We are back with another player grade article. Like in previous articles, I will give a grade for individual Chicago Blackhawks and Rockford IceHogs players. This article will include a grading criteria, as well as my basis for why each player received their grade.

Once again, free to object to any of my assessments. These grades are mine alone. They are not a reflection of any other member of The Rink and their assessments, nor the organization as a whole.

For further insight into my grades, please listen to the upcoming Rinkcast.

Grading criteria

Like last year, grades are based on two factors: Objective output and subjective assessment.

• • Objective output: Advanced and counting stats
  • Subjective assessment: Objective output when assessed with previous seasons outputs and preseason expectations, along with unquantifiable value to the team and teammates

Blackhawks roster grades

Criteria

• Must currently be on the Blackhawks’ roster
  • This excludes players traded away
• Must have played at least 25 games with the Blackhawks
  • This excludes players acquired at the trade deadline, or rookies who made their debuts late in the season (Anton Frondell, Sacha Boisvert)

The players are presented in point total order, with the highest-scoring Blackhawk listed first.

Connor Bedard

• Final grade: A
• Midterm grade: A
• Season stats: 69 games played, 30 goals, 45 assists, 75 points

Positives

• Career high in goals, assists and points
• Significant improvement at the dot (47.1%)

Negatives

• Scoring regressed to end the season
• Defensive woes

Assessment

What is to say about Bedard that has not been said already? A career season for the 20-year-old in the final year of his entry-level contract, Bedard looks ready for the “C” on his chest.

Of course, there are still areas to grow. His defensive metrics leave a lot to be desired. However, he was not drafted to be a Marian Hossa. Bedard is offensively skilled, and is poised for 100+ point seasons sooner rather than later.

Tyler Bertuzzi

• Final grade: A+
• Midterm grade: A+
• Season stats: 79 games played, 32 goals, 26 assists, 58 points

Positives

• Career high in goals (32)
• Led the team in power play goals (11)

Negatives

• Unsustainable shooting percentage (19.5%)

Assessment

Perhaps a surprise, but I am allowing Bertuzzi to keep his A+ grade. One of the few Blackhawks that did not disappear to end the season, Bertuzzi tallied 22 points in his final 37 games.

His shooting percentage dipped from 23.2% to 19.5% to end the season, both marks not easily replicated. Regression in shooting could be in Bertuzzi’s future. However, his consistency in the face of team-wide struggles allows him to keep his grade.

Frank Nazar

• FInal grade: B
• Midterm grade: B-
• Season stats: 66 games played, 15 goals, 26 assists, 41 points

Positives

• Scoring touch returned near the end of the season
• Efficient center skillset

Negatives

• Extremely streaky scorer
• Jaw is a magnet for pucks

Assessment

Is it too unrealistic to ask Nazar to wear a full face mask for the remainder of his career? Despite the number of injuries, Nazar has proven himself to be an effective middle-six center at worst going forward, finding points in bunches down the stretch.

The problem, however, was his injuries. From his shoulder to his jaw being constantly bombarded with pucks, the young center could not catch a break. It affected his play. There were times where he played without snarl to avoid contact, and it prevented him from being the scoring center we have seen. A full season of health is what the doctor ordered for this upcoming season.

Ilya Mikheyev

• Final grade: B+
• Midterm grade: C+
• Season stats: 77 games played, 18 goals, 18 assists, 36 points

Positives

• The only Blackhawk with a positive plus/minus (+2)
• Strong scoring to end the season
• Career high in points (36)

Negatives

• Contract year bump in production?

Assessment

Like Bertuzzi, Mikheyev was one of the few Blackhawks to show up after the trade deadline. With 22 points in his final 37 games, Mikheyev brought the scoring, speed and defensive play from the bottom six.

The question becomes to pay or not to pay? At 31 years old, do the Blackhawks risk giving term to a veteran in his early 30s?

