Yahoo Sports Underrated Blackhawks Prospect Fighting for NCAA Scoring Lead
The Chicago Blackhawks have a number of talented prospects in the NCAA right now, but one in particular stands out as he is one point back of the scoring lead in College hockey.
Aidan Thompson, drafted in the third round in 2022 (90th overall), has 10 goals and 22 points in 14 games while playing for the University of Denver this season. It just so happens that his right winger, Jack Devine, is slightly ahead of him in the scoring race (by one point).
The difference here is that Thompson is doing the scoring as he has 10 goals and Devine has just one, but 22 assists to go with that.
Thompson is 22 years old and was passed over in two drafts before he broke out and the Blackhawks selected him. In his draft year, he scored 24 goals and 82 points in 57 games for the Lincoln Stars of the USHL. That was his last season in that league because he made the jump to the University of Denver where he is now in his third season.
The Blackhawks had definitely hoped so see a different progression path for Thompson, who started out strong, scoring 10 goals and 32 points in 32 games in his first season in university. He didn't improve the following season as he had 11 goals and 30 points in 44 games, but he did win the 2024 NCAA National Championship.
It wasn't until this season where the Blackhawks' prospect is really coming into his own. Thompson has a point in all 14 games this season that includes goals in eight and assists in nine of them. He also has two multi-point games in 2024-25.
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Thompson improved his shot and added muscle in the off-season and it is clearly paying off. Denver's coach David Carle said, "I think the shot has improved. One-timer’s improved. Just the ability to hang onto the puck, make some of those finishing plays, that’s certainly been there."
The Blackhawks won't benefit from Thompson's rise in the ranks and performance this season as it would be too late in the season for him to make an impact if he does sign out of university in 2025, but the future looks bright. Thompson checks boxes like being a center and being able to score, something Chicago desperately needs right now. Keep a close eye on him this season and next. I definitely will be.
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