What to Watch for at Blackhawks Development Camp
This afternoon at the newly minted Fifth Third Ice Arena we got our first glimpse of the year at the future of the Blackhawks organization. Prospects from the past four drafts or so are will be gathering for the next four days to give the organization something to think about, and the fan base something to look forward too.
For the first time in a while, the latter rings true, Blackhawks fans truly can be excited about the quantity and quality of the prospects in the pipeline.
1) Tough decisions on defense
After being taken eighth overall in the 2018 NHL draft, Adam Boqvist shocked a lot of people with how mature he wad entering training camp, he hung around the roster longer than many anticipated before being sent to London of the Ontario Hockey League. Boqvist is back and determined to stay this year, it sounds like he and Nicolas Beaudin will indeed be turning pro for the 2019-20 season, the question remains will either of them make the big club.
Boqvist seems more likely to make the jump, and if he does, it would make a player like Eric Gustafsson a viable trade option that could bring a rather large return for Chicago. This would be optimal, there is no doubt in my mind that Gustafsson could bring an instant impact forward to the Blackhawks. Not only will the Blackhawks have a log jam at the NHL level, but they could also have an abundance of young blueliners in the American League as well, it should be exciting to see how it all shakes out.
In this video Boqvist shows a lot of aggressiveness at the blue line, which is something I have loved about him from the start, he doesn’t sit back and with for the offensive player to make a move, he forces their hand. Boqvist has the skating to make these plays, and if he continues to add a little strength this summer he could force some tough decisions.
2) In Dach We trust
Being taken third overall by an original six franchise is a big honor, but can also be a big burden. Many Chicago fans wanted the team to select Bowen Byram or Alex Turcotte in Vancouver, which puts all the more pressure on the young centerman out of the Western Hockey League. The fan base is largely polarized when it comes to Dach, so this will be the first time we see him in a professional setting.
Stan Bowman has said that Dach will get every chance to make the opening night roster and Dach has said that is his goal as well. Chicago covered the first step when they signed him to an entry level contract, training camp will be the real test, however, prospect camp is always a good place to make a first impression.
3) The Other Nylander
It is no secret that the fan base was not happy with Mr. Bowman after he traded Henri Jokiharju for Alex Nylander, it is clear that he is hoping to pull off another Dylan Strome or Richard Panik type trade where a change of scenery brings out the best in a much-maligned young player. Nylander was selected eighth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2016, and since then his lack of maturity and drive has been the main knock on his game. Nylander is an extremely gifted offensive player that has spent most of his time in the AHL, and not exactly lighting it up while doing so.
Nylander has expressed his excitement to be in Chicago, and many were impressed by his late-season stint in Buffalo last year so he should potentially get a shot at the top 6 in Chicago which could jumpstart his NHL career. On the first day of development camp, it was noted that Nylander was definitely on another level, which should be expected of a guy with NHL experience and in a controlled environment, however, it is good news for the young forward and the management team that had the faith to take a chance on him.
4) Fringe Prospects
Aside from the defensemen and the top prospects, there are a lot of players that have a lot riding on this year’s development camp. Guys like Kurashev, Entwistle, Soderstrom, Hagel, Wise, Barratt, and Nordgren could all either play for a bottom 6 roster spot or play for a chance to make the team next season if this upcoming season goes as planned.
Kurashev and Entwistle will start their season in Rockford but could be candidates for a call up if injuries occur throughout the season. Philipp Kurashev had massive performances at the World Juniors and World Championship and did bring some poise and skill in his stint in the AHL last season. Kurashev brings a lot of skill and flair on the offensive side of the puck, but is undersized and could stand some work on his two-way game.
MacKenzie Entwistle is a big, two-way center that is a heart and soul guy that will be great in the Hawks’ dressing room someday, the question remains, does will he stand out enough to force the hand of Chicago management.
5) Dominik Kubalik
The elder statesman of the group and the closest to a “sure thing” for this year’s NHL roster is the newly acquire forward from the Los Angelas Kings. This was a sneaky good deal, especially after Kubalik took off at the 2019 World Championships scoring 6 goals and 6 assists in 10 games. Kubalik is a Czech sniper that should be able to contribute 25+ goals in the top 6 if he performs as expected.
6) The Coaching staff
As much as this week is about the young kids making a name for themselves, it is also about an extremely young coaching staff getting its first chance to put their own brand on the franchise. Jeremy Colliton is in his first offseason as an NHL coach, bringing former Blackhawk Sheldon Brookbank, Sweden’s Tomas Mitchell, and the elder statesman of the group, Marc Crawford to join him. This staff brings a lot of different personalities, philosophies, and generations together, so it will be interesting to see how they mesh and how this team plays going forward. I am extremely confident in what Colliton brings to the table, and I think it has been and will be overwhelmingly positive for an organization trying to regain its edge.
The Chicago Blackhawks have been going through a lot of changes since their last championship in 2015, and those changes will continue to take place until the team regains its form.
For the first time since Kane and Toews were in development camp, the Blackhawks have a group of blue-chip prospects that could change the current course of the organization, and that is something we should all be excited about!
Feature Image: NHL.com
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