1. New York Islanders — Andy’s Pick
   Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie Otters (OHL)

(Michael Miller / ISI Photos)

New Islander general manager Mathieu Darche won’t get cute here. Schaefer is at the top of this year’s draft class and the smooth-skating defenseman will go No. 1 to the Isles. The Islanders need defensemen in their prospect pool badly and will take full advantage of pole position in this year’s draft. After missing a decent chunk of the 2024-25 season due to injury, Schaefer, who is 17 years young until September, will most likely need at least one more full season of development in the OHL with Erie, or there is a real possibility he could be NCAA bound for the 2025-26 campaign.

2. San Jose Sharks — Eric’s Pick
   Michael Misa, C, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

(Natalie Shaver / OHL Images)

While it is possible Sharks GM Mike Grier could galaxy-brain this pick and look to diversify his prospect pool with someone like Anton Frondell, which has been widely speculated as being the case, enough to make me strongly consider making Frondell the pick here, he would be wise to not overthink this one and select the consensus best forward in the draft in Misa. Though, us Blackhawks fans would be quite pleased if Grier does pass on the nearly goal-per-game scorer. I’m very much not confident in this given the growing belief Frondell will be a Shark, but I will give a proverbial 51-49 edge to Misa here and hope for the Hawks’ sake that I am wrong.

3. Chicago Blackhawks — Andy’s Pick
   Anton Frondell, C, Djurgårdens IF (Sweden)

(Kenta Jönsson / BILDBYRÅN)

If Misa is here, it’s Misa, but if it’s Frondell, Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson goes with the young Swede here and there is a lot to like. You need skill to win, but you also need players who win pucks and play a 200-foot game. That’s what you get with Frondell, and all signs indicate that his character and will to win are elements that any team would want in their locker room. It will be interesting as to when he would come overseas to make his NHL debut, likely the 2026-27 season, but regardless, the Hawks will be getting a hell of a prospect with Frondell.

4. Utah Mammoth — Eric’s Pick
   Brady Martin, C, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

The Sam Bennett effect is real, folks. Utah opts for the gritty center to create a diverse 1-2 punch down the middle with Logan Cooley. Bill Armstrong has shown before he is not afraid to reach for the player he believes is the best fit for his organization and again goes back to that well to continue building the Mammoth.

5. Nashville Predators — Andy’s Pick
   James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA) 

There are rumblings that Hagens may drop, but the Predators are truly at a crossroads after laying an egg in 2024-25, and the skill and talent of Hagens may be too much to pass up. Let’s not forget that it was not long ago that Hagens was predicted to go No. 1 overall. He was a point-per-game player for Boston College and tallied nine points (five goals, four assists) in seven World Junior contests for the gold medal-winning United States. Barry Trotz has hinted that he thinks highly of Hagens’ game, and for that reason and more, he goes to Nashville.

6. Philadelphia Flyers — Eric’s Pick
   Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

O’Brien has been one of the players most commonly associated with a rising draft stock as Friday has approached, and there has been much speculation that he will not last past Philadelphia at 6. In O’Brien, the Flyers get a smart pivot capable of producing offensively. Philadelphia likes opting for cerebral players, so while O’Brien may not have the highest ceiling among the players still on the board, he certainly feels like a Flyers type of pick.

7. Boston Bruins — Andy’s Pick
   Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) 

For a player who some have indicated has the ceiling of Patrice Bergeron, who better to take a flier on Desnoyers than Bruins general manager Don Sweeney. Some think Martone goes at 7, and possibly, but Fabian Lysell and Matthew Poitras are the lone skilled forwards in Boston’s prospect pool, neither of whom may work out for the long term. If David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy and others are to be Bruins for life, then they need to get younger with puck distributors and high-end talent. Desnoyers could be the steal of the draft and Boston would be wise to take him at 7.

8. Seattle Kraken — Eric’s Pick
   Radim Mrtka, D, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

The Kraken have invested heavily in high-end forwards in the first round over the last few years, highlighted by Matty Beniers, Shane Wright and Berkly Catton, so it’s time for them to turn their attention to the blue line. In Mrtka, the Kraken get a hulking yet smart defenseman. He uses his size well to close gaps and is good as a distributor in transition as well, giving Seattle a well-rounded two-way option for the future.

9. Buffalo Sabres — Andy’s Pick
   Porter Martone, RW, Brampton Steelheads (OHL) 

For whatever reason, Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams felt compelled to move John-Jason Peterka, who finished second on the team with 68 points. The return on that trade is questionable, and if Martone, who some think is the best pure goal scorer in the draft, is available at 9, there is no chance Adams can pass up on him. Skating is something Martone will need to work on, but his willingness to get to the net, decent hands in tight and sharp shooting ability will see him being an NHL weapon. He has been rumored to head to the NCAA ranks next season, which will only support his development.

10. Anaheim Ducks — Eric’s Pick
    Jackson Smith, D, Tri-City Americans (WHL)

Anaheim is loaded with quality young players and prospects up front, even after dealing away Trevor Zegras this week, and while they also have some quality young pieces on the blue line already, Ducks GM Pat Verbeek makes a reasonable selection here in Smith, a creative, offensive-minded defenseman. Verbeek has also had a tendency to favor size, and at 6-foot-3, Smith also checks that box.

11. Pittsburgh Penguins — Andy’s Pick
    Roger McQueen, C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) 

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are nearing the end of their storybook careers, and the Penguins need to think about the center position for their future. Though McQueen should not be expected to carry that same torch, he is big, strong and highly skilled. Injuries shortened his 2024-25 campaign, but he is fully healthy and will be a force, should he decide to return to the WHL next season.

12. Pittsburgh Penguins (from New York Rangers) — Eric’s Pick
    Kashawn Aitcheson, D, Barrie Colts (OHL)

After snagging McQueen, who could be the steal of the draft, at 11, the Penguins turn their attention to the blue line with their second consecutive pick. Aitcheson plays an old-school brand of hockey on the blue line, making his presence felt in a big way with his physical style of play. He may not be the most thrilling player offensively at the next level, but did manage a very respectable 59 points in 64 games this season.

13. Detroit Red Wings — Andy’s Pick
    Victor Eklund, RW, Djurgårdens IF (Sweden)

Victor Eklund fits everything a Detroit Red Wing is and has been. For those reasons, I am tempted to deviate from this choice, as Steve Yzerman is finally feeling the heat after another season without making the postseason, but alas, he will stay the course and take the highly skilled running mate of Anton Frondell. Eklund will be at least two years away from making his NHL debut, but that time for him to physically develop will serve him well.

14. Columbus Blue Jackets — Eric’s Pick
    Carter Bear, LW, Everett Silvertips (WHL)

Simply put, Bear plays a playoff brand of hockey that would be a welcomed addition to a Blue Jackets squad on the verge of breaking through to the postseason. While not overly big, he plays bigger than his frame suggests, and being a 40-goal scorer this season, Bear clearly has the finishing touch to complement his nose for the net.

15. Vancouver Canucks — Andy’s Pick
    Jack Nesbitt, C, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

Some think this may be a tad early for Nesbitt, but Vancouver is lacking in identity and having a future face of the franchise. Nesbitt is certainly not NHL ready yet, but his ceiling for a 6-foot-4 center, who is good at the dot and taking on players one-on-one may be precisely what they are looking for. Without being in the top 10 in the draft, going will over skill could be the path the Canucks take, and Nesbitt possesses both intangibles.

16. Montreal Canadiens (from Calgary Flames) — Eric’s Pick
    Justin Carbonneau, RW, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

Yes, he’s from Quebec, but Carbonneau is a perfectly rational pick here for the Habs with their first of back-to-back picks. Carbonneau is an excellent puck handler and is not afraid to use his body to get where he needs to go. He plays a style that would complement the many skilled forwards Montreal already has, and again, being a Quebec native is never a negative for le bleu, blanc et rouge.

17. Montreal Canadiens — Andy’s Pick
    Braeden Cootes, C, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)  

Cootes is a hungry player and gets better and better every year. He is fast, tough and plays bigger than his size. He could end up being the next installment of Brendan Gallagher for the Habs. Cootes ultimately could be a third- or fourth-line center when Montreal starts competing for championships.

18. Calgary Flames (from New Jersey Devils) — Eric’s Pick
    Ben Kindel, C, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

I promise I’m not just going for the “hometown” picks. Kindel, despite playing in the same building as the Flames, brings a lot to the table. The top draft-eligible scorer in the WHL this season, Kindel is an elusive pivot who plays with pace, something the Flames could certainly use. His dual-threat offensive ability allows him to produce in a variety of ways, as is evidenced by his 99-point campaign.

19. St. Louis Blues — Andy’s Pick
    Cameron Reid, D, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

The Blues will need some better puck-moving defensemen in their future, and the swift-skating, lefthanded Reid may be one of the better ones in this draft class. As with any puck-moving rearguard, size comes into question but at 18, he is 6 feet and already 190 pounds and is very strong on his feet. He has the ceiling of a power play quarterback and would be a solid mid-round pick for St. Louis.

20. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Minnesota Wild) — Eric’s Pick
    Cole Reschny, C, Victoria Royals (WHL)

Reschny is a cerebral player who reads off his linemates well, taking advantage of his high-end vision and passing abilities to generate scoring chances for his team. These traits should allow him to gel nicely with other skilled players with the Blue Jackets, with the possibility to turn into an effective second- or third-liner.

21. Ottawa Senators — Andy’s Pick
    Milton Gastrin, C, MoDo Hockey (Sweden)

With Gastrin, the Sens get a player that they can use in multiple situations. He projects as a center or winger, is a smooth skater and sees the ice very well. He is not the player who is overly strong in any one area, but very sound fundamentally and a responsible hockey player with a scoring touch. He would make a nice add in Ottawa.

22. Philadelphia Flyers (from Colorado Avalanche) — Eric’s Pick
    Blake Fiddler, D, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

After scoring a talented forward at 6 in O’Brien, the Flyers add to the blue line with Fiddler, a rangy defenseman with some edge to his game. The son of longtime NHLer Vernon Fiddler, Blake already possesses an NHL frame at 6-foot-4 and 209 pounds, but moves well for a big man, often using his feet to position himself well to shut down the opposition. He is raw, especially on the offensive side of things, but with further development could become a top-four option.

23. Nashville Predators (from Tampa Bay Lightning) — Andy’s Pick
    Logan Hensler, D, University of Wisconsin (NCAA)

The Preds will go with a defenseman here and the right handed Hensler is one of the better young prospects in college hockey. After a decent first season at the University of Wisconsin, there is ample room for him to grow and improve his game. It may be two more years of Big Ten hockey before Hensler turns pro, but he has plenty of time to develop into a top-four defenseman in the NHL, which is a real possibility.  

24. Los Angeles Kings — Eric’s Pick
    Lynden Lakovic, LW, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)

The Kings like size, and while Lakovic certainly offers that at 6-foot-4, he is also arguably the best player available on the board at this point, with some feeling he belongs in the middle of the first round. While his numbers don’t jump off the page like some, he was playing on a rebuilding Moose Jaw team and was relied upon as one of the team’s go-to options as a draft-eligible player. He certainly has notable upside, and the Kings place a bet on Lakovic reaching that potential as a chance-generating winger.

25. Chicago Blackhawks (from Toronto Maple Leafs) — Andy’s Pick
    Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie Otters (OHL) 

(OHL Images)

Speed, tenacity, a scoring touch and character, this sounds like the perfect fit for what Kyle Davidson is trying to do in Chicago. And you know who has done well at churning out NHL talent? The University of Michigan. As a Wolverine come August, Spence will be in the ideal setting to work on his game. A two-year plan in Ann Arbor likely, let’s just hope that he makes it to pick 25. If so, it is a great day to be a Hawks fan.

26. Nashville Predators (from Vegas Golden Knights via San Jose Sharks) — Eric’s Pick
    Joshua Ravensbergen, G, Prince George Cougars (WHL)

One of two teams with three picks in the first round, Nashville opts to round out the positional trifecta with Ravensbergen after picking Hagens and Hensler with their first two picks. The Predators could certainly use a quality goaltending prospect after questionably moving on from Yaroslav Askarov last summer, and Ravensbergen is a worthy candidate here. He reads plays very well and boasts great size at 6-foot-5. He plays a positionally sound style, which may not be the most exciting, but should set him up for a successful career in the cage. With Juuse Saros in town for the foreseeable future, the Preds can afford to be patient with Ravensbergen as well.

27. Washington Capitals — Andy’s Pick
    William Moore, C/LW, U.S. National Team Development Program (USHL) 

The Caps get creative here and take a two-way center with a ton of upside. Moore could very well fall to day two of the draft, but there is a ton of value getting him at the 27th overall pick. He should slot into the lineup very nicely at Boston College in the fall and could be involved in their power play unit and on their top two lines immediately. He will get great exposure and development playing in the ever-talented Hockey East for the next two seasons.

28. Winnipeg Jets — Eric’s Pick
    Max Psenicka, D, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

The Jets have a decent crop of young forwards on the way, so looking to the blue line may be the play here. While maybe a little off the board, Psenicka has been a late riser among this year’s crop. At 6-foot-5, he boasts projectable size with the ability to play at a high pace, a great combination if you are hoping to find an impactful rearguard.

29. Carolina Hurricanes — Andy’s Pick
    Henry Brzustewicz, D, London (OHL)

As the Hurricanes’ age among defensemen continues to rise, they will use this late pick to get a blue-liner. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Brzustewicz would be a nice add based on his strong two-way game. He put up decent numbers in London and projects as a reliable NHL prospect, without flash but the simplicity of his game will make him incredibly valuable to any franchise.