Teuvo Teravainen

• Final grade: C-
• Midterm grade: C
• Season stats: 75 games played, 14 goals, 21 assists, 35 points

Positives

• Aggressively fine

Negatives

• Scoring dried up
• Stuck on the fourth line at times

Assessment

I described Teravainen as “aggressively fine” in my midterm grades. Now, he is bordering on aggressively mediocre. With 14 points in his final 31 games, his offensively output is essentially gone. He can still distribute the puck and play a sound defensive game, but he may find himself marooned on the bottom six, or even the fourth line, for the rest of his Blackhawks tenure.

Andre Burakovsky

• Final grade: F
• Midterm grade: A-
• Season stats: 75 games played, 11 goals, 22 assists, 33 points

Positives

• Good until the new year

Negatives

• Everything in 2026

Assessment

Harsh? Perhaps. Incorrect? Absolutely not! Burakovsky recorded four points in his last 35 games of the season. Starting the season on the first line with Bedard, he quickly dropped to the bottom six and continued his lack of production.

My strongest opinion for this offseason is that Burakovsky should not be a Blackhawk next season. A buyout seems imminent for him, and I fully agree with that move.

Ryan Donato

• Final grade: C
• Midterm grade: C
• Season stats: 82 games played, 15 goals, 15 assists, 30 points

Positives

• Clean bill of health
• Still an effective two-way forward

Negatives

• Dramatic scoring drop from last season

Assessment

Another “aggressively fine” forward. Donato is who he is, a bottom-six two-way forward who shows flashes of offense, but is mostly there to make sure bad things don’t happen when he is on the ice.

The question is, was this what the Blackhawks expected when they signed him to a four-year extension in the offseason? Time will tell how his contract will age.

Ryan Greene

• Final grade: A
• Midterm grade: B+
• Season stats: 81 games played, 12 goals, 17 assists, 29 points

Positives

• Efficient bottom-six center
• Can move up and down the lineup

Negatives

• Scoring output does not match his effectiveness

Assessment

I will admit it, I have a soft spot for Greene. His counting stats don’t jump off the screen, but he sure passes the eye test. Whether playing wing on the first line with Bedard, or centering the third line, Greene does his job.

Louis Crevier

• Season grade:  A
• Midterm grade: B+
• Season stats: 78 games played, seven goals, 18 assists, 25 points

Positives

• Best plus/minus of any Blackhawks defensemen (-2)
• Wicked shot
• Two-way game
• Pairs with anyone

Negatives

• Made me look stupid

Assessment

I must come clean. I was dead wrong about Crevier in my midterm grades. Something possessed me to say that he looked no better than a third-pairing guy. He responded by being Chicago’s best defenseman of the season. There is no denying what he did this season.

Artyom Levshunov

• Final grade: C+
• Midterm grade: B+
• Season stats: 68 games played, two goals, 22 assists, 24 points

Positives

• Dynamic offensive defenseman when on his game
• Most power-play assists by a Blackhawks defenseman

Negatives

• Extremely inconsistent
• Defensive game
• Health issues

Assessment

I still believe in Arty, and will defend him from all attackers. That being said, he had a poor end to his season. With inconsistencies and an injury cutting his season short, it was not the strongest start for the former second overall pick.

Criticism will be thrown his way, but the skill is there. Time is Arty’s best ally, and next season will be another chance for him to show what he can do at the NHL level.

Alex Vlasic

• Final grade: C+
• Midterm grade: B-
• Season stats: 81 games played, two goals, 19 assists, 21 points

Positives

• Solid in the defensive zone

Negatives

• Lack of offensive production
• Lapses in play

Assessment

Vlasic went from a steal of a contract to a genuine concern at times. Not known for his offensive spark, Vlasic may have been asked to do too much this season. Technically the elder statesman of the defense, Vlasic was expected to play first-pairing minutes at 24 years old. Once Connor Murphy was traded, his role expanded again.

It proved too much at times. The hope is that other defensemen will take the load off of his shoulders next season. If not, a second-pairing defenseman will once again be asked to put a mediocre defense unit on his shoulders.

Oliver Moore

• Final grade: B-
• Midterm grade: B+
• Season stats: 51 games played, five goals, 14 assists, 19 points

Positives

• Strong skater
• Effective at the dot (48.3%)

Negatives

• Lack of scoring at the NHL level
• Ended the season injured

Assessment

Moore only played nine games with the Rockford IceHogs to start the season before making his way to Chicago. His speed and faceoff ability translated well to the NHL. However, his scoring touch did not show up. With five points in his final 22 games of the season, more should be expected from Moore.

