Although they’re very different players, both Dylan Sikura and Alex DeBrincat dominated their junior leagues and will have a future in the NHL
The NHL can be an intimidating place for young players, especially those who aren’t physically gifted. Most bodies are above six feet and weigh in over 200 pounds, but size doesn’t necessarily win you games anymore. As the NHL continues to evolve into a speed and precision game, smaller and faster players are being introduced into roles that they would have never have been considered for in the past.
This time last season, Blackhawks rookie Alex DeBrincat had just finished his last season with the Erie Otters in the Ontario Hockey League and was looking to make some noise in training camp. He had just scored over 100 points in his third consecutive season in the OHL, but doubters warned that his lack of size and his junior-level stats don’t always translate to the pros. But DeBrincat set his goal at making the Chicago Blackhawks and he did just that. Alex played all 82 games with the Hawks last year and scored 52 points in a breakout season. Now as a 20-year old NHL forward, DeBrincat has come into the 2018-19 season bigger and ready for an encore.
Another player ready to contribute in Chicago could be Northeastern University alum Dylan Sikura. Sikura is another small forward that plays with a lot of skill. He emerged at Northeastern during his junior year and received a nomination for the Hobey Baker Award after his senior year. Known for his playmaking ability and vision on the ice, Sikura is a dynamic forward that brings a lot of experience to the Blackhawks.
Sikura got a taste of the NHL playing five games at the end of last season scoring three assists. There are a few reasons why Sikura will be successful on the Hawks starting with his poise. Patience takes time and development for young players, but it seems like Sikura already has a knack for letting the play develop. We see this often with Patrick Kane who is comfortable with the puck on his stick. He lets the rush flush out, then he sends a laser pass to the open man for a quality shot. Sikura can provide that kind of playmaking as well as a good shot. He mentioned working on being more aggressive at this year’s training camp, a quality the Hawks need out of a lot of young players.
Dylan Sikura was one of two multi-goal scorers in Saturday’s Training Camp Festival scrimmage. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/erLK7xs2jy
— Eric Lear (@BHTVeric) September 15, 2018
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
It’s unlikely that Sikura will stay up in Chicago for all 82 games like DeBrincat, but having some time in Rockford with coach Jeremy Colliton might not be a bad thing. Instead of playing bottom six minutes, Sikura will be able to get powerplay time and play with some great up-and-coming talent. Matthew Highmore, Anthony Louis, and Alexander Fortin are all guys who may be in Rockford who can teach Sikura a lot about being a pro.
Overall, it’s an interesting time to be a young player in the Blackhawks organization. As much as they won’t admit it, the Hawks are going through a transition and change is coming. It’s not clear whether the rebuild is on or if they are gearing up for one last playoff push, but the opportunities are up for grabs. It would be pretty impressive for GM Stan Bowman to add two players under 25 into his top six, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. And to be truthful, if Sikura even added 40 points to this season’s Blackhawks, he would cement a spot on the roster and eventually warrant a pro contract. Let’s hope for the best.