Blackhawks Draft Vaclav Nestrasil 25th Overall UMass Prospect

The Chicago Blackhawks selected Vaclav Nestrasil, a 6-foot-6 winger from the Muskegon Lumberjacks, with the 25th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Nestrasil, a Czech native and incoming freshman at the University of Massachusetts, surged up draft rankings during the second half of the season, finishing with 42 points in 61 regular-season games and 13 points in 14 playoff games en route to a USHL championship. Known for his size, skating ability, work ethic, and playmaking skills, Nestrasil is considered a raw prospect who will likely need several years of development in college and the AHL before reaching the NHL. The Blackhawks aimed to add size and power to their prospect pipeline with this pick, and Nestrasil's ability to protect the puck and create scoring opportunities makes him a promising middle-six winger in the long term. Although his skating requires improvement, his progression suggests he could become a strong third-line power forechecker at his peak. Chicago also holds multiple picks in the later rounds and may pursue trades to further build their roster.