Wyatt Kaiser

• Final grade: B
• Midterm grade: B
• Season stats: 77 games played, six goals, 11 assists, 17 points

Positives

• Solid defensive play
• Secondary puck distributor

Negatives

• Defensive lapses
• Noticeably bad performances

Assessment

Not much to say about Kaiser. How he was at the midway point of the season was essentially what he was a the end. Consistent, with a few ugly games here and there.

Nick Lardis

• Final grade: A
• Midterm grade: A
• Blackhawks season stats: 41 games played, 10 goals, five assists, 15 points
• IceHogs season stats: 35 games played, 18 goals, 14 assists, 32 points

Positives

• Late-season scoring spark
• Growing consistency

Negatives

• Defensive game
• Inconsistent spot in the lineup

Assessment

A season split nearly evenly between Chicago and Rockford, Lardis scored 28 goals in his first professional season. The worries that his scoring touch in Brantford would not translate have been erased.

Now it is to be determined where in the lineup Lardis settles into, if a long-term spot is meant for him.

Sam Rinzel

• Final grade: C+
• Midterm grade: C-
• Blackhawks season stats: 60 games played, four goals, 10 assists, 14 points
• IceHogs season stats: 23 games played, two goals, 12 assists, 14 points

Positives

• Strong end to the season
• Workhorse between the NHL and AHL

Negatives

• Early inconsistencies
• Defensive lapses

Assessment

After spending some more time in Rockford to hone his game, Rinzel finished the season with the Blackhawks with more success. Playing 83 professional games this season, Rinzel showed the endurance needed of an NHL defenseman.

Like with Arty, improvements are expected come next season.

Matt Grzelcyk

• Final grade: C-
• Midterm grade: C+
• Season stats: 69 games, zero goals, 12 assists, 12 points

Positives

• Fine bottom-pairing guy
• Puck mover

Negatives

• No offense
• Undersized
• Ended the season injured

Assessment

The hardest part about grading Grzelcyk was finding a photograph of him. He was invisible both in a positive and a negative way. You never had to worry about Grzelcyk, but neither did the opponent. He is going to be one of those players that makes fans go, “oh yeah, he played for the Blackhawks, forgot about that.”

Landon Slaggert

• Final grade: C+
• Midterm grade: C-
• Season stats: 53 games played, three goals, four assists, seven points

Positives

• Came into his own as a fourth liner as the season went on
• Decent physical game

Negatives

• Limited skillset
• Scoring output

Assessment

A player who improved as the season went on, Slaggert subtly impressed with his two-way game fortifying the fourth line. Not flashy, but not asked to be, he took off following the departure of Colton Dach. Perhaps knowing he didn’t have to fight Dach for fourth-line minutes upped his confidence and solidified his game.

Sam Lafferty

• Final grade: B
• Midterm grade: N/A
• Season stats: 29 games played, one goal, one assist, two points

Positives

• Simply did what was asked
• Positive locker room presence

Negatives

• Just a 13th forward

Assessment

An obligatory “thank you for your service” grade. Lafferty did what was asked of him, which was mostly to practice hard and sit in the press box. When asked to play, he mostly spent time on the fourth line, with the occasional cameo as a defenseman when the lineup thinned.

Finishing his career with the Blackhawks, Lafferty had a thankless job. He should be commended for it. Not many could go through a final season like his and keep his chin up.

Spencer Knight

• Final grade: A
• Midterm grade: A
• Season stats: 55 games played, 19 wins, 25 losses, 11 overtime losses, .902 save percentage, 2.82 goals against average

Positives

• Consistency
• Franchise goaltender

Negatives

• Dip in production to end the season

Assessment

It would be difficult to not give Spencer Knight an A for his season. He held the fort behind a horrid defensive unit. The 11 overtime losses is proof that he kept this team in games that they had no business being in.

Perhaps a bold take, but once this defense gets to be at least average, Vezina votes will start going Knight’s way.

