Hockey is again! The Chicago Blackhawks‘ prospects will begin the preseason festivities on the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase, the place they’ll face the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild on Sept. 13 and 14. It’s a time when these three groups can see their high prospects take flight earlier than going into coaching camp.
Though this occasion could seem to be it’s not as large as coaching camp, it’s nonetheless vital for the Blackhawks to see how their farm system is progressing. In spite of everything, this is similar showcase the place Hawks followers received their glimpse of Connor Bedard final September.
In true hockey vogue, prospects all the time carry essentially the most questions and storylines going into any season, so let’s begin issues off. Listed below are 5 questions earlier than the showcase begins.
1. How Will Colton Dach Progress?
If there’s one intriguing prospect, it’s Colton Dach, contemplating it was thought he may need an NHL shot final season, however accidents set him again from discovering a real rhythm with the Rockford IceHogs final season. But, he did put up 27 factors in 48 video games. The 21-year-old desires to make a press release as that is his fourth prospect showcase. It additionally looks as if it’s “now or by no means” for him to actually push for a roster spot, because the clock is ticking. Rockford’s head coach, Anders Sorensen, stated he needed him to give attention to consistency and molding an NHL identification, and Dach appears to have taken the recommendation to coronary heart.
Dach spoke to the media on Sept. 12 and acknowledged, “I’m moving into right here and attempting to earn a spot and take a job, and that’s what I’m going to do.” He did nicely within the showcase final season, being on the highest line with Connor Bedard and Nick Lardis. He’s going in wholesome and motivated, which ought to hopefully assist him progress the way in which the Blackhawks need.
2. Which Defenseman Will Step Up in Levshunov’s Absence?
Probably the most bumming information of the showcase is that the 2024 second general decide, Artyom Levshunov, is not going to take part within the showcase because it was introduced that he took a shot off of his foot in observe. This morning (Sept. 13), insider Elliotte Friedman stated that he shall be in a strolling boot for 2 weeks and probably miss a most of six weeks. If that involves fruition, he would miss the showcase, coaching camp, and even the beginning of the common season, which he was projected to start out in Rockford.
Levshunov would have been the highest defenseman to look at on the showcase. With him out, which defenseman will take the highlight?
Nolan Allan and Ethan Del Mastro have been Rockford’s high protection pair final season, so they’ll doubtless make some noise. I feel Erie Otters’ Ty Henry may be one to look at. Director of newbie scouting Mike Doneghey described the 2024 sixth-round decide as being “extra of an athlete proper now than hockey participant, however we’ve received time to develop him.” Figuring out his athletic capability may make him enjoyable to look at. Then, there’s Lucas Brenton, who’s coming into his second showcase. Rockford signed him to a one-year deal in July, coming from the Moose Jaw Warriors (Western Hockey League), and is able to soar ahead. Each Henry and Brenton are six-foot-four, going together with the “large” defensemen theme of the Hawks as of late.
The Blackhawks defensemen within the showcase are actually “beneath the radar,” so standouts could possibly be anybody’s sport.
3. Who Will Be The Darkish Horse?
Throughout showcases, there are all the time gamers that catches individuals’s eyes. Louis Crevier, Nick Lardis, and Ryder Rolston caught consideration final 12 months, and the Blackhawks have some darkish horse candidates this weekend.
- Gavin Hayes: gained gold with Sam Rinzel, Frank Nazar, and Oliver Moore on the World Junior Championships with Staff USA in January. Had 76 factors in 55 video games between the Soo Greyhounds and Flint Firebirds final season.
- A.J. Spellacy: the 2024 third-round decide already appears to be a fan and coach’s favourite because of his potential and foot pace. He had 38 factors in 67 video games for the Windsor Spitfires (OHL) final season.
- Samuel Savoie: missed most of final season with a damaged femur he suffered in coaching camp. Sorensen stated, “He seems actually good” forward of the showcase, so shall be nice to see him again.
- Landon Slaggert: my colleague Gail Kauchak thinks he could possibly be the darkish horse. He has 16 video games (4 factors) of NHL expertise from final season, and the 22-year-old is the self-proclaimed “veteran prospect,” so he already has a leg up on a number of the prospects.
- Drew Commesso: he had a strong season in Rockford final 12 months with a 2.65 GAA (Targets-against Common) and .906 SV% (Save Share), and Sorensen stated he advised him to remain prepared as his NHL alternative may come at any second.
Nick Lardis is one other one to not sleep on, as he had 50 factors in 37 video games with the Brantford Bulldogs final season. I’m undecided he’s a darkish horse candidate as a result of I feel most count on him to face out, however he’s one to look at, nonetheless.
4. Who Will Push to Make the Roster?
Final season, defenseman Wyatt Kaiser had a powerful showcase, adopted by a powerful coaching camp, which finally landed him a roster spot, so there’s all the time one that would make the roster that begins on the showcase. Trying on the roster, lots of the names I already talked about can push for a roster spot: Allan, Del Mastro, Slaggert, and Dach. Probably even Commesso, contemplating Laurent Brossoit is at the moment out with an damage, however I’m not anticipating him to make the Blackhawks that quickly. Nonetheless, you by no means know.
Associated: Blackhawks Bytes: Vlasic, Nazar, Levshunov, Del Mastro, Spellacy
I consider Slaggert, Del Mastro, and Frank Nazar are the strongest candidates to make the workforce, particularly in the event that they get their names on the coach’s radar early going into coaching camp. Or is there a chance that none of those gamers finally make the NHL roster? It’s one thing to recollect, and we’ll circle again throughout coaching camp.
5. Will Nazar Begin His Roster Bid Robust?
I count on Frank Nazar will stand out on the showcase. He stood out simply advantageous in three video games on the NHL roster final season, so if he didn’t stand out this weekend, that will be regarding. That is Nazar’s first check to drive administration’s hand. He stated he has been working this summer time on his conditioning, and with Patrick Kane, too! So, seeing all that work translated on the ice shall be enjoyable. He talked about, “I feel I did nicely [during NHL stint]. I don’t assume I simply ‘held my very own’ once I performed these three video games. So, clearly, I’ve received one thing to work for. However I’m excited to see what goes on after camp.”
Nazar appears prepared and assured going into the showcase, and that’s a superb factor.
As AHL.com reporter Patrick Williams stated, it’s a “essential season” for Chicago prospects, and the showcase is one other step in what the Blackhawks hope will translate into future NHL success. It’s two scrimmages, nevertheless it units the tone for what coaching camp may carry.