30. San Jose Sharks (from Dallas Stars) — Eric’s Pick
    Sascha Boumedienne, D, Boston University (NCAA)

The Sharks are in need of quality young blue-liners, so going for Boumedienne makes a ton of sense here. An interesting player, Boumedienne was born in Finland but represents Sweden internationally. His U18 showing turned heads, registering 14 points in just seven games. He has projectable size and is an attentive defender. While he may not become a big-time point producer professionally, he has the tools needed to be a serviceable NHL blue-liner.

31. Philadelphia Flyers (from Edmonton Oilers) — Andy’s Pick
    Semyon Frolov, G, Spartak Moscow (Russia)

The Flyers are in need of goaltending depth in their prospect pool and the end of the first round is a great place to snag the quick-footed Frolov. Time will tell how long it may take him to come to the States, but it certainly worked out well for the Fly-boys and Matvei Michkov, and having a fellow countryman in goal for the youngster could be an added bonus.

32. Calgary Flames (from Florida Panthers) — Eric’s Pick
    Jack Murtagh, LW, U.S. National Team Development Program (USHL)

The Flames again add to their forward corps with the final pick of the night. In Murtagh, Calgary gets a player determined to beat the opposition with his feet however possible, whether that be around or through. Murtagh is not afraid to get his hands a little dirty to make things happen offensively, with a willingness to win puck battles along the boards. His style and pace would complement Kindel nicely down the road.

BONUS

34. Chicago Blackhawks — Andy’s Pick
    William Horcoff, C, University of Michigan (NCAA)

(Daryl Marshke / Michigan Photography)

Perhaps it is too wishful to think that the Hawks will take two Wolverines back to back, but after the 6-foot-5 Horcoff posted 10 points in a mere 18 games at Michigan in 2024-25, he may be the next best prospect on the board. Great in tight areas and puck winner with a hard shot, Horcoff, son of longtime NHLer Shawn Horcoff, could be a nice complement to Chicago’s center depth in its prospect pool and has the flexibility to play on the wing as well.

The first round of the 2025 NHL Draft begins at 6 p.m. CDT on ESPN. Be sure to tune in to The Rink’s live draft coverage starting at 5:30 p.m. CDT on our Facebook and YouTube pages.

The post The Rink’s 2025 NHL Mock Draft appeared first on The Rink.

It was a big test for both clubs and it was fun to get a look at Chicago Blackhawks prospect and 57th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Ryan Greene, on Friday. Equally as enticing to watch were BU’s highly touted freshman, Cole Eiserman, the New York Islanders’ 20th overall pick in 2024, and Michigan’s Michael Hage, 21st overall to the Montreal Canadiens — both of which some Chicago Blackhawks fans feel General Manager Kyle Davidson unwisely passed over when he picked Sacha Boisvert with the 18th overall pick in June.

Ryan Greene

Let’s start with Greene. What’s to like about Greene’s game that he showcased on Friday is his positioning. He is a center, not one who will be a huge point-producing player at the NHL level, but also not one where there will be questions about if he is a better fit at center or wing. He is a natural pivot, responsible in both ends of the ice, can kill penalties and is on the first-team power-play unit for the Terriers. The BU captain tallied 36 points in 40 games in the 2023–24 season that saw the Terriers reach the Frozen Four. For Greene’s NHL prospectus, his ceiling is likely a third- or fourth-line center whose primary objective is puck control and not to get scored against. Sure, he may be able to chip in offensively at the NHL level, and most bottom-six forwards in the NHL do a lot of scoring in their college years, if they come from the NCAA ranks. Where he struggled a bit on Friday night and through the weekend was in the faceoff circle, particularly in his own zone. That said, this is something that all centers need to focus on, but for Greene, considering how he projects, this could be an integral ingredient to his ultimate success in the NHL. Still, he is a good prospect. He may or may not pan out, but there is a like about him.

Cole Eiserman

This time last year, Eiserman began to drop on draft boards. In June of 2023, he was projected to be a top-two pick in the 2024 draft, potentially even first overall, and then as his season with the U.S. National Development Team progressed, he began sliding as questions around his overall game began to surface. After being picked by the Islanders, some thought Davidson missed his shot to snag this elusive offensive talent and potentially a long-term sidekick for Connor Bedard. Maybe, maybe not, but if you were paying close attention on Friday night to the previous weekend’s Hockey East Player of the Week, you can see why many GMs balked in the first round. Eiserman scored a power-play goal and is an extremely gifted offensive player. When he has the puck, he is absolutely electric. Yet, when he is away from the puck, it is somewhat of an issue. Often on Friday, BU was pinned in their own zone when he was on the ice and three times he was caught out there for a two-plus-minute shift when his team had to ice the puck and he was unable to make a change. For the most part, Michigan had their way with the Terriers at even strength when Eiserman was on the ice. His body language when things were not going how he wanted was also questionable, and with the Wolverines up 2–1 in the third period, he took an unnecessary slashing penalty behind the play, leading to Michigan’s third goal of the night. Now, the story on Eiserman is far from complete and he could go on to be a tremendous NHL talent. He will score a ton at BU and perhaps some day in the NHL. At the same time, when you are bringing a young team along and you notice some red flags, if you can find players where that is not an issue, that is not a bad thing. So, I would not question the passing up on Eiserman by Davidson in the least. 

There are noticeable reasons why Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson elected not to choose the offensively gifted Cole Eiserman with Chicago’s 18th overall pick in the 2024 NHL entry draft. (Photo courtesy of Boston University Athletics)

Michael Hage

The local Chicago Steel product was someone who was very intriguing for the Hawks with the 18th pick and could be a “steal” (pun intended) for the Montreal Canadiens. The teenager is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound forward and has a strong lower frame. His stride is powerful, hands great in tight, wins draws and can play in all situations. Did the Hawks miss on this one, maybe, but all of that depends on how he and others, including Boisvert, pan out, and we will not know this or be able to judge it for a long time.

Sacha Boisvert, Adam Gajan, Aidan Thompson

On to Boisvert. While I have yet to watch him closely and have only seen a highlight or two, he does have seven points in seven games for North Dakota thus far, which is…well, good, if not great. A real test lies ahead for him in his next four games when North Dakota heads to Minnesota Duluth this weekend for a two-game set and then host the No. 1 Denver Pioneers the following weekend. We will know a lot more about Boivert after seeing that competition. And if you want to check out other Hawks prospects in those tilts, Adam Gajan, the Slovakian netminder taken 35th overall in the 2023 draft, is 3–3 thus far for the UMD Bulldogs with a .900 save percentage. For the Pioneers, Aidan Thompson, 2024 NCAA champion and Chicago’s third-round pick (90th overall) in 2022, is currently leading the country in scoring with six goals and nine assists for the top-ranked Pioneers. The 22-year-old in his third season with DU is a major factor on their club this season.

Chicago Blackhawks prospect and 2024 first-round pick (18th overall) Sacha Boisvert has produced at a point-per-game rate in his first seven games at the University of North Dakota. (Photo courtesy of Grand Forks Herald)

The Blackhawks have a number of players worth checking out in the NCAA ranks and these are but a few, but for those wondering if Davidson has been meticulous for who he has and has not chosen to draft, evidence suggests he has been doing his homework. As always with some prospects taken late in the first round and later, some will work out and some will not, but the Hawks’ pool of prospects is solid and deep, particularly in the NCAA ranks.

The post Blackhawks prospect analysis: A night at Agganis Arena appeared first on The Rink.

1. San Jose Sharks — Andy’s Pick 

Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University (NCAA)

When the Sharks won the lottery, this was a done deal. Winning the Hobey Baker Award as a 17- year-old when college hockey has never been better is a heck of a feat. There is still a real possibility that he returns to BU for an additional year of development, but nevertheless, this is the consensus No. 1 overall pick and for good reason. The kid has all the tools.

The Sharks are expected to take the slam-dunk top prospect in Macklin Celebrini with the first overall pick. (Photo courtesy of Boston University)

2. Chicago Blackhawks — Eric’s Pick 

Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State (NCAA)

The Hawks have another opportunity to add a franchise cornerstone and turn to the blue line this time to land their top-pair right-handed defenseman of the future. Levshunov boasts an impressive tool kit of skating, playmaking and physicality in an NHL-sized frame. As a true freshman at Michigan State, Levshunov was the No. 1 defenseman for a strong Sparty squad, playing huge minutes in all roles. While already having Kevin Korchinski and Alex Vlasic as top-four options for the future, Chicago lacks a projectable stud all-around defenseman in its rebuild and checks that box in a meaningful way with the Belarusian.

Side note: I had every intention of providing some draft analysis leading up to the draft about potential options for the Blackhawks, but frankly, with how thoroughly exhausting the endless vitriol among Blackhawks fans online has been regarding the pick, it ultimately was not worth my sanity to write pieces that would inevitably fall on deaf ears. The fact of the matter is, whether the Blackhawks select Levshunov or Ivan Demidov (or surprise and choose someone else), the draftee will be a foundational piece to the franchise moving forward, and that is undoubtedly something to celebrate, regardless of who it is. Be happy, Blackhawks fans. The front office knows far more than you do.

The Blackhawks opt for defenseman Artyom Levshunov with the second overall pick of our mock draft. (Photo courtesy of Michigan State University)

3. Anaheim Ducks — Andy’s Pick 

Sam Dickinson, D, London (OHL)

This could be Ivan Demidov or Cayden Lindstrom as well, but with the talent-rich offensive prospect pool the Ducks have, so much so that they may be shopping Trever Zegras, they will go with a defenseman here. Dickinson has tremendous versatility, offensive output and a lunch-pail style, put your hard hat on and go to work that would blend in well with Mason McTavish and what the Ducks are trying to build culturally. Anton Silayev is a strong possibility here, too, but Dickinson could be the best fit.

4. Columbus Blue Jackets — Eric’s Pick 

Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat (WHL)

Columbus landed a huge building block in Adam Fantilli last summer and return to the well of big pivots again by selecting Lindstrom. Though Lindstrom battled injury concerns throughout the season, he boasts a tantalizing skill set and large frame. With Fantilli penciled in as the No. 1 center for the future, Lindstrom can slide in nicely as the No. 2 center to give the Blue Jackets a 1-2 punch down the middle sure to make many franchises jealous.

5. Montreal Canadiens — Andy’s Pick 

Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA-1946 (Russia)

The Habs would be thrilled if Demidov slides to 5 and this would be a no-brainer. After taking David Reinbacher with the fifth overall pick in 2023, they will turn to offense, and who better than perhaps the highest rated pure offensive talent in the draft after Celebrini. Though, to be fair, it would be entertaining to see Habs fans’ reactions should Montreal look elsewhere.

6. Utah Hockey Club — Eric’s Pick 

Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa (OHL)

One of this year’s biggest risers late in the season, Sennecke gives Utah a highly talented winger who can perform on the biggest stage. Though Utah could instead look to one of the high-end defensemen still available, the combination of size and skill Sennecke offers is too much to pass on, betting on his steep trajectory to continue.

7. Ottawa Senators — Andy’s Pick 

Tij Iginla, C, Kelowna (WHL)

The Senators are at a crossroads, have so many needs and could pick a defenseman here, too, but Iginla’s stock continues to rise and it does not have to do with his last name. He is impactful in so many areas and plays a controlled game, something that Ottawa needs badly. 

8. Seattle Kraken — Eric’s Pick 

Zeev Buium, D, Denver (NCAA)

With the center position comfortably addressed with Matty Beniers and Shane Wright, the Kraken can take advantage of a strong blue line class and opt for Buium, a talented offensive defenseman with plenty of moxy. Buium has been a winner at every level in his career, winning U18 and U20 world championships and the NCAA title with Denver this spring. Wherever he lands, Buium should become a fan favorite on and off the ice.

9. Calgary Flames — Andy’s Pick 

Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw (OHL)

Perhaps the most offensively skilled defenseman in the draft, and if available, there is little chance Calgary can pass up on him at 9. They certainly need help on the blue line and this would be a great fit, especially if the “hometown kid” is already off the board.

10. New Jersey Devils — Eric’s Pick 

Anton Silayev, D, Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)

The Devils opt for the massive Russian defenseman to firmly round out what should be an incredible top four for many years to come alongside Luke Hughes, Simon Nemec and Seamus Casey. Silayev can skate like the wind for a big guy and provides a strong shutdown game to go along with decent offensive upside. It is entirely possible Silayev is gone long before 10, but if he slips to this range, any team would be thrilled to land him.

11. Buffalo Sabres — Andy’s Pick 

Berkly Catton, C, Spokane (WHL)

Corey Pronman has Catton rated as the second-best forward in the draft, and why not? With 54 goals and 116 points with Spokane in 2023–24, there is no doubting his talent. He is not heavy and perhaps that is why he will drop this low, but regardless, Buffalo gets a real potential game breaker here.

12. Philadelphia Flyers — Eric’s Pick 

Carter Yakemchuk, D, Calgary (WHL)

The last of the top-end defensemen in the class, the Flyers add a high-end offensive defenseman in Yakemchuk, who hit the 30-goal plateau in the WHL. Add in a bit of bite in his game and he feels like a player Flyers fans will rally around for years to come.

13. Minnesota Wild — Andy’s Pick 

Konsta Helenius, C, Tappara (Finland)

A well-disciplined hockey player, this feels like a Minnesota pick. The Wild still have decent talent and will not need to rush Helenius. He will have time to develop and could turn out to be a solid pivot for their future, something they could certainly use.

14. San Jose Sharks (from PIT) — Eric’s Pick 

Stian Solberg, D, Oslo (Norway)

After choosing Celebrini to begin the night, the Sharks can turn their attention to the blue line, an area they desperately need help in. They opt for Solberg, one of the draft’s biggest late risers, who provides a menacing physical game on the blue line.

15. Detroit Red Wings — Andy’s Pick 

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, Mora (Sweden)

All signs see Brendsegg-Nygard landing in Detroit if he is still available. He is gifted offensively and responsible in his own end of the ice; a vintage Red Wing trait that they would love to work with and develop. Playing in Sweden never hurts your cause as a Red Wings target, either.