Arvid Soderblom

• Final grade: D+
• Midterm grade: D+
• Season stats: 24 games played, eight wins, 13 losses, three overtime losses, .880 save percentage, 3.80 goals against average

Positives

• Better end to the season

Negatives

• Just about everything else

Assessment

I struggle with Soderblom. I do not want to be harsh with how bad the defense is, but his play has not helped his case. When a goalie has a sub-.890 save percentage and gives up nearly four goals per game, there’s not a lot that context can do to help.

Realistically, he could find himself going through waivers in the offseason to allow Drew Commesso to take his spot behind Knight as primary backup goaltender. His days in Chicago may be numbered.

Blackhawks/IceHogs roster grades

Criteria

• At least 10 (three for goalies) games with both the Blackhawks and the IceHogs
• Grading is a cumulative grade based on performance in the NHL and AHL

Kevin Korchinski

• Final grade: C+
• Midterm grade: B
• Blackhawks Season stats: 13 games played, zero goals, two assists, two points
• IceHogs Season stats: 53 games played, two goals, 24 assists, 26 points

Positives

• AHL All-Star
• Maintained output from last season

Negatives

• Still doesn’t stand out in the NHL
• Undersized
• No “big step” in production

Assessment

Korchinski is an enigma. I get the feeling that the Blackhawks don’t want to get rid of him, fearing a Gustav Forsling situation. I also get the feeling that the Blackhawks don’t know what to do with him. If re-signed, he will have to stay on the NHL roster. He will not be waiver exempt next season. If he gets a bridge contract, what will it look like?

Ethan Del Mastro

• Final grade: C
• Midterm grade: C-
• Blackhawks season stats: 10 games played, zero goals, one assist, one point
• IceHogs season stats: 45 games played, two goals, 16 assists, 18 points

Positives

• Physical game
• IceHogs’ defenseman of the year

Negatives

• Struggles at the NHL level
• Speed and acceleration

Assessment

Like with Korchinski, Del Mastro becomes a restricted free agent this offseason. Being named the IceHogs’ defenseman of the year, perhaps there is something there. However, like with Korchinski, I get the feeling the Blackhawks are unsure of what to do with him. If re-signed, he will no longer be waiver exempt. The dilemma of whether to sign Del Mastro, Korchinksi, both or neither will be an interesting saga to track this offseason.

Drew Commesso

• Final grade: A
• Midterm grade: A
• Blackhawks season stats: three games played, two wins, one loss, zero overtime losses, .918 save percentage, 2.31 goals against average
• IceHogs season stats: 36 games played, 13 wins, 19 losses, two overtime losses, one shootout loss, .903 save percentage, 3.00 goals against average

Positives

• Looked confident in his NHL appearances
• Strong AHL season

Negatives

• Stats in Rockford affected by team in front of him

Assessment

Bold prediction: Commesso starts next season as Knight’s backup. He has my seal of approval. He is ready for the NHL, and his three games with the Blackhawks this season proved it. He’s played 113 games with Rockford over three seasons, looking above average, if not great.

IceHogs roster grades

Criteria

• Player must have played less than 10 games with the Chicago Blackhawks
• Must have played at least 48 games with the Rockford IceHogs.
• Grade is based on performance with the IceHogs, along with limited showcase with the Blackhawks
  • Performance with the Blackhawks holds less weight

Brett Seney

• Final grade: A
• 2024-25 grade: B
• Season stats: 64 games played, 16 goals, 34 assists, 50 points

Positives

• Rockford’s leading scorer
• Effective captain
• AHL All-Star

Negatives

• Second on the team in penalty minutes

Assessment

I get accused of being too much of a fan of Seney by my colleagues here at The Rink. Perhaps they are right, but Seney deserves the praise. He started this season on a line with Moore and Lardis, and as the season continued, he led this team through a tough season that will end without a playoff berth.

Dominic Toninato

• Final grade: B
• Midterm grade: C-
• Blackhawks season stats: eight games played, zero goals, one assist, one point
• IceHogs season stats: 52 games played, 16 goals, 27 assists, 43 points

Assessment

His performance with the Blackhawks, while bad, should not be overvalued. He signed a two-way contract with the clear intent of mostly playing with Rockford, only finding himself up with Chicago when injuries thinned the Blackhawks’ lineup.

