NHL prospect rankings released for Avalanche and Blackhawks

Various NHL organizations have released their 2026 rankings for the top 25 players under the age of 25 within their respective systems.

In the Colorado Avalanche organization, goaltender Ilya Nabokov secured the number one spot as he begins his North American career. Other notable mentions include Christian Humphreys and Francesco Dell’Elce, both of whom saw significant rises in the rankings and are expected to be on entry-level contract watch this spring.

For the Chicago Blackhawks, defenseman Sam Rinzel moved up to the sixth position in the rankings. After a sophomore season at Minnesota and a stint splitting time between the NHL and the Rockford IceHogs, Rinzel is noted for his size, skating, and offensive instincts despite experiencing growing pains during his rookie season.