Blackhawks 2026 Development Camp: Checking in on the 2025 Draft Class

The Chicago Blackhawks held Day 2 of their 2026 Development Camp on Tuesday, Jun. 30. The first day of camp was comprised of welcome meetings, medicals and physical testing; plus the media met the 2026 draft class in person. But all camp attendees finally got to some on-ice sessions on Day 2, and the theme of the day was to highlight the 2025 draft class.

Let’s check in on their progression.

Ashton Cumby (162nd overall, 6^th round, Defenseman, shoots left)

We’ll start with the only defenseman of the 2025 draft class, Ashton Cumby. The 20-year-old signed a two-year AHL contract last May, and he’s hoping that results in playing with the Rockford IceHogs (versus their ECHL affiliate, the Indy Fuel) this coming season.

The 6-foot-5, 215-pound blueliner is known for his physical, heavy play. He’s suited up for the last three seasons with the Seattle Thunderbirds, contributing four goals and 17 points in 59 regular season games. He also ranked plus-13 in plus/minus rating. I asked him to what he could contribute his strong all-around campaign.

I feel like I kind of just put my head down and realized that I have something here, and kind of just played with a bit more confidence, for sure. And just tried to stay as positive I can through the whole year, and really just keep going with it. 

The young D-man played in a few preseason games with the IceHogs last season, and he feels like that gave him a bit of a head start.

I kind of got to feel what it was like at that pro level … I’m not going to be the biggest guy anymore. I’m gonna have to get used to playing with men now. So definitely was nice to get those two games in and kind of just see what it was like.

Cumby will definitely not be the biggest defenseman on the team; IceHog’s Taige Harding is 6-foot-7, 237 pounds. The IceHogs are going to have a couple of imposing figures on their blue line next season.

Parker Holmes (107^th overall, 4^th round, Forward)

Parker Holmes has played the last two seasons with the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs. Most Blackhawks fans know of two other famous Bulldogs; Nick Lardis (drafted in 2023) and Marek Vanacker (drafted in 2024), that are both in the Blackhawk’s prospect system. Holmes gets a little lost in the shuffle because these two bring more scoring and skill to the table. But Holmes is a depth player that offers a 6-foot-4, 228-pound frame.

The 19-year-old had shoulder surgery in the 2024-25 season that limited him to just 21 games, but this past season he registered six goals and 17 points in 49 games, plus contributing a goal in 11 playoff games. He spoke about his improvement. “I just feel like I played my game … just getting into my role and finding my role as a player really helps, getting those game reps.” He further said he wants to work on improving his foot speed, and well as his belief in himself.

Holmes was also kind enough to give me some insight into the sessions with professional skating coach Tasha Zagorodnikova (along with development coach Kendall Coyne and Sam Hanson of the Minnesota Frost).

Here’s the skating session with the final group of Villeneuve, Roobroeck, Alalauri, Sorbrand & Holmes. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/WANJCVrYPM

— Gail Kauchak (@littlegailk) June 30, 2026

Just like having your hips more forward and driving your hips down the ice instead of sitting back. So it was different. It’s hard, I’ve never thought that before, so it was good. Felt good when you figured it out.

By the way, Holmes said Lardis’ tip for development camp was to “just enjoy it; soak it all in.”

Julius Sumpf (98^th overall, 4^th round, Center)

At 21 years old, Julius Sumpf is considered an “over-ager” for the 2025 draft class. Nevertheless, the German native had an impressive rookie season at Providence College (four goals and 21 points in 36 games). He stands at 6-foot-2, 191 pounds.

Sumpf plans on returning to Providence next season, and didn’t hesitate whatsoever when asked what he wants to work on. “Scoring. Definitely, I had a tough time scoring last year. I had a lot of chances and opportunities, but I felt like I can be better, and more efficient.” Sumpf’s strength? “I think I’m just overall.. I think you can use me in every situation. I’m not just like an offensive guy or defensive guy, I’m playing mostly every situation on the ice, so I think I’m just pretty valuable in every aspect of the game.”

Nathan Behm (66^th overall, 3^rd round, Left Wing)

Nathan Behm has spent the last four seasons with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, and each season he’s gotten more dominant. This past season, the 19-year-old posted an impressive 38 goals and 86 points in 67 regular season games. His plus-10 plus/minus rating wasn’t too shabby either (up from a minus-23 in the 2024-25 season).