In Rockford, he scored at will. With another year on his contract, he should give Rockford’s top six a boost in production.

Joey Anderson

• Final grade: B-
• 2024-25 grade: C-
• Season stats: 50 games played, 17 goals, 15 assists, 32 points

Positives

• Consistent middle-six production

Negatives

• Series of injuries limiting play

Assessment

After appearing in 18 NHL games last season, Anderson remained in the AHL the entire season. He performed well, with multiple injuries limiting his playing time. He provides stability when he plays, the concern is whether to bring him back following a knee injury earlier this month.

Jamie Engelbert

• Final grade: B-
• Season stats: 68 games played, nine goals, 19 assists, 28 points

Positives

• Defensive efficiency

Negatives

• Offensive output

Assessment

In his first full AHL season, Engelbert provided some defensive spark to the bottom six. Like the entrire roster, he struggled offensively.

Engelbert was extended in March, bringing him back to Rockford for the 2026-27 season.

Gavin Hayes

• Final grade: B+
• 2024-25 grade: C
• Season stats: 57 games played, 13 goals, 13 assists, 26 points

Positives

• Late-season scoring streak
• Improved play across the board compared to last season

Negatives

• Season-ending injury halted progress

Assessment

Once the lineup opened up following Lardis’ and Moore’s promotion, Hayes took advantage the most. His scoring after the new year gave reason to believe he could get a cup of coffee with the Blackhawks late in the season.

However, an unfortunate injury cut his season short. Without his scoring, Rockford struggled in the offensive zone, leading to a season without playoff hockey.

Samuel Savoie

• Final grade: A-
• 2024-25 grade: B+
• Season stats: 60 games played, 11 goals, 14 assists, 25 points

Positives

• Improved production from last season
• Effective pest

Negatives

• Increased penalty minutes from last season

Assessment

A fan favorite in Rockford, Savoie is doing everything he can to make his NHL debut. His season production proves he has the skill to complement his pesky play.

This season, like with many IceHogs players, Savoie found himself in the penalty box more than last season. The hope is that he, like the team, can reign it in next season.

Martin Misiak

• Final grade: C+
• Season stats: 61 games played, four goals, 11 assists, 15 points

Positives

• Bottom-six output

Negatives

• Usual rookie growing pains

Assessment

Misiak’s first professional season was not much to write home about. He played well, avoided the penalty box and produced like a bottom-six forward in the AHL should. A clearer picture of who Misiak could be will be made next season.

Connor Mylymok

• Final grade: C-
• Season stats: 51 games played, three goals, seven assists, 10 points

Positives

• Loves to fight
• Willing to throw the body around

Negatives

• 202 penalty minutes
• Multiple suspensions
• Little offensive output

Assessment

Mylymok sure likes the fight. When coach Jared Nightingale needs a team protector, Mylymok makes it into the lineup. This has led to an absurd 202 penalty minutes and multiple suspensions due to passing the league’s limit on fighting majors.

Other than that, Mylymok is an old-school fourth liner with little offensive skill.

Taige Harding

• Final grade: B
• Season stats: 46 games played, three goals, six assists, nine points

Positives

• Physical presence
• Effective defensive play

Negatives

• 105 penalty minutes

Assessment

I realize Harding does not technically make the cut based on my criteria, however, the IceHogs still have two remaining regular season games on Friday and Saturday. It can be assumed that Harding will play the remaining two games, therefore becoming eligible.

Harding, like Mylymok, found himself in the penalty box a lot. Willing to drop the gloves often, Harding, at 6-foot-6, is willing to use his natural size and strength to overpower opponents. That willingness sometimes gets him in penalty trouble, but if he can control it next season, he should anchor Rockford’s defense.

Dillon Boucher

• Final grade: C
• Season stats: 51 games played, three goals, five assists

Positives

• Physical presence

Negatives

• 112 penalty minutes

Assessment

Once again, another IceHog with over 100 penalty minutes. Boucher’s first season in the AHL was defined by fights, penalties and fights.