huge. You know, it can’t come from the coaching staff just. experience. The team leader. You know, when I was in the American League, the best team I played was the team first. You can’t have enough of those guys. Not necessarily like a senior identity, but you know, people who are really good at staying in the present, embracing the process of growing and improving in the U.S. league.
I also think that as a player, you know, looking back, when the new coach comes in, it’s nice and clean for everyone. Try not to know, you want to listen and learn from things from the past. But it’s a clean start for these guys, you know, the first impression is big, and I’m glad you know you come in with a clear mindset.
Some of the themes I get from it are ruthless work ethics, first of all the team, and providing clean slats for everyone. Rockford will be a very important place for development and learning. We should all turn our eyes to the Ice Library because they are the future of the Blackhawks.
Furund’s mentality
Apparently, all eyes of the development camp are on this year’s top draft for Chicago, second pick Anton Frondell. The drafter of the new Blackhawks was asked about his shot and what he expected from Bedder (he was excited). However, the biggest question is whether Frondel will return to his Swedish team next season or whether to withdraw the Blackhawks from training camp.
We haven’t talked about any future plans yet. Just arrived here. I know everyone and I did a good test this morning. My dream is to play in the NHL and I want to do it as soon as possible. So, if I had the opportunity to attend training in the training camp later and fight for a place in the team, it was just my dream. That’s what I’m going to do.
Frondel also talked to the media about being a two-way player, i.e. better defense. He replied, “My homework. Don’t give up.”
This is given, and we’ll see Frondel in the Blackhawks jersey. It’s just a question of when. This will be the big storyline of entering the bootcamp.
Misiak & Team Europe
Martin Misiak, 20, was drafted by the Blackhawks in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft (55Th comprehensive). He played for Ohl Erie Otters in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, earning an impressive 23 goals and 59 points in 60 games (plus seven goals and 13 points in eight playoff games). He is expected to play for the Icehogs this 2025-26 season.
Asked what he appreciates about the development camp, Misiak said, “The boat trip is very disgusting.” He also hosted the group’s volleyball championship at the end of the camp (Thursday, July 3). Apparently, the players have been divided into four teams and they have been adding points.
Misiak said he was in the Grey (European team) and they were in the lead as of Thursday afternoon. He thinks they win because every player has a part and they are better communicators. “We have two Finnish people, one Swedish, one Slovak, one Czech and one Canadian. So communicating, it’s harder. But, I mean, we figured it out.”
Related – Blackhawk unveils the centenary jersey of the NHL season
Dealing with national, cultural and linguistic differences is part of hockey and sometimes overlooked. But it sounds like the “European team” is already ahead of the curve.
Lardis is ready to go to professional
Eventually, the media spoke with Nick Lardis on the last day of the development camp, his third time in years. Blackhawks’ 2023 third round draft pick (67Th Overall) is well known for his amazing season with the OHL Brantford Bulldogs, with 71 and 117 points in 65 regular season games, plus 11 goals and 15 points. Unfortunately, a knee injury shortened his playoffs, but he said he is now 100% healthy and ready to start professional. Here is more information about Ladis.
Peeked at what Nick Lardis said today. #blackhawks pic.twitter.com/lifiztb2n7
– Gail Kauchak (@littlegailk) July 3, 2025
It sounds like Lardis has a realistic understanding that scoring at the career level is harder than junior high school, but he focuses on finding ways to open areas. Can the nearly 20-year-old (he was 20 on July 8) have a place with the Blackhawks in training camp? ! Of course it is possible. Otherwise, I believe he will seek to improve his game through Icehogs.
Related – Blackhawks Notebook: Development Camp and Free Player Fizzle Day 2
Some experts wonder why the Blackhawks are developing camps on the ice, but will certainly promote chemistry and bonds in the prospect. As Vanacker talks about his team winning the game in Europe, because every player has a portion, Icehogs coach Nightingale emphasized the team-first mentality, and general manager Davidson said a large percentage of young players will be playing this season.
These prospects are all eager to play in the NHL game, and it is clear that many will have a chance with the Chicago Blackhawks. In this regard, this upcoming 2025-26 season should be an interesting season.