The Calgary, Alberta native has seemingly gotten everything he can out of juniors; he indicated he was happy with his season and had accomplished his goals. The next stop for the 6-foot-2, 207-pound Behm is the collegiate level; he’s headed to Arizona State University in the fall. Said Assistant General Manager of Player Development Mark Eaton Behm’s next step,

I think the college schedule will really benefit him. With two games a week, but three or four days to hit the gym and just continue to fill out physically and put the right kind of muscle and weight on. Because he already has so many great offensive tools and skills out on the ice, that again, adding that physicality and strength will only strengthen those already good skills.

Related: 2026 NHL Qualifying Offer Tracker · Takeaways from Day 1 2026 Blackhawks Development Camp · What the Andre Burakovsky Trade Means for the Blackhawks

Behm concurred. “Yeah, I think it’ll just help me use my size to my advantage a little more. I’m a big guy, so just kind of adding a little bit more of a power forward element to my game.”

He also says he wants to work more on his speed and explosiveness.  

Mason West (29^th overall, 1^st round, Center)

Ah, yes. The football guy, Mason West. After quarterbacking his high school football team, the Edina Hornets, to the Minnesota Class AAAAAA state football championships last November, West completely switched gears and committed himself fully to hockey. In 38 games with the USHL Fargo Force, the 18-year-old contributed 10 goals and 25 points in 38 games.

West is known for his size (he’s 6-foot-6, 215 pounds). On his transition to hockey, hockey and only hockey, West said,  

I kind of love it, just because I can really dedicate my time to hockey and really focus on things I need to get better at. I can see myself getting better every single day, and it was hard with football, just because, like, there’s different movements, and my body wasn’t as comfortable being a taller guy. I got to be comfortable, and I have longer limbs, so it was just a little bit harder in the gym and stuff with football. But I think now that I just have hockey, it’s super nice. I get to be more comfortable in those uncomfortable positions.

As if there’s not enough going on in his life, West was also invited to Team USA’s World Junior Summer Showcase.

4️⃣7️⃣ players have been invited to the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase, set for July 26-Aug. 1 at WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario.#WJSS Details: https://t.co/WcYzQDpUr7 pic.twitter.com/K56esIwJop

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) June 30, 2026

It’s such a great opportunity, and I’m gonna give it my all … and what can I do to make that team, and kind of help them win a gold medal, which would be super special. So definitely super excited, and also very hungry, and to make that team.

Best of luck to this young man with Team USA! West won’t be 19 until Aug. 3, so it’s safe to say he’s getting a great head start to his career. He’ll be taking the next step in his hockey journey by heading to Michigan State University in the fall.

Vaclav Nestrasil (25^th overall, 1^st Round, Right Wing)

Everyone, including Blackhawks’ general manager Kyle Davidson, has high hopes for Vaclav Nestrasil. Davidson said at exit interviews in April he was very impressed with the 19-year-old’s progression in his freshman season at UMass last season, where he recorded 13 goals and 31 points in 34 games.

The theme of the Blackhawk’s 2025 draft was size, and Nestrasil is no exception. He’s 6-foot-6, but still on the lean side at just 183 pounds. But let’s go back to AGM of Player Development Eaton again, who addressed the Czechia native’s game.

A lot of times Europeans get a bad rap of shying away from physical contact, but he never had any problem getting in there into the corners, battling to get open in front of the net, so I love that power forward game from him.

For his part, Nestrasil admitted it was an adjustment using his body more. But he embraced it at UMass, saying he gained more weight as well. He scored a lot of his goals around the net this past season, which is obviously a great thing. But he joked he still wasn’t happy enough.

It kind of means I cannot shoot from far away right now. (media laughs) No, I think with my big body and kind of, you know, power play. I found that for most of the season, I can find that space around there, but obviously I want to shoot. I want to score from all sorts of areas, so that’s one thing I’m working on this summer, to kind of just explore new tools and explore the game.

Nestrasil is expected to go back to UMass next season. But don’t be surprised if we see him in a Blackhawk’s jersey by the end of the 2026-27 campaign.

The Blackhawk’s 2025 draft class seem to be enjoying their second development camp. They’re all especially happy to be skating with their peers for the first time, since last year’s camp was all off the ice. However, a few players did mention an upcoming cooking class. We’ll have to follow up on that in our development camp wrap-up.

Stay tuned!