16. St. Louis Blues — Eric’s Pick 

Adam Jiricek, D, HC Plzen (Czechia)

The Blues choose to add another blueliner to the organization after selecting Theo Lindstein with one of their first-round picks last year. Jiricek missed significant time with injury this season, but the Blues bet on the upside that had him considered as a lock for the top 10 entering the season.

17. Washington Capitals — Andy’s Pick 

Cole Eiserman, LW, U.S. NTDP (USHL)

At this point last year, many people thought Eiserman was a top-two pick in this year’s draft. Questions have arisen as to whether or not he can play in all areas of the ice. Still, he is a gifted offensive talent with an incredible shot. He will be a critical part of Boston University’s success next year and is still a talented prospect who filled the net with the NTDP unlike anyone has before.

18. Chicago Blackhawks (from NYI) — Eric’s Pick 

Sacha Boisvert, C, Muskegon (USHL)

After picking Levshunov at 2, the Blackhawks turn their attention to the forwards available at 18 and opt for Boisvert, a well-rounded center who offers goal-scoring ability and a physical edge the Hawks are lacking in their prospect pool. Boisvert’s size also allows him to comfortably project as a center at the NHL level, something the Blackhawks could use given the uncertainty of Oliver Moore and Frank Nazar being long-term center options.

Chicago selects gritty forward Sacha Boisvert with the 18th overall pick of our mock draft. (Photo courtesy of the Muskegon Lumberjacks)

19. Vegas Golden Knights — Andy’s Pick 

EJ Emery, D, U.S. NTDP (USHL)

The Golden Knights’ defensive core is aging and Emery fits the mold of what they can use moving forward. The North Dakota commit plays a hard-nosed defensive game that is not fun to play against. As the Knights get older, he would be coming in at the right time and provide the yin to Shea Theodore and Noah Hanifin’s yang.

20. New York Islanders (from CHI via TBL) — Eric’s Pick 

Michael Hage, C, Chicago (USHL)

The Islanders go with the talented Hage at 20, a player who can add offensive pop to an organization known for its defensive acumen. New York is probably thrilled to get Hage at 20 after trading down from 18, as he would have likely been in consideration for them had they stood pat.

21. Los Angeles Kings — Andy’s Pick 

Igor Chernyshov, LW, Dynamo Moscow (KHL)

Chernyshov plays the length of the ice and is always around the puck. Big and strong and a decent skater, he found success in the KHL and ultimately could be a goal-scoring threat in the NHL in a power forward mold.

22. Nashville Predators — Eric’s Pick

Trevor Connelly, LW, Tri-City (USHL)

Barry Trotz looks past Connelly’s troubling off-ice past and bets on the offensive upside that would have comfortably put Connelly in the 10–15 range if not for the character concerns. Good luck, Nashville. Hopefully it works out, or not.

23. Toronto Maple Leafs — Andy’s Pick 

Cole Beaudoin, C, Barrie (OHL)

A strong, physical center who plays a power game is everything that is lacking down the middle for the Leafs. Most of the Leaf core will still be intact by the time Beaudoin will be ready and he can simplify his development with a lot of talent around him. This would be a solid pick for Leaf nation. 

24. Colorado Avalanche — Eric’s Pick 

Jett Luchanko, C, Guelph (OHL)

The Avs are in the advantageous spot of being able to focus on taking the best player available, and Luchanko fits that bill at 24. A skilled pivot with good offensive instincts, Luchanko’s top-end speed game would mesh well with a Colorado team known for playing with pace.

The Avs take skilled forward Jett Luchanko with the 24th pick of our mock draft. (Photo courtesy of Luke Durga / OHL Images)

25. Boston Bruins (from OTT via DET via BOS) — Andy’s Pick 

Cole Hutson, D, U.S. NTDP (USHL) 

The Bruins love their in-town talent and another Boston University product could be the take here. Like a Torey Krug or Matt Grzelcyk, the Bruins have a good history of developing defensemen who are not blessed with size. Hutson being right down the road is a plus, and let’s be honest, it would certainly make for an interesting storyline with older brother Lane already in Montreal.

26. Montreal Canadiens (from WPG) — Eric’s Pick 

Liam Greentree, RW, Windsor (OHL)

Montreal giddily takes the stage to take Greentree, a player who very well may be gone multiple picks ahead of this spot. Greentree gives the Habs a big-bodied winger to add to their forward group, something they could certainly use to complement Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and now Ivan Demidov.

27. Carolina Hurricanes — Andy’s Pick 

Leo Sahlin-Wallenius, D, Vaxjo U20 (Sweden) 

One of the better skaters in the draft, Sahlin-Wallenius plays a safe and responsible game. He has good stamina, and while not overwhelmingly dynamic in any one area, he is a consistent hockey player who could eventually be in the 4–6 range on a defensive depth chart.

28. Calgary Flames (from VAN) — Eric’s Pick 

Terik Parascak, RW, Prince George (WHL)

The Flames stay close to home for their second pick of the first round, taking Parascak out of the WHL. Parascak gives the Flames a scoring threat for their prospect pool, something Calgary could certainly use more of as it looks like the turning of the chapter in Cow Town.

29. Dallas Stars — Andy’s Pick 

Alfons Freij, D, Vaxjo Jr. (Sweden)

Freij comes with an offensive game and puck-moving ability. He is yet another smooth-skating defenseman from Sweden who will need to refine his defensive habits, but with his offensive form and blue-line depth in Dallas, he could be very intriguing for the Stars’ brass.

30. New York Rangers — Eric’s Pick 

Dean Letourneau, C, St. Andrew’s (PHC)

Letourneau just feels like the easy pick here. The Rangers love their massive forwards, and with a solid team already in place, New York can afford to be patient with Letourneau and hope he is able to develop into a valuable NHL piece.

31. Anaheim Ducks (from EDM) — Andy’s Pick 

Emil Hemming, RW, TPS (Finland)

A large body with offensive upside who could be a good puck-winning player for the young Ducks core. He will need to work on his skating and creativity with the puck, but there is potential in his game. He will be a late first- or early second-round pick.

32. Philadelphia Flyers (from FLA) — Eric’s Pick 

Nikita Artamonov, LW, Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)

Philly returns to the Russian well in selecting Artamonov, a player who some feel should be chosen much higher. By bringing over Matvei Michkov, the theoretical Russian factor should feel diminished for the Flyers, so they bet on Artamonov’s upside to close out the first round.

The first round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft will begin at 7 p.m. EDT on Friday and will be broadcasted on ESPN and Sportsnet.

The post The Rink’s 2024 NHL Entry Draft first-round mock draft appeared first on The Rink.

The basics

Score: Denver 3, Omaha 4

Location: Denver

Records: Denver (8–3–1), Omaha (6–3–1)

How it happened

— There was no scoring by either team after a rough-and-tumble first period. Denver led Omaha in shots on goal 9–6. However, when the players came out after the first intermission, the ice behind Pioneer net was in horrible condition. After a lengthy delay, it was determined that the ice was unsafe for the players and officials and the game was suspended to Sunday with an undetermined time. 

— Just over a minute into the restart, Denver attempted to clear the puck out of the zone unsuccessfully. Omaha pushed it down to the corner, where Jimmy Glynn carried the puck out and sent it to the front of the crease for Matt Miller to finish the job for a 1–0 Omaha lead. 

— Roughly three minutes later, Cale Ashcroft gathered the puck for Denver to start a breakout behind their own net. Omaha’s forecheck was relentless at this point, and Brock Bremer stole the puck from Ashcroft. Bremer tossed it to Jesse Lansdell, who dribbled it in front of the net, teasing Freddie Halyk. Lansdell passed it between the lags to Ty Mueller and he finished the job to make it 2–0.

— Just over halfway through the second period, a face-off forced the puck down into the Denver zone. Carter Kink led the breakout and gave a leading pass up to Jared Wright in the middle of the ice. Wright whipped a beautiful backhand shot of the goalie to get the Pioneers on the board at 2–1.

— Five minutes later, Denver was killing off a penalty. Omaha tried to enter the Denver zone but miffed on the pass. Rieger Lorenz took off down the ice to find the back of the net for his first career shorthanded goal, knotting the score at 2–2. 

— With just two minutes left in the second, Omaha won a face-off in the Denver zone. Tanner Ludtke gathered the puck at the top of the slot and threw a snap shot on net past Halyk to restore Omaha’s lead at 3–2. 

— The final nail in the coffin came with only five seconds left in the second period. Omaha dumped the puck in to chase it down and collect it behind the Pioneers’ net. It was thrown out to Lansdell for the wrister, but stopped in front. As the puck lay in the crease, Joaquim Lemay drove the net and slapped it in to make it 4–2.

— The last goal of the day came early in the third from the Pioneers. Miko Mitkka drove down the far side and toward the net to force it past the goalie for the final of 4–3. 

DU leaders

Goals: Wright (1), Lorenz (1), Matikka (1)

Assists: King (1), Z. Buium (1), Broz (1), S. Buium (1)

Points: Wright (1), Lorenz (1), Matikka (1),  King (1), Z. Buium (1), Broz (1), S. Buium (1)

Up next

The Denver Pioneers will continue their homestand over the Thanksgiving holiday with a two-game set against Ivy League Yale University. The Bulldogs will come into Magness Arena with a challenge ahead of them as their record is 1–4.

Highlights

Due to ice conditions, tonight’s game is suspended. The game will resume tomorrow at a time to be announced.

Tickets from tonight will be valid for tomorrow’s game or can be exchanged to a future game.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) November 19, 2023

Jared Wright takes the breakout pass from Carter King and shoots it high glove to make it 2-1 Omaha #GoPios @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/RC7NEEUiMs

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) November 19, 2023

Rieger Lorenz steals the puck in his own zone and takes off for the shorty! Tied at 2! #GoPios @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/xZNPHHhaC5

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) November 19, 2023

Miko Matikka just tucks it past the goalie's pads to make it a 4-3 game.

He extends his goal streak to five games–tied for the longest of the season by a Pioneer. pic.twitter.com/xElEfLxYbd

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) November 19, 2023

The post Denver falls 4–3 after 16-hour delay appeared first on The Rink.

The basics

Score: Denver 8, Omaha 4

Location: Denver

Records: Denver (8–2–1), Omaha (5–3–1)

How it happened

— Less than six minutes into the game, Omaha dealt the opening punch on Freddie Halyk. Ray Fust would receive the pass from Joaquim Lemay in the slot and snap it high glove side to make it 1–0.

— Only a minute later, Tristan Broz would storm down the middle of the ice and drop it for Colorado Avalanche prospect Sean Behrens. He would nail a one-timer to tie up the game.

— Ty Mueller barreled down the slot around Cale Ashcroft and backhanded it over the shoulder of Halyk to restore the Omaha lead.

— While on a five-minute power play, Denver cycled the puck and Zeev Buium snapped it in from the blue line to tie it at 2–2.

— Shai Buium nailed a nasty one-timer from the right face-off circle with the help of brother Zeev to put the Pioneers ahead 3–2. 

— Almost seven minutes into the second, Carter King would gain possession in the offensive zone and toss the puck to Rieger Lorenz in front of the net. Lorenz whipped a sweet backhand shot in for the two-goal lead.

— With 8:30 left in the second, captain Webster MacKade followed a shot down the middle by Massimo Rizzo to put Denver ahead by three.

— The last goal in the second was scored by Miko Matikka, as he received a pass from King and then sent it bar down to put the Pios up by four.

— Early in the third, Omaha’s Brock Bremer would be set up in front of the net to whip it past Halyk and close the gap to 6–3. 

— During 4-on-4 play in the third period, Rizzo would steal an over-skated puck and take off, leading to a breakaway. Boston Buckberger would get the shot on net to allow for a redirect by Lorenz for a 7–3 Denver lead.

— Just over halfway through the third, Matt Miller planted himself in front of the net and redirected the shot in on the glove side of Freddie Halyk to trim the margin to 7–4.

— Buckberger ran the puck behind the net with under three minutes left to find Connor Caponi in front and the perfect pass for Denver’s eighth and final goal of the night. 

DU leaders

Goals: Lorenz (2), Behrens (1), Webster (1), Z. Buium (1), S. Buium (1), Matikka (1), Caponi (1)

Assists: Z. Buium (2), Buckberger (2), Rizzo (2), King (2), Broz (2), Behrens (1), S. Buium (1), Matikka (1), Thompson (1), Wright (1)

Up next

Denver will finish the two-game set against Omaha tonight at Magness in Denver.

Highlights

Sean Behrens' (COL) goal from earlier while the https://t.co/zlsagJ34N1 stream was down and out pic.twitter.com/IyIWtEVyIg

— Ryan Sikes (@ryan_sikes10) November 18, 2023

Rieger Lorenz with a sweet backhand shot right in front to take a two goal lead in the 2nd #GoPios @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/wJLYZ3JLkx

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) November 18, 2023

An overskated puck leads to a breakaway by Massimo Rizzo and then a redirect by Rieger Lorenz. Pios up 7-3 #GoPios @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/qV2sy8mTii

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) November 18, 2023

Boston Buckberger takes it down low to feed Connor Caponi right in front of the net for the Pios' 8th goal of the night. #GoPios @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/8ZXzQWXtWQ

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) November 18, 2023

The post Denver dominates Omaha 8–4 appeared first on The Rink.

“It’s a great thing for our fans that we get to play them four times every year,” coach David Carle said. “Their program is on the rise, they’ve done an excellent job with their new staff and recruiting and are becoming more competitive and play more of a 200-foot game, making life harder on us. So we expect a really good battle this weekend.”

In the NCHC playoffs, Colorado College secured a close victory against their opponent. But every game last season was a “tightly contested game,” as Carle put it.

The Pioneers played a split series last weekend against a fierce Augustana University and another against in-state rival, Air Force. While Denver got ahead in the game against the Vikings, Augustana fought hard to earn a tie. Air Force, on the on the other hand, saw all of the corrections from the night before and freshman goaltender Freddie Halyk. The Pioneers came out in the end with a shutout 4–0.

“It certainly feels like they are closing the gap within the rivalry and we expect nothing different this year,” Carle told the media on Wednesday.

Freshman Boston Buckberger, who was just named conference rookie of the month, hopes a victory is in play for this weekend.

Buckberger has nothing but steller since coming to Denver. He has racked up seven points in only six games with the Pioneers, claiming all the credit goes to his teammates.

“Just to hold it up, hopefully,” Buckberger said with a smile. “I actually don’t even know exactly what it looks like. But hopefully I get that in our possession pretty quick here.”

Senior McKade Webster has a lot of experience with the series himself.

“It’s a big deal,” Webster said. “Especially for our young guys that have never participated in this event and won a Gold Pan before. So for them just understanding what it means for our program going forward, it’s a big deal. It is the first trophy that we can win this weekend if we get a sweep, so that’s what we are looking to do.”

The hallways were filled with excitement from the players and staff. Not a nervous energy, but a confident energy. The Pioneers, with a 4–1–1 record, are ranked No. 2 in the nation, so they have reason to be confident. Colorado College may be a little more of a challenge than previous opponents, as they boast a 5–1–0 record, losing only to Augustana. Expect a fierce battle with the state’s top team prevailing.

Puck drop on Friday is scheduled for 7 p.m. MDT, with Saturday’s tilt scheduled for 6 p.m. MDT.

The post The Gold Pan rivalry lives on this weekend appeared first on The Rink.

Game One Observations

• Jack Devine (FLA prospect) will be a scoring leader on the team this season. Netting two goals in game one, Devine has a quick snap shot with some deception to it.
• Kent Anderson, a defenseman, used his powerful wrist shot to have a successful offensive game and earn his first multi-point game.
• Goaltender Matt Davis had his first career opening night start. He was staring post-to-post and has a quick glove.

Game two was a different tale to start. The Nanooks’ strategy to congest the neutral zone against the Pioneers was effective. Until the second period, when they accrued a bunch of penalty minutes. Alaska started off the scoring once again and Denver scored five unanswered. They scored two goals with a man advantage and one was shorthanded. The final for game two would be only 5-2 with Denver walking away with their second victory of the weekend.

Game Two Observations

• Denver has a problem with their neutral zone play. If the opposition stacks their defense, it slows down the Pioneers.
• DU is dangerous on the power play as they can strike from any direction. It is like the Colorado Avalanche power play.
• The Pioneers are skilled at moving the puck in any situation. Their offense and defense have no issues communicating and can move the puck once they get momentum.

Conclusion

Experts chose Denver before the season as the NCHC Division Champions and I can see why. They dealt with any challenges this weekend effortlessly. Despite their youth, they played impressively on the ice this weekend. They possess a fearsome ability to play with grit, aggression, and speed simultaneously.

The post DU sweeps opening weekend against Alaska-Fairbanks appeared first on The Rink.

1) Chicago Blackhawks 

Andy’s Pick: Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL)

Nothing to overthink here, folks. He is the No. 1 prospect in the world, a potential generational talent and no amount of click bait you can read will make Kyle Davidson decide to move this pick. It just ain’t gonna happen. No. 98 will be flying off the shelves in a red, white and black jersey come Wednesday night.

2) Anaheim Ducks  

Eric’s Pick: Adam Fantilli, C, University of Michigan (NCAA)

Like the first pick, there is no need for Anaheim to overthink this one. Fantilli offers everything you could want in a prospect with his size, speed, skill, and compete level. While many in the industry are wondering if the Ducks look elsewhere, they stick to the script here and take the future star pivot.

3) Columbus Blue Jackets  

Andy’s Pick: Leo Carlsson, C, Örebro HK (SHL)

This is where things could begin to get interesting. No. 3 may be where people start to wonder when Matvei Michkov’s name will be called, but a year ago, the Blue Jackets signed Johnny Gaudreau, only to have a dismal 2022–23 campaign, finishing second last in the NHL. Waiting on Michkov for a few years may not be something Jackets General Manager Jarmo Kekäläinen can see through. Carlsson has all the tools to be a legitimate No. 1 center in the NHL. At 6-foot-3 with speed and terrific skill set, though he may head back to Sweden for another year or two, by the fall of 2025 at the latest, he’ll be ready to be an impact player for the Jackets.

4) San Jose Sharks 

Eric’s Pick: William Smith, C, U.S. National Team Development Program

While the Sharks could certainly consider Michkov here, I think Mike Grier opts for a safer option in Smith, an uber-creative centerman. San Jose is starving for high-end talent, and landing a player like Smith will go a long way for their rebuild.

5) Montreal Canadiens  

Andy’s Pick: Ryan Leonard, RW, U.S. National Team Development Program 

Tough call for Director of Scouting Nick Bobrov and General Manager Kent Hughes with Michkov still here, but with Leonard they get a hard-nosed player who buzzes around, is unafraid to go in the gray areas and win pucks and plays with an edge. It is certainly a player of need up front for the Habs with all of their smaller skilled forwards. With Smith going at four, Leonard will be the second incoming Boston College Eagle in the top five.

6) Arizona Coyotes 

Eric’s Pick: David Reinbacher, D, EHC Kloten (NL)

Bill Armstrong and his army of matching suits take the stage at No. 6 and take the best defenseman in the draft class in Reinbacher, a do-it-all minute-munching blueliner. With Arizona needing a new long-term No. 1 defenseman following Jakob Chychrun’s departure, Reinbacher fills that need. The Coyotes could absolutely consider Michkov or another forward like Dalibor Dvorsky, but in the end, the high-end rearguard wins out.

7) Philadelphia Flyers 

Andy’s Pick: Matvei Michkov, RW, HK Sochi (KHL)

With the Washington Capitals’ interest in Michkov widely reported, Flyers General Manager Daniel Briere would be wise to pick up the phone and utilize as much leverage as he has here to find the right deal to swap picks with the Caps. In the end, given the Flyers’ full rebuild mode and another first-round pick at 22, Michkov makes perfect sense here and the return on a trade won’t be enough to pass up on this player. They can afford to wait for a talent that may ultimately be the best player taken in the draft.

8) Washington Capitals 

Eric’s Pick: Dalibor Dvorsky, C, AIK (Sweden)

A player many scouts feel belongs in the conversation alongside “the big five,” Dvorsky gives Washington a highly skilled centerman to build their next core around while also being able to have him in the fold to support Alex Ovechkin at the end of his career as well. Given the Capitals’ lack of center depth, especially in their pipeline, Dvorsky makes a world of sense for Washington if they are unable to secure Michkov.

9) Detroit Red Wings 

Andy’s Pick: Nate Danielson, C, Brandon (WHL)

Some feel Oliver Moore would be the take here considering his playing likeness to Dylan Larkin. That may be true, but the versatility of the big-bodied Danielson, who can play a number of different roles, fills a massive need for Detroit, who could be two to three years away from being a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. He has NHL size, decent speed and wins pucks, a great all-around player who Steve Yzerman will love.

10) St. Louis Blues

Eric’s Pick: Zach Benson, LW, Winnipeg (WHL)

The Blues consider a number of different options here, and while I think they would ideally like more size, they choose to not overthink it and take the most skilled player remaining. In Benson, St. Louis adds a supreme offensive talent to complement their core. The Blues could certainly think about a defenseman or a bigger forward here, but skill wins out in the end.

11) Vancouver Canucks

Andy’s Pick: Oliver Moore, C, U.S. National Team Development Program 

The Canucks have a variety of needs, and with this pick, the best move is to take the best pure skater in the draft. That’s Moore. He is an exciting player that is a pure blazer. He could be brilliant in the Big Ten next year at the University of Minnesota, and it will be a year or two before the NHL awaits, but he’s incredibly talented with a ton of value at 11th overall.

12) Arizona Coyotes

Eric’s Pick: Matthew Wood, RW, University of Connecticut (NCAA)

After grabbing their future stud defenseman at No. 6, the Coyotes turn their attention to forwards at No. 12. In Wood, Arizona gets a big goal-scoring winger who could be a perfect match for Logan Cooley down the line. The Coyotes could opt for a center, but go with who many scouts would consider the consensus best player available at this spot.

13) Buffalo Sabres

Andy’s Pick: Tom Willander, D, Rögle BK J20 (Sweden)

Buffalo may wince after Arizona’s pick of Wood, as he would be an excellent complement to their young offensive core. Buffalo then shifts to the blueline. With Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power being the Sabres’ top two left-handed defensemen for years to come, addressing the other side could be critical. Willander’s stock is on the rise and the smooth Boston University commit could fit in nicely with Buffalo’s long-term plans. A future trio of Dahlin, Power and Willander looks mighty nice for the organization.

14) Pittsburgh Penguins 

Eric’s Pick: Gabriel Perreault, LW, U.S. National Team Development Program

New Penguins executive Kyle Dubas has a decision to make between swinging for the fences with a supreme offensive talent or opting for a safer type of pick. In the end, the Pens take a swing and scoop up Perreault, a crafty dual-threat winger with the hopes he pans out and is able to pair up with either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin in the twilight of their careers.

15) Nashville Predators 

Andy’s Pick: Daniil But, LW, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (Russia)

Here’s the first big leap in the first round, but if you are going to “swing for the fences,” as General Manager Barry Trotz has asked his team to do, But, a 6-foot-5 power forward may be the guy. He’s a monster, protects the puck and the Preds have little in terms of prospects on the wing. There are other wingers on the card that may be as attractive, but few can ignore But’s upside.

16) Calgary Flames

Eric’s Pick: Colby Barlow, LW, Owen Sound (OHL)

The Flames are an interesting case, seemingly being in turmoil with a number of players looking to leave Cow Town, but also not really having any glaring holes in the organization, either. As such, Calgary scoops up a meat-and-potatoes goal-scoring winger in Barlow, who fits the traditional Flames mold.

17) Detroit Red Wings

Andy’s Pick: Samuel Honzek, LW, Vancouver (WHL)

By all accounts, Honzek is a faster skater than what was initially reported. He is big and can finish, but above all else, what scouts like about him is his work ethic and character. That’s something Steve Yzerman and company will not ignore. The Wings get a great prospect here at 17.

18) Winnipeg Jets

Eric’s Pick: Axel Sandin Pellikka, D, Skelleftea AIK (SHL)

Winnipeg adds a high-end offensive defenseman to their pipeline, something they were clearly lacking. Sandin Pellikka will take time to develop, but given the Jets are on the verge of tearing things down, they have the time needed to wait for the elite-skating puck-mover.

19) Chicago Blackhawks

Andy’s Pick: Quentin Musty, LW, Sudbury (OHL)

If Brayden Yager is available and taken here, I will not be sad, but there are questions whether or not he will be a pivot in the NHL. So, if you are going for a winger, as Kyle Davidson should here, you need some sandpaper. Musty is everything you need here at 19. He needs to work on his skating, but he is a puck-winning player who can finish. With skill players like Bedard, Frank Nazar and Lukas Reichel in the system and on the smaller side, you need some muscle. Great pick here with Musty.

20) Seattle Kraken

Eric’s Pick: Calum Ritchie, C, Oshawa (OHL)

Despite clearly being set for the future down the middle, the Kraken grab Ritchie, a well-rounded power forward, with the plans to either use him as an ideal third-line center or as a winger to complement Matty Beniers or Shane Wright down the road. Injuries held Ritchie back during his draft season, so Seattle is also banking on this being a “buy low” type of scenario.

21) Minnesota Wild

Andy’s Pick: Otto Stenberg, C, Frölunda HK J20 (Sweden)

He may be a few years away, but the Wild have a deep prospect pool and can afford to wait. Since that’s the case, you need to take a high ceiling into account, and Stenberg has that. He’s raw, plays with a ton of heart and has a cannon of a shot. A lot of value with this take for the Wild.

22) Philadelphia Flyers

Eric’s Pick: Brayden Yager, C, Moose Jaw (WHL)

Daniel Briere sprints to the podium to snag Yager, who many feel could even crack the top 10. Yager is a smooth-skating center with an excellent shot, and with a lacking prospect pool, Philadelphia suddenly looks significantly better for the future with the additions of Michkov and Yager as future goal scorers.

23) New York Rangers

Andy’s Pick: Riley Heidt, C, Prince George (WHL)

Some have Heidt in the top 20 and others in the second round, but the Rangers are another team that will be looking for center depth and one with playmaking ability. Heidt plays with great instincts and awareness. He still needs to mature physically and there will need to be a firm development plan for him, but he has a shot to be a nice pro some day.

24) Nashville Predators

Eric’s Pick: Eduard Sale, LW, HC Kometa Brno (Czechia)

The Predators continue with their mentality of swinging for the fences, taking a player who is clearly the most talented player remaining on the board. The skillset alone would have warranted potentially a top-10 pick, but Sale’s work ethic and consistency have drawn significant questioning this season, resulting in his stock falling. If Barry Trotz and his no-nonsense approach to the game can straighten out Sale, Nashville could have a gem here.

25) St. Louis Blues

Andy’s Pick: Dimitri Simashev, D, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)

St. Louis needs a defenseman, and should Simashev be here at 25, it would be an absolute steal for them. He’s 6-foot-4, skates extremely well, can move the puck and plays stingy defense. The blue line for the Blues is aging, and having a top-four defenseman in the pipeline is a must. Great fit here for Simashev.

26) San Jose Sharks

Eric’s Pick: Andrew Cristall, LW, Kelowna (WHL) 

After securing a high-end center at No. 4, the Sharks take a swing on potentially landing another big-time producer here at No. 26. Cristall is one of the more debated players of the draft class, as his 5-foot-9 frame combined with subpar skating ability leaves legitimate and serious concerns about an NHL future. But, given the immense offensive talent he has been thus far in his career, Mike Grier hopes more development helps get Cristall up to speed enough to become an NHL producer.

27) Colorado Avalanche

Andy’s Pick: Gavin Brindley, RW, University of Michigan (NCAA)

With all the talent in Colorado, it’s hard not to envision Brindley buzzing around with the rest of them. Some worry about his size, but he plays bigger than he is and has a contagious intensity. He will get better being around quality talent in Denver, and the Avs seem like the team that will know exactly how to use his intangibles.

28) Toronto Maple Leafs

Eric’s Pick: Tanner Molendyk, D, Saskatoon (WHL)

The Maple Leafs only hold one pick in the first four rounds of the draft this year, so they need to make this pick count. They opt to take Molendyk, a highly efficient and well-rounded defenseman who can do a lot of things well. While Molendyk might not be the most exciting option on the board, he provides Toronto with a dependable modern-style blueliner for the future.

29) St. Louis Blues 

Andy’s Pick: Charlie Stramel, C, University of Wisconsin (NCAA)

With their third pick in the first round, the Blues complement their skill picks with some toughness down the middle. Stramel may end up being a third-line center, or at worst somewhere in the bottom six, but he is big and a pain in the neck to play against. He needs to have a better year in Madison, but should his game grow, he has a good shot at being an NHL regular.

30) Carolina Hurricanes

Eric’s Pick: Bradley Nadeau, LW, Penticton (BCHL)

Carolina has been desperate to add goal scoring to its organization over the last few years, so with this pick they take a bit of a swing on a guy who might have the most offensive upside remaining in Nadeau. Nadeau is on the smaller side, but the Hurricanes have shown that if you are willing to work hard, a smaller frame does not bother them (see: Jarvis, Seth). Nadeau’s hockey smarts and offensive skills make him a worthy pick here for a team knocking on the door of hockey’s elite teams.

31) Montreal Canadiens 

Andy’s Pick: Michael Hrabal, G, Omaha (USHL)

We may not see a goalie being selected in the first round, but if so, it may be the Habs that do it. Montreal has a lot in their prospect cupboard exclusive of a goalie of the future. Hrabal may be the best of this class due to his size and athleticism. The UMass commit will take time to develop, but all the tools are there to be a regular NHL fixture in the pipes.

32) Vegas Golden Knights

Eric’s Pick: Ethan Gauthier, RW, Sherbrooke (QMJHL)

Gauthier feels like a perfect fit for the Stanley Cup champions, as he plays a competitive and physical style while mixing in a nice offensive skillset. While there are a few players still on the board who most think will almost positively go in the first round, it is hard to argue against the fit here and that Gauthier is anything other than the best player available for Vegas to select.

The first round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft begins at 6 p.m. CDT in Nashville. Be sure to follow Eric on Twitter (@WALaxer19), as he will be live on site in Nashville and plans to tweet out his live reactions and analysis to the Blackhawks’ picks and trades throughout the draft.

The post The Rink’s 2023 NHL Entry Draft first-round mock draft appeared first on The Rink.

Next in the series of prospect profiles is Canadian center Dylan Holloway.

Dylan Holloway

2019–20 Team: Wisconsin (NCAA)
Date of Birth: Sept. 23, 2001
Place of Birth: Calgary, AB, Canada
Height: 6 feet
Weight: 203 pounds
Shoots: Left
Position: C

NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 12 (North American Skaters)
NHL Central Scouting Midterm Ranking: 10 (North American Skaters)

NHL Comparable: Gabriel Landeskog

What you see is pretty much what you get with Dylan Holloway. Holloway boasts a nice package of size, skill and speed to go along with a well-rounded two-way game.

Holloway is first and foremost a power forward. He plays an aggressive-yet-disciplined style and is not afraid to get into the action to make an impact physically. Holloway sports a high-energy motor that defines his relentless playing style. A hard worker in all facets of the game, he is an extremely responsible and reliable player regardless of the situation.

In addition to his work ethic, Holloway’s versatility also serves him well and will continue to do so as he advances in his career. Though listed as a center, Holloway can easily play on the wing and has done so at various times throughout his career. Additionally, his well-rounded game allows him to slot in up and down a lineup while still being effective in the assigned role.

Holloway possesses a nice offensive skill set despite not being an elite point producer. Arguably Holloway’s biggest offensive strength is his skill with the puck. He owns quality hands and uses them effectively, maneuvering the puck through and around defenders with ease. Holloway’s puck skills also allow him to be a sound passer though he will not dazzle you with high-end playmaking. Similarly, Holloway possesses a solid shot with a decent release and good power.

Skating is generally a strength for Holloway, as he has little trouble working his way around the ice. However, adding an explosive component to his skating would take his mobility to the next level and make him a more dangerous offensive threat.

Implications for the Blackhawks

Holloway has been up and down the draft board throughout the season and could approach the 10–12 range or could slip into the 20s, so where he will end up is anyone’s guess. That said, should he still be available when the Blackhawks make their selection at 17, he would provide much-needed size to Chicago’s prospect pool. The Hawks opted for Kirby Dach’s size last year, and if they want to continue shoring up that aspect of the system, Holloway would be an excellent choice, immediately making him one of the Blackhawks’ larger forward prospects. Another thing to note is the added insight the front office could get on Holloway from Wyatt Kalynuk, who captained the Badgers this past season before signing with the Hawks this summer.

Timeline

Holloway will likely spend at least another couple of years playing for the Badgers, so do not expect to see Holloway playing professionally until at least 2022–23 or 2023–24 depending on when he decides to make the jump. The biggest areas of improvement to focus on while playing at Wisconsin are likely the need to develop more confidence in his game, particularly offensively, after a disappointing season for the Badgers as a whole as well as adding diversity and consistency to his offensive repertoire.

Projection

Though many think Holloway can develop into a top-six player at the NHL level, he will more realistically project as a middle-six option capable of contributing in a number of areas. As mentioned, his versatility will aid him in his development and ability to make an impact wherever he plays. Despite likely not having a ton of offensive upside, Holloway is the type of player a team needs in the lineup to be successful.

What others are saying

“He’s best described as a complete package, which is what makes him such an attractive prospect in this draft. He’s been well-scouted the past three seasons and is therefore a well-known commodity who has been evaluated mostly while playing as one of the youngest members on his team at every level. He understands the game very well and utilizes his skating, smarts and skills with a determination and passion that places him in the right position at the right time to make good plays. He’s an ultimate team player with strong leadership attributes.”

— Dan Marr / NHL Central Scouting

“Holloway is a hound off the puck who consistently applies pressure with physicality, especially on the penalty kill. He gets involved on the forecheck and creates turnovers thanks to smart reads, proper stick positioning and quick turns towards the direction of puck travel. Holloway has proven to be effective in various types of zone-coverage schemes and usually stays within the system being implemented. By watching him react to puck movement accordingly while maintaining positional flexibility, you get the sense that Holloway is not trying to do everyone’s job and listens to the coaching staff’s instructions. Once he has the puck under control, Holloway features a relatively wide skating base and accelerates with a powerful stride and above-average straight-line speed. His first step is quick, and he can make instant directional changes, tight turns and pivot on a dime while moving at top speed, all while maintaining control of the puck during these difficult maneuvers. His skating most certainly is a strong suit, and his escapability along the boards while taking hard shoves reveals his elite balance.”

— Steve Kournianos / The Draft Analyst

The post Top 10 candidates for No. 17: Dylan Holloway appeared first on The Rink.

The #Blackhawks have signed free agent 21 y/o LW Cameron Morrison to 2 year Entry Level Deal. Drafted 2nd Round by Colorado ‘16 & did not sign with them this week, becoming free agent. Pursued by several teams.

27 Points in 37 games at Notre Dame.https://t.co/S3KeUtQSsr

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) August 18, 2020

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound forward played four years at Notre Dame and averaged almost 24 points per season in 149 games. He had a career high 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists) in his senior season with the Fighting Irish this past year.

Prior to playing with Notre Dame, Morrison played with the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL and amassed 66 points (34 goals, 32 assist) in 64 games.

The scouting report on Elite Prospects states the following:

A big, strong all-around player who thinks the game at a high level and executes plays with purpose and drive. Accelerates well and has no issues getting around the ice with haste; transition game will need some tweaks. Very good vision and puck skills, and has the size to make a difference driving to the net and causing havoc for the opposition’s defense. Defensively sound, using his size to his advantage along the boards and getting his stick in place to deflect passes out of harm’s way. Moving forward, Morrison will have every opportunity to develop into a smart power forward who can play in all situations and make it difficult on the opposition.

The post REPORT: Blackhawks sign Notre Dame free agent Cameron Morrison appeared first on The Rink.

Kalynuk was drafted by the Flyers in 2017 but his rights expired this year. The 23-year-old, 6’1″, 181 lbs, left-handed defenseman played for three seasons under head coach Tony Granato at Wisconsin, serving as their captain this past season. Prior to college, he played three years in the USHL with the Lincoln Stars and Bloomington Thunder. He scored at least 25 points each of his three years at Wisconsin and was described by Granato as an “elite offensive defenseman that has the ability to run a power play.”

The signing could be a replacement for former fourth round pick Ryan Shea, who had a great season while also serving as team captain at Northeastern University this past spring but chose to not sign with the Blackhawks and is now an unrestricted free agent.

Kalynuk will have to fight through a pretty dense crop of defenseman to find his way to the NHL, but the path is no worse than it would have been with Philadelphia. The Flyers are stocked with a plethora of defenseman in their system under 24, as well. It’s expected that he will play in Rockford whenever the 2020-21 AHL season begins. Kalynuk will not be eligible to participate in the NHL’s Return to Play tournament this coming August.

Decent pick up for Chicago in a position where they already have some good young prospects that will push NHL roster. Kalynuk has some good offensive tools, skates well. Thought he played better in 2018-19 compared to this season, but has a good base of skills to work with. https://t.co/Oa5JdSqAsx

— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) July 6, 2020

#Blackhawks pick up a solid prospect. As a Flyers fan I’m a little disappointed. Was excited to see what he could have brought to the team. But the Flyers do have a lot of depth throughout their defensive core so he mostly likely will have a better path to the NHL with Chicago. https://t.co/bgBGVJeKqR

— Clare McManus (@claremcmanuss) July 7, 2020

The post REPORT: Blackhawks to sign University of Wisconsin defenseman Kalynuk appeared first on The Rink.

After nixing an NHL deal with Chicago that would have put Mitchell into the fold with the Blackhawks this season, the 2017 second-round pick returned to Denver University for his junior season, where he served as the Pioneers’ captain. After a spell of “will he or won’t he” from the Blackhawks’ fan community, everyone can breathe a little easier knowing that the coveted defenseman will be playing his professional hockey with the Blackhawks.

Ian Mitchell headlined the Chicago Blackhawks’ NCAA prospects this season. (Photograph courtesy of the Chicago Sun-Times)

An already accomplished NCAA prospect, Mitchell played with Team Canada this past December at the Spengler Cup in Switzerland. He tallied a goal and an assist in four games played, helping Canada win their 16th Spengler Cup.

In three seasons playing at Denver, Mitchell skated in 116 games and tallied 89 points. He was part of the 2018 NCAA Championship team as a freshman and was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team in the 2017–18 season. Mitchell was named a NCHC Second Team All-Star as a sophomore in 2018–19 and a NCHC First Team All-Star this season as a junior. Mitchell was also named the Pioneers’ Team MVP this season with 32 points in 36 games played prior to the NCAA season being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At 5-foot-11 and tipping the scales around 180 pounds, Mitchell is not the most physically imposing defenseman, but he played heavy minutes over the last two seasons at Denver and all indications are that he will be able to play at the speed and physical level seen in the NHL. It is important to note that Mitchell will need time to adjust and more than likely is not the singular missing piece to the Blackhawks’ woes defensively. But, signs do point to Mitchell getting a crack at the NHL right away once he joins the organization, which is hopefully sooner rather than later.

The post Blackhawks, Ian Mitchell agree to terms on entry-level contract appeared first on The Rink.

Both Highmore and Lankinen signed two-year contract extensions, with year one (2020–21) being two-way deals and year two (2021–22) transitioning into one-way deals. Highmore’s deal comes with a $725,000 AAV ($700,000 NHL/$450,000 AHL in year one, $750,000 in year two), while Lankinen’s deal holds an $800,000 AAV ($750,000 NHL/$500,000 AHL in year one, $850,000 in year two).

Kevin Lankinen moves across the crease to stop a shot. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

This season, Highmore played in 21 AHL games with the Rockford IceHogs, tallying 12 points, as well as playing in 36 NHL games with the Blackhawks and notching six points. He has 49 career NHL games with the Blackhawks and was named an AHL All-Star in 2017–18 with the IceHogs.

Lankinen made 21 appearances with the IceHogs this season, holding a record of 8–10–2 with a 3.03 goals against average and a .909 save percentage. He was also recalled to the Blackhawks this season, but has yet to make his NHL debut. Lankinen has played in 40 career AHL games with the IceHogs, was named an AHL All-Star this season and helped Team Finland win the 2019 World Championship gold medal last summer.

The Blackhawks signed entry-level deals with two of their 2017 NHL Entry Draft picks, giving Penn State standout Evan Barratt a three-year deal and Russian prospect Andrei Altybarmakyan a two-year deal. Barratt’s contract holds an $870,000 AAV, while Altybarmakyan’s deal is worth $817,500 annually.

Evan Barratt skates in a game for Penn State during the 2019–20 season. (Photograph courtesy of Heather Weikel)

Barratt was the 90th overall selection in 2017 by Chicago and has spent the last three years playing at Penn State. In 98 career NCAA games, Barratt scored 39 goals and totaled 95 points. He was part of Team USA’s U18 World Junior Championship gold medal team in 2017, took home a silver medal with Team USA at the 2019 World Junior Championships and was named to the First Team All-Big 10 list as a sophomore in the 2018–19 season.

Altybarmakyan was selected 70th overall by the Blackhawks in 2017 and has played in Russia his whole career. He has spent the majority of the last two seasons with HK Sochi in the KHL. He tallied six goals and 17 points this year with HK Sochi and has 23 points in 101 career KHL games.

Both Barratt’s and Altybarmakyan’s deals begin next season.

The post Blackhawks agree to extensions with Highmore and Lankinen, sign Barratt and Altybarmakyan appeared first on The Rink.

Ian Mitchell could have signed a professional contract last season with the Hawks, but he made the decision to play his junior year at the University of Denver, noting that he wanted to dominate at the collegiate level; and that he did.  The Calahoo, Alberta native came into the Pioneers program as a freshman with high expectations.  Mitchell was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2017 NHL draft by Chicago and was committed to Denver, a team that had just won a national championship.  Mitchell was slated to take over for senior Will Butcher who had just won the Hobey Baker Award for the NCAA’s top men’s hockey player.

That year, the Pioneers were surprised to have a couple of their top players stick around for an extra year and try for another national title.  Now Sharks forward Dylan Gambrell, Ducks forward Troy Terry, and Panthers forward Henrik Borgstrom were a trio that made the Pioneers one of the most potent offenses in college hockey, and Mitchell had the keys to the powerplay.  Just like any freshman would do, Mitchell deferred to many of the upperclassmen but that didn’t mean he didn’t have the skills to be out there with them.  Mitchell often walked the blue line and created open lanes for his forwards to work their magic, knowing that one day it would be his turn to work his.  In his freshman year, Mitchell registered two goals and 28 assists, landing him a spot on the NCHC’s All-Rookie team.  The Pioneers ultimately fell to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Frozen Four regionals.

In Mitchell’s sophomore season, many thought Denver would take a step back with many of their top players departing for the pros, but a fresh crop of recruits helped the Pioneers get to their 17th Frozen Four appearance in school history.  The 2018-19 Denver team had one of the best defenses in the league and received great goaltending from freshman Filip Larsson.  They got significant contributions from Emilio Pettersen and Cole Guttman, two freshman who played the entire season together on the first line with senior Jarid Lukosevicious.  And to top it off, Denver had just lost head coach Jim Montgomery to the NHL and were led by rookie head coach David Carle.  Mitchell had another solid season with six goals and 21 assists.  The Pioneers fell just short of getting to the national championship game, losing in overtime to Cale Makar’s UMass Minutemen in Buffalo.

In that same year, Mitchell represented Team Canada in the World Junior Championships as an alternate captain.  He played alongside several NHL prospects selected in the first round such as Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard, New York’s Noah Dobson, and New Jersey’s Ty Smith.  Unfortunately, Canada lost to Finland in overtime in the quarterfinals.

Ian Mitchell (@DU_Hockey) scores his first of the tournament to put up by one early in the second! #CANvsFIN #REPRESENT #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/IDXLJQFlAs

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 3, 2019

Entering his junior year at Denver, Mitchell was voted team captain and was on a mission to be Denver’s go-to guy.  In his first seven games, Mitchell had three goals and seven assists.  He went on to have seven multi-point games and score a career-high 32 points.  Mitchell also helped Team Canada win gold at the 2019 Spengler Cup.  The Pioneers had their ups and downs in the 2019-20 season, but it seemed like they were turning a corner.  Winners of four of their last six games, Denver concluded the season with a sweep of rivals Colorado College and were set to host Omaha in the first round of the NCHC playoffs.  It’s unfortunate that the NCAA tournament was canceled due to public health concerns, but there’s no doubt that Mitchell and his Pioneers would have been center stage in another chase for college hockey stardom.

So this leads us to the original question of the article of what are the Chicago Blackhawks getting in Ian Mitchell.  Now that you know the background story, here’s my take.

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Ian’s father and younger brother at a couple Pioneers games and they are definitely a hockey family.  Hockey is in his blood, as his uncle also played professional hockey.  Ian’s father Bill said to me that he spent countless hours with Ian teaching him the art of power skating, giving him the ability to jump into plays and also to keep up with some of the fastest forwards in his age group.  I know that there were significant changes to Ian’s game between his sophomore and junior seasons.

Knowing that professional hockey was on the horizon for him, Mitchell started training and changing his diet to be in the best hockey shape possible.  Not only did he take good care of his body, he took care of the people around him.  He is very well liked by his teammates and coaches, and is a natural-born leader.  Ian would always make time to say hello and shake my hand following post-game press scrums and was always a good quote.  The Blackhawks are getting a very high-character individual which is probably why they are so excited.  This is a player who is a big communicator on the ice and is highly competitive.

As for on-ice qualities, there is a lot to look forward to.  There has been a lot of growth in Mitchell’s game since his first Blackhawks prospect camp.  He’s bigger, stronger, faster, and comes with three years experience in one of college hockey’s toughest conferences in the NCHC.  Going against Minnesota-Duluth, North Dakota, and St. Cloud is no small feat, yet Mitchell and the Pioneers found success annually.

On the offensive side, Mitchell likes to compare his game to Tyson Barrie of the Maple Leafs.  He doesn’t have game-breaking speed, but he can get up the ice into the rush like Barrie and be just as dangerous as a forward.  His ability to get pucks through traffic using fakes and dekes has created a lot of chances for his forwards.  Mitchell also has an underrated slapshot.  A lot of the time, he will take a hard wrist shot if he has time from the top of the circle, but he can also rip it from the point and the puck gets to the net in a hurry.  I would say that Mitchell is the definition of a powerplay quarterback.  He is a triple-threat player from the point where he can shoot, pass, or skate at any time.  His scoring ability is just as good as anybody in college hockey, but he’s a natural playmaker.  Mitchell’s at his best when he’s setting up his teammates for layup goals after he does all the heavy lifting.

#Blackhawks prospect Ian Mitchell with a beautiful assist pic.twitter.com/3PEfXI8yd8

— Blackhawks Nation (@BlkHwkNationCHI) November 3, 2018

On the defensive side, it’s his hockey IQ that will wow you.  Mitchell plays with an active stick and can escape high-danger situations surprisingly without getting hit too often.  He can spin out of big checks and is phenomenal at breaking the puck out of the zone.  He can beat you with the stretch pass or he can skate it through the zone himself.  I will say that he has one of the best first passes out of the zone that I’ve seen the last few years in the conference.  Mitchell isn’t the overly aggressive type in front of the net, but he also won’t get pushed around.  I’ve seen him get into it after the whistle a few times, but he’s never put his team in a bad spot because of it.

Overall, the Blackhawks are getting a defenseman who can give fans some peace of mind, much like Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, and Niklas Hjalmarsson have done in years past.  Those three got the Blackhawks through multiple Stanley Cup Playoffs playing over 25 minutes a night, being trusted in every situation.  I’m not saying Mitchell is ready for that, but with the right development, he can rise to a top-four blueliner that Chicago can lean on in the future.  The Hawks have drafted a handful of top defensive prospects the last few years hoping to solidify their defensive core.  Those prospects have come and gone like a game of musical chairs, and it’s no surprise Mitchell is one of the few guys left with a seat at the table.

Stan Bowman likes what he sees out of Ian Mitchell, who is returning to Denver for his junior year. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/xTiFXmVcdj

— Eric Lear (@EricLear312) July 17, 2019

The post What are the Chicago Blackhawks getting in Ian Mitchell? appeared first on The Rink.

In one of the biggest games of the year, the seniors came up big.  The Pioneers were also under some pressure from Western Michigan who swept Miami and drew pretty close to leapfrogging Denver.

Thank you, Seniors #PioneerTogether pic.twitter.com/ANeMCX1aQ7

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) March 8, 2020

Here’s how things played out:

Game 1

Friday night the Pioneers traveled to Colorado College with hopes of bringing home the Gold Pan.  It was senior night for the Tigers and they definitely made it exciting for the fans.  The Pioneers were dominant in the faceoff circle, winning 44 of 64 draws, and possessed the puck well.  Although there was no score in the first period, Denver tallied twice in the second with an Ian Mitchell shot that went off a defender and a Tyler Ward rebound goal.   But, with five minutes left in the game, CC wasn’t ready to call it quits.

The Tigers went on a four-on-three powerplay, desperate to get back into the game.  They cycled the puck low to high and Grant Cruikshank took a shot from the right circle.  Magnus Chrona made the save, but the rebound went right to Tigers senior Chris Wilke who scored the first goal of the game for CC.  Then with less than ten seconds left in the game, Wilke got a pass in the high slot and nailed the game-tying goal.  Overtime wasn’t enough so the game went to a shootout where Brett Stapley won it for the Pioneers.

ICYMI – @CWilkie44 scored two goals late in the third period as CC rallied to a 2-2 tie against 6th-ranked Denver. pic.twitter.com/jXWeQ0Dw3v

— CC Hockey (@CCTigerHKY) March 7, 2020

Game 2

There was no doubt that Saturday night’s season finale against CC was going to be big, but the crowd seemed to take it to another level.  The student section was constantly chanting and banging on the glass, making it a difficult environment for the Tigers.  Nick Halloran scored first for the Tigers on a breakaway, beating Chrona, but it was all Pioneers after that.  Denver would score five straight goals to beat CC 5-1.  Emilio Pettersen would score his 13th goal of the season, but Michael Davies stole the show with this backhand beauty over Matt Vernon.

What a pretty goal.

Michael Davies gives @DU_Hockey a 2-1 lead in the 2nd period. pic.twitter.com/exEOYeh7Dt

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) March 8, 2020

What’s next?

Denver begins their road to the Frozen Faceoff this weekend against No. 6 Omaha.  The Mavs are 3-7 in their last ten games, but they do have some impressive wins this season against North Dakota, Arizona State, and Wisconsin.  Omaha and DU only met twice this season in Denver back in January, where they tied both games.  The Pioneers will have to strike first and not let the Mavs hang around or they could steal a game.

Tickets are on sale now for this weekend’s best-of-three series vs Omaha.

The post Pioneers secure No. 3 seed in NCHC playoffs after Colorado College sweep appeared first on The Rink.

With just a home-and-home series with Colorado College left in the regular season, the Pioneers will need to finish strong, as Western Michigan and St. Cloud are just two and four points behind Denver in the NCHC standings, respectively.  Let’s recap what happened with St. Cloud.

Game 1

Friday night’s game was very competitive until the second period when St. Cloud decided to open things up.  After Emilio Pettersen scored his 11th goal on the season on the powerplay, the Huskies scored three straight in a span of ten minutes and that’s all St. Cloud needed to earn three points on Friday.  Shots for the Huskies, by period, were 5, 20, and 3, having clearly moved into preventative defense in the third period.

Huskies goaltender David Hrenak was phenomenal, allowing just one goal on 32 shots.  St. Cloud improved to an impressive 9-0-2 when leading their opponent after the second period. Illinois native Kevin Fitzgerald led the Huskies with two goals and an assist in a much-needed win for St. Cloud, who are also fighting for their playoff position.

Here are a few observations from Friday’s game:

• For the first time in nine starts this season, Devin Cooley was pulled after giving up four goals on 19 shots.
• After registering 11 shots on goal in the series with Miami, captain Ian Mitchell was limited to just one shot Friday night.
• Freshman forward Bobby Brink was held out again after sustaining a lower-body injury in the North Dakota series.

Power play, POWER GOAL!@DU_Hockey ties this baby up. pic.twitter.com/kbpTjWYlBp

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) February 29, 2020

Game 2

Saturday night’s game was a different story.  After head coach David Carle emphasized the Pioneers refocusing their efforts and staying out of the penalty box, the team turned in one of their best games of the season, defeating the Huskies 5-2.  Despite going 0-6 on the powerplay, the Pioneers had five different goal scorers with Liam Finlay, Jake Durflinger, Kohen Olischefski, Mitchell, and Pettersen all lighting the lamp.  After starting Friday’s game on different lines, Cole Guttman and Pettersen were reunited Saturday and combined for eight shots on goal.

As expected, this game was very physical with several roughing minors.  For the St. Cloud seniors, this was the last time they would skate for the Huskies at home and they weren’t about to go down easily.  If anything, St. Cloud sent a message that this wouldn’t be the last time both teams crossed paths.  It’s possible that in just a few weeks this could be a playoff matchup.

Pettersen extended his scoring streak to three games and has officially doubled his goals from last year with 12.  Finlay has his own point streak of four games, and Mitchell tied his career-high in points with 30.

Bullseye @IanMitch15 #PioneerTogether pic.twitter.com/WLb00bKLeR

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) March 1, 2020

What’s next?

The Pioneers face off against their bitter rivals, the Colorado College Tigers, as they wrap up the Battle for the Gold Pan.  Denver swept the Tigers back in December, winning 3-0 and 3-1.  Colorado College is currently 8th in the NCHC and coming off two losses at home against Minnesota-Duluth.  The Tigers wouldn’t like anything better than to play spoiler for the Pioneers.  You can catch Saturday night’s game at Magness Arena on CBS Sports Network at 8:07 mountain time.

The post Pioneers eyeing playoff home-ice after split with St. Cloud appeared first on The Rink.

Then there is Ryan Shea.

A four-year college defenseman at Northeastern University who was a fifth-round selection by the Blackhawks in the 2015 NHL Draft, Shea is a relatively under-the-radar prospect in the Chicago system that will have his future decided with the organization in a few short months. Shea is the captain for the Huskies in senior season that has Northeastern ranked tenth in the nation. With 29 points in 28 games this season, Shea is on pace to double his previous career-high in points (17) and could finish the year in the top-five of scoring defensemen when all is said and done.

I had the chance to talk with Shea as he and the Huskies prepare for a home-and-home series against sixth-ranked Boston College this week. We spoke about his development from draft day to his senior year, what being a three-time Beanpot champion means, and his future with the Blackhawks organization.

“You start to think about how you got to this point and who got you here…”

Through three years playing at Northeastern University, Ryan Shea was a steady, two-way defenseman. He wasn’t flashy and wasn’t blowing people away with gaudy production numbers. But that was never his role; Shea has always put the focus of his game on the defensive side first.

“I’m definitely not considering myself an offensive defenseman at all,” Shea explained about his new-found explosion on offense. “After Jérémy Davies signed early this year, there were some more offensive responsibilities put on my shoulders, which is why you see the numbers I’m getting this year, but I’ve always been very strict about my defensive game.”

Shea is tied for second on the Huskies in points and leads the team with 24 assists. While Shea doesn’t want his numbers to fool anyone into thinking he’s going to be a powerplay expert at the next level, his skills as a puck-moving defenseman who can make the right plays is going to be his calling card once he makes the jump to the professional ranks.

BOSTON, MA. FEB 3: Northeastern Huskies celebrate after beating Harvard Crimson , Monday, February 3, 2020, during the first game of Beanpot Hockey Tournament at TD Garden in Boston (Jim Michaud / MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

“I want to go out as part of the class that has the most wins in Northeastern hockey history. We still have a chance at that.”

Shea’s winning ways at Northeastern have him and the rest of the Huskies Class of 2019-20 on the verge of setting the class wins record for the program. With 85 wins and counting over the last three seasons and change, Shea’s senior class is already the second-winningest in program history, only behind last year’s senior class of 2018-19 which finished with 90 wins.

Northeastern has won the Hockey East championship and the Beanpot tournament in the same season twice, once in 1987-88 and again last season in Shea’s junior year. Getting the Beanpot again this season sets the Milton, Massachusetts native up to be the Captain of one of the most successful Senior classes in program history.

“It never gets old winning that tournament”

When Shea arrived at Northeastern, the Huskies hadn’t won a Beanpot tournament in nearly 30 years. His father, Dan Shea, played four years at Boston College from 1984-1988 but never won a Beanpot tournament title. Growing up 15 minutes south of Boston, the Shea family has always been connected to the tournament. “We grew up watching the Beanpot, we went to it every year. It’s been in my family for such a long time.”

In his sophomore year, the streak was broken after Northeastern topped Boston University, 5-2. The next season, Northeastern won back-to-back titles for the first time since the 1984 and 1985 tournaments. As a senior, the captain of the team, Shea was looking to be part of the eighth team to win at least three Beanpot titles in-a-row.

“The amount of alumni and fan support behind us just brought the moment to another level. It never has gotten old.”

Blackhawks prospect Ryan Shea raises the Beanpot Trophy after winning the Beanpot tournament in Boston on February 10, 2020. (Photo credit: Jim Pierce-Northeastern)

In a frantic Beanpot Final this year, Northeastern was mere moments away from sealing their third-straight title before Boston University tied the game with less than two seconds remaining in regulation. After a five minute overtime period, the Final would head to double overtime.

“It was definitely nerve-wrecking,” Shea recalled of the long night. “The most important part for our team that night was getting out of the five-minute overtime. They were taking it to us. After we regrouped in the locker room, we got back on the same page. It was a great overtime for both teams, I can’t imagine watching it because it was so intense playing in it.”

The final breakthrough that Northeastern needed in the double overtime period came at the hands of Shea himself, drawing a penalty. But it wouldn’t be without controversy.

Northeastern’s #Beanpot Final game-winning goal came on a Powerplay in 2OT. Here is the penalty “drawn” by #Blackhawks prospect Ryan Shea to setup the eventual winning Powerplay #NCAA #CawlidgeHawkey pic.twitter.com/CTCV9XxR5P

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) February 11, 2020

“Obviously there’s a lot of people who were not happy with the way it ended, but that’s just how it happened. There were calls missed on them against us and missed calls on us against them, but I don’t think it’s something you can blame on the officials. They made a call in a high-pressure moment and took advantage of it.”

Northeastern would go on to score on the ensuing powerplay, which Shea was on the ice for, topping Boston and winning their third-straight Beanpot title.

“It’s possible I could be reunited with him and that would be pretty fun.”

After the satisfaction of winning the Beanpot begins to subside, and the final weeks of the season creep up, Shea is reminded of a former teammate that had a similar path to the Blackhawks organization. A sixth-round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, Dylan Sikura was a star at Northeastern in his four years as a Husky. He was part of the 2017-18 Huskies squad that won the first of three-straight Beanpot titles alongside Shea and signed his entry-level deal with the Blackhawks shortly after finishing his senior year in Spring 2018.

Ryan Shea and Dylan Sikura celebrate a goal for Northeastern during the 2017-18 season. (Photo courtesy of Northeastern University)

“When he was here, he was one of my best friends on the team,” Shea said of his relationship with Sikura. “The communication between me and him is always open. He loves it there and he has his brother [Tyler Sikura] there too, which is awesome. He just tells me to take my time and make the best decision for myself and my family. He’s given me nothing but positive thoughts on the organization and the city.”

“The feedback has been nothing but great…”

The season is winding down for Shea with Northeastern; only three more weeks remain before postseason play begins. If all goes according to his plans, Shea will be finishing his year winning the program’s first-ever National Championship and wrapping up the year on April 11. That timeframe would leave no games remaining for the Blackhawks or IceHogs, unless either makes the postseason, to see Shea play at the professional level. The Blackhawks organization would have a few months left to reach an entry-level deal with Shea before the August 15 deadline where his draft rights with Chicago would expire.

Northeastern’s Ryan Shea #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/ABUHYZhLxE

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) July 15, 2019

“I feel like I’ve done a good job of not letting that distract me this year, especially as the season gets closer to the end. But every prospect at this point starts to think about going to the next level. Chicago and their staff has been nothing but good to me and have helped me with my development an incredible amount, so I have no problems with them. Chicago is an unbelievable spot and I know Rockford is too, so hopefully I can keep playing good hockey here and the organization likes what they see from me.”

Northeastern is set to take on Boston College this week, a matchup of two top-ten programs in the country. Shea knows that some of the Blackhawks brass will be in town for the high-profile contests and remains focused on finishing his year as strong as possible. With his professional future ahead of him, Shea’s focus on his legacy at Northeastern has set him up to be a highly valuable player for any organization, whether it is in fact Chicago or not.

The post Ryan Shea cementing legacy at Northeastern as Blackhawks future awaits appeared first on The Rink.

The Bristol, Pennsylvania, native used his strong skating ability to work hard to get to the net on several occasions. Much of the night, Barratt was parked in front of the Badgers’ goaltender, screening him from shots or working hard battling for rebounds. Barratt’s positioning in front of the net is very good. He uses his strong lower half to fight off opponents, allowing him to see the puck coming on net and has good hand-eye coordination to make tips. He was knocked off balance from behind, like one should, a few times looking for pucks at his feet to pounce home for rebounds, but could not find the back of the net.

His playmaking ability did not result in any assists for Barratt but he did finish the game plus-two. Although not a great stat, Barratt’s linemates did generate offense and he was around the net or making plays throughout the neutral zone much of the night. His ability to make plays at top speed was impressive. On several occasions, Barratt found teammates with nice “area plays,” which resulted in offensive zone time for the Nittany Lions.

Defensively, Barratt uses an active stick to get into passing lanes and tip passes. He is strong in the corners and works hard to win puck battles. Through the neutral zone, he is active on his edges and forces opponents into his teammates, forcing pucks to be dump in deep, where Penn State wins a lot of battles. To say Barratt likes to get into the tough areas, in the offensive zone as well, would be an understatement. He played a hard-nosed game all night defensively and played the body any chance he could.

Barratt did struggle at the face-off circle, winning only three of the 11 draws he took, second most on the team. His lack of success could be a result of losing some 50-50 battles because of his linemates. A win here or there and he is closer to 50%. Also, Wisconsin brings a force of centers that are very good on draws. This is something that is not alarming, as Barratt may project a little better on the wing at the professional level.

On the season, Barratt has 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points in 32 games. The junior’s 11% shooting percentage is down from last season’s 18%, but as we see with Alex DeBrincat this season in Chicago, those numbers can definitely fluctuate from season to season. Barratt leads the team with four game-winning goals.

Barratt is the type of player you know you played against when the night is over, even if he does not end up on the scoresheet. Whether it was his net front presence, work in the neutral zone or along the boards in his own zone, Barratt was motoring at 100%. He may lack the overall skills to fit into a top-six forward role consistently in the NHL, but he may be the the third-line contributor that chips in offensively, plays a smart 200-foot game and let opponents know he is going to make them earn every inch of the ice when he is over the boards.

The post Prospect game report: Evan Barratt vs. Wisconsin appeared first on The Rink.

For a college hockey fan like myself, I only came across The Beanpot tournament in the last decade. The tournament is held annually in Boston between Northeastern University, Harvard, Boston University, and Boston College. It originally began in 1952 and has been held on the first two Mondays of February each year since at the famed Boston Garden (TD Garden), although the inaugural Beanpot tournament took place at the Boston Arena. It holds a special place among the rich tradition of hockey in the Boston area and forever holds collegiate bragging rights in the city for those who hoist the Beanpot Trophy.

The 68th Beanpot Tournament this year features three Blackhawks prospects with Jake Wise and Alex Vlasic of the Boston University Terriers and Ryan Shea, captain of the defending back-to-back Champion Northeastern Huskies. Last night, Northeastern topped Harvard and Boston University came back against Boston College setting up all three Blackhawks prospects in next Monday’s Final. Shea and the Huskies have an opportunity to win the Beanpot Tournament for a third time in-a-row, while Vlasic and Wise could help give the Terriers their first Beanpot Title since 2015.

Shea, Northeastern going for seventh Beanpot Title

In the opening game of the tournament, the 12th-ranked Northeastern Huskies topped 17th-ranked Harvard 3-1 to advance to next Monday’s Final against Boston University. The Huskies were led by Chicago Blackhawks 2015 fourth-round draft pick and captain Ryan Shea as he tallied a primary assist and an empty-net goal in the victory.

Zach Solow with a deflection goal.

Tyler Madden (VAN) hovers all over the offensive zone to find open ice. Great pass from Madden to Ryan Shea (CHI). Shea's shot gets deflected.#Blackhawks #Canucks pic.twitter.com/hGOzpoJ1BS

— Josh Tessler (@JoshTessler_) February 3, 2020

Shea’s two-point night gives him a point-per-game pace this season for the Huskies with 24 points in 24 games played. He has set NCAA career-highs in goals (4), assists (20) and points (24) this season with Northeastern.

Ryan Shea of Northeastern addressed the media following his team's Beanpot semifinal win over Harvard. pic.twitter.com/X7d2BhUUHz

— NESN (@NESN) February 4, 2020

Shea and the Huskies head to their third-straight Beanpot Final, looking to bring home their seventh tournament championship in program history. Northeastern has had the least success of the four schools involved in the tournament historically, but their recent success as of late can be attributed in part to Shea and former Husky and current Rockford IceHogs standout Dylan Sikura. Sikura was part of the Northeastern squad along with Shea that started the road to a three-peat back in 2017. While his long-term future is unclear with the Chicago Blackhawks, Shea’s immediate future lies with leading his Huskies squad to the Final against Boston University, looking to be the first three-peat winners since Boston College won five-straight from 2010 to 2014.

Vlasic, Wise and Boston advance past Boston College in overtime

In an even more thrilling contest Monday night, the Boston University Terriers upset the fourth-ranked Boston College Eagles 5-4 in double overtime to advance to the Beanpot Final and set up a rematch from the 2018 tournament final, won by Northeastern.

The Terriers were powered by multi-point efforts on the night from David Farrance (goal, two assists), Patrick Harper (goal, two assists), and Schaumburg, Illinois native Patrick Curry (goal, assist). Wise was held off the scoresheet and Vlasic tallied a secondary assist on the game’s overtime-winning goal from Wilmer Skoog.

Wilmer Skoog nets the winner to put BU into the Beanpot final. #BUvsBC #Beanpot (via @NESN) pic.twitter.com/yHFMSeKvO7

— Boston Hockey Blog (@BOShockeyblog) February 4, 2020

For the freshman Vlasic, he tallied his fourth assist on the season as he continues his transition to the college hockey level of competition. A second-round pick by the Blackhawks this past June and native of Wilmette, Illinois, Vlasic projects to be a player that the Blackhawks hope to be able to slot into their defensive rotation at the NHL level in the next two or three seasons. At six-foot-six and 200-pounds, Vlasic is an imposing physical presence on the ice and moves well for his size and age on the ice.

Wise hasn’t been the same player that the Blackhawks drafted in the third round of the 2018 NHL Draft. Injuries have derailed his progression since joining the Boston University program. In 25 games this season, Wise has just one goal and six assists. It appeared Wise was headed for a fast-track with the Blackhawks just two years ago, but his NHL projection has slowed and his return to health and return to form are what the organization need from him.

What’s Next?

The 68th Beanpot Tournament Final takes place on Monday, February 10 at the TD Garden in Boston. The consolation game takes place on the same day, with a 3:30 p.m. CST puck drop. The Final puck drop is set for 6:30 p.m. CST and can be found on the NHL Network. Boston University is searching for their tournament-best 31st title, while Northeastern looks for Beanpot Championship number seven.

The post Blackhawks at the Beanpot: Shea, Vlasic, and Wise reach Final appeared first on The Rink.

Kirby Dach
Dach has been a nice addition to Chicago this season, but the plan for Dach has been obvious. Jeremy Colliton and staff were to take it easy with him early on in the season and allow him to adjust to playing professional hockey against men, a big step up from his days in Saskatoon.

The 19-year-old forward has found the back of the net seven times in 45 games so far this season to go along with his seven assists, all this while averaging 13:36 of ice time. He has only played 16 minutes or more a night 10 times this season, eight of those coming since Dec. 29.

At 6-foot-4 and 197 pounds, the Alberta native has shown an ability to use his size to protect the puck and find his way to the net against smaller defenseman. This skill will only get better as he matures and develops his professional game.

Dach has also looked solid in his own zone. Many rookies struggle defensively with structure and positioning, but Dach has made a smooth transition in this area. Chicago fans should take this as a huge positive when it comes to the rookie, as he seems to “get it between the ears” when he is on the ice.

As he gains more ice time and trust from the coaching staff, Dach is here to stay in Chicago’s top-six forward group for years to come.

Kirby Dach (@kdach77) goes top shelf via the backhand.

Oh, and it's a birthday goal. pic.twitter.com/JwIqDXXzp1

— NHL (@NHL) January 22, 2020

Alex Vlasic
With only three points in 21 games on the backend for Boston University this season, many would assume the 18-year-old is struggling for the Terriers. This could not be further from the truth. College hockey is quite the adjustment for freshman defensemen and Vlasic has shown he has the skills to play against tough competition.

The Wilmette, Illinois, native uses his size and solid hockey IQ to his advantage when on the ice. His ability to adjust is an excellent sign for Chicago fans. Stan Bowman needed to add size in last year’s draft and Vlasic stands 6-foot-6-and 199 pounds. Vlasic’s 19 blocks on the season places him fourth on the Terriers this season.

Expect the freshman to finish strong this season while being trusted in all situations for the Terriers.

Alex Vlasic makes a clean block and an interception to allow the shorthanded Terriers to clear the zone. Good penalty-killing by the freshman. #BUvsMC (via @CBSAllAccess) pic.twitter.com/Q6detLotn0

— Boston Hockey Blog (@BOShockeyblog) January 18, 2020

Michal Teply
Chicago’s third pick in the fourth round, Teply showed well in camp and found his way to the Winnipeg Ice in the Western Hockey League. With 15 goals in 34 games, the forward can light the lamp while finding his teammates with 22 assists. As a point-per-game player, Teply needs to work on his defensive-zone talents.

The Czech Republic native showed well again offensively during the World Junior Championships this season. His five assists in five games is a testament to his skills. With that being said, his -5 rating in as many games shows his difficulty keeping the puck out of his own net, even if the stat is flawed.

Teply scores his second of the night 7 seconds into the power play!

ICE take a 4-2 lead!

Michal Teply
Peyton Krebs
Isaac Johnson pic.twitter.com/DIL35n4u6b

— Winnipeg ICE (@WHLWpgICE) January 26, 2020

Antti Saarela
The Finnish forward had a rough showing at the World Junior Championships this season with zero points in seven games. He also finished with a -5 rating during the tournament. But, as an 18-year-old in the tournament, Chicago fans should not be worried.

The winger has shown the ability to play against men in the Liiga back home in Finland. The left-handed shooting forward has 10 points in 26 games for fourth place on Ilves. His struggles at the World Juniors looks more like an anomoly than the norm.

Antti Saarela started scoring for Ilves. He was not the most productive player at the WJC but founds ways to score in Liiga. Also had an assist later in the period. pic.twitter.com/5bXDqChcjs

— yp (@jrabane) January 18, 2020

Dominic Basse
A surprise pick by Bowman in the sixth round, Basse found himself playing for the Youngstown Phantoms in the United States Hockey League. Despite sporting a 3.77 goals against-average and a .881 save percentage, Basse’s stats should not be taken too seriously for now, as the USHL can be a difficult place to play for young goaltenders.

At 6-foot-6 and 197 pounds, Basse uses his positioning and athleticism to his advantage. In several viewings this season, Basse has made some highlight-reel saves while giving up a few “soft” goals from time to time, which, again, is common for a young goaltender in the USHL.

Basse is committed to Colorado College and will have options on his plans for next season over the summer.

@dominic_basse with the saves tonight! Let’s go Phantoms! https://t.co/T47b9DGR7S

— x – Youngstown Phantoms (@YtownPhantoms) November 30, 2019

Cole Moberg
Moberg finished out Chicago’s draft when he was selected in the seventh round. The Prince George Cougars assistant captain has 22 points in 39 games. The North Vancouver native has six goals in his third season with the Cougars.

Moberg has shown he can put points on the board while playing a solid defensive game in his own zone. As a seventh-round pick, the expectations are always low, but Moberg could surprise the Chicago brass.

https://twitter.com/JDylanBurke/status/1192305404086116352

The post Catching up with Chicago’s 2019 NHL Entry Draft selections appeared first on The Rink.

The team, as a whole, dominated play through all three periods, with all five skaters active across the zones. Captain Ian Mitchell was a huge part of that success, registering two assists and a stunning shorthanded game-winner. Forward Hank Crone joined Mitchell in leading the scoreboard with two goals on the night, including the icebreaker and a powerplay goal in the third.

You can watch Mitchell’s highlight-reel goal here:

This is Ian Mitchell at his best. #PioneerTogether pic.twitter.com/4ARdBCEA4q

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) January 11, 2020

Scoring went back and forth through the first two periods before Mitchell went coast-to-coast on the shorthanded game-winner. That opened the third period to an offensive onslaught from the Pioneers, who scored twice more to solidify a decisive victory over the Huskies. Hank Crone and Kohen Olischefski opened the Pioneer scoring in the first; Ryan Barrow tallied the sole Pioneers goal of the second; and Mitchell, Crone, and Liam Finlay closed it out in the third. St. Cloud’s goals came courtesy of Jack Poehling, Easton Brodzinski, and Chase Brand.

The Pioneers let their special teams shine in the second and third, going 2-for-3 on the powerplay and 1-for-3 on the penalty kill.

The entire game was characterized by the Pioneer’s excellent puck possession in the offensive zone, helped by the fact that the entire team was skating with speed. They unleashed a season-high 48 shots on goal, though the majority of the goals were scored by excellent puck movement in front of the net and by taking advantage of rebounds.

Mitchell summed the game up perfectly when asked about the team’s offensive explosion: “When we play like that we’re going to be a tough team to beat.” 

It was the sort of game that the Pioneers needed. Mitchell admitted in the postgame that the team had dug themselves a bit of a hole in the first half in the standings. The team is now on a six-game win streak after sweeping St. Cloud, and they now sit at 15-4-3, 5-3-2-1. 

The post Ian Mitchell Leads DU to 6-3 win over St. Cloud appeared first on The Rink.

One of the Pioneers goals tonight came in the second period from forward Jake Durflinger.  The junior from Walnut Creek California plays on the checking line for the Pioneers and knows a thing or two about bringing energy.  He is often mixing it up with opponents and fighting for the pucks in the “dirty areas.”  Saturday night was no different.

The-Rink caught up with Durflinger after the Pioneers 6-1 win.

On his second period goal against Western Michigan

“We were at the end of our shift and our defenseman made a good play turning the puck up playing fast.  Jack made a smart play getting it deep and Wardo did a good job getting to the net like we talked about all night on this goalie.  I was in the right spot at the right time.”  

Pucks in Deep: 101 #PioneerTogether pic.twitter.com/TiRyc2B3Zk

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) November 24, 2019

What has David Carle said to the team recently about staying positive?

“It’s just about staying calm.  We’re a confident group even though the last five games struggling to find a win.  We stayed confident in the room and stuck to our process.  We had to get back to it a bit, we strayed away from it for a few games and that’s why games didn’t result in a win.  But tonight we were able to get back to our process which ended up with a good win.”

What has been your advice to younger players on the team?

“Every night is going to be a good team, it doesn’t matter who it is in the NCHC.  It’s the best conference in college hockey so we have to be ready every night and instill in our younger guys that if we stick to the process we’re going to win hockey games.”

On the return of Devin Cooley

“It’s awesome.  He’s a big part of our team.  He’s proven with a lot of success last year and he’s worked really hard all summer to come back from injury.  It was awesome to get that win for him.”

On what makes this year’s Pioneers team special

“We’ve had good teams in my first two years here but we want to go further.  We think… we know we have a special group but we have to accomplish it.  That was a good first NCHC win, but now we need to get on a roll.”

The post Durflinger adds much needed energy to Pioneers’ 6-1 win vs Western Michigan appeared first on The Rink.

The Blackhawks are finally coming out of their transition phase where the investments they have made from a couple of poor seasons are finally beginning to pay dividends. Premier prospects such as Nicolas Beaudin, Adam Boqvist and Ian Mitchell are just a few players who have been in the system that are on the fringe of professional hockey careers. Beaudin and Boqvist will be traveling between Rockford and Chicago as they begin their careers with the Hawks, while Mitchell will be playing his junior year with the Denver Pioneers. Mitchell could join the Blackhawks once his season is done in college.

With that being said, let’s start catching up on this year’s Blackhawks NCAA prospects.

Evan Barratt will play at Penn State this season. (Photograph courtesy of the NHL)

Evan Barratt, Forward — Penn State University (32 games played, 16 goals, 27 assists)

Barratt was one of the top-performing Blackhawks college prospects last season when he broke out for 43 points. Centering Liam Folks and Alex Limoges, the trio combined for 57 goals and 78 assists and all finished in the top 20 in scoring among NCAA skaters. This season, that same line will look to continue to pick up where they left off last season. Barratt not only brings a plethora of scoring ability, but he also plays with an edge. His versatility adds depth to a high-flying Penn State group that is ready to build on their success as a program.

Unfortunately for Blackhawks fans, Barratt did not participate in on-ice drills at prospect camp over the summer because he was recovering from a hip surgery, but he is planning to be ready for Penn State’s series against Sacred Heart.

Barratt got a taste of success in last year’s World Junior Championship and in the 2018 Frozen Four tournament. It would be great to see Penn State get to the Frozen Four this year in Detroit. Barratt has already shown he can put the points up; it would be great to see he and Penn State shine on the big stage.

Evan Barratt is 100 percent, Gadowsky said. Said there's been a visible difference in his skating.

— David Eckert (@davideckert98) October 1, 2019

Josh Ess will be a key part of Wisconsin’s blue line in 2019–20. (Photograph courtesy of the University of Wisconsin)

Josh Ess, Defenseman — University of Wisconsin (37 games played, five goals, eight assists)

The Wisconsin Badgers have had a couple of down years, but they are looking to change that trend this season. With the addition of top prospects Cole Caufield and Alex Turcotte, Wisconsin could have the offensive firepower to push them to the top of the Big Ten conference. In the preseason rankings, USCHO.com has the Badgers ranked 16th in the country behind Notre Dame, Ohio State and Penn State.

Entering his junior year, Josh Ess will play a big role on the Badgers’ blue line as an upperclassmen with experience in Tony Granato’s system. The Big Ten is not an easy conference to come out of, especially when you are playing heavy teams like Notre Dame and Ohio State, and, not to mention, speedy teams like Penn State can hurt you in other ways.

Ess was not exactly a standout at prospect camp, but that is also really not his game. He did make some good, hard tape-to-tape passes out of his end and his positioning looked a bit more polished than some of the younger guys. He is more of a team guy that is doing a great job if he can eat minutes responsibly and keep the puck out of the net. Look for Ess to have success in those departments this year.

Wisconsin’s Josh Ess#Blackhawks #OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/CYFxO5Gaev

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) July 15, 2019

Parker Foo will return to Union College for 2019–20. (Photograph courtesy of The Athletic)

Parker Foo, Forward — Union College (35 games played, five goals, 10 assists)

Union had a fantastic season, finishing 20–13–6, but was defeated by the Cornell Big Red in the ECAC conference tournament quarterfinals. The Dutchmen will be returning three of their five players who had double-digit goals last season and look to build on their success from 2018–19.

Foo has a lot of speed and quickness to the puck and hopefully he will get more quality minutes at Union entering his junior year. The Blackhawks’ fifth-round pick of 2017 adds some depth to the prospect pool, but he needs to develop a bit more in college. The ECAC should provide some tough competition and hopefully Foo gets some power play time to show he can produce at a high level.

Ian Mitchell will captain the Pioneers in 2019–20. (Photograph courtesy of Denver University)

Ian Mitchell, Defenseman — Denver University (39 games played, six goals, 21 assists)

Of all the NCAA prospects in the Blackhawks system, Mitchell is probably the most developed at this point. After two seasons with Denver, Mitchell has embraced the “Pioneer Way” and become the team’s new captain. This should not come as a surprise given Mitchell’s work ethic. Over the summer, many Blackhawks fans were hoping that he would leave college and sign a pro deal, but Mitchell decided to not rush his development. Once upon a time, Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews told the team the same thing and he worked out to be pretty good.

The Pioneers are coming off their third Frozen Four appearance in four years and this year should not have any different expectations. Denver will start the season as one of the nation’s top teams in one of the hardest divisions in college hockey, the NCHC.

Mitchell brought a lot of raw skill his first couple seasons, but it is pretty clear he wants to take his game to the next level. At prospect camp, Mitchell told Adam Burish in an interview that he is setting the bar high for himself this season. He first wants to win a NCAA championship, but he is also wanting to show he is one of the best players in college hockey with a nomination for the Hobey Baker Award. Do not be shocked if you see Mitchell in a Blackhawks uniform later this season.

Ian Mitchell has been named captain for the 2019-20 season. Tyson McLellan and Michael Davies will serve as alternates https://t.co/uISAMwrO2r | #PioneerTogether pic.twitter.com/sZ59tvq0SR

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) May 17, 2019

Ryan Shea will return to Northeastern to captain the Huskies in 2019–20. (Photograph courtesy of hockeyjournal.com)

Ryan Shea, Defenseman — Northeastern University (39 games played, three goals, 13 assists)

Through his first three years in college hockey, Ryan Shea has probably been the most stable defenseman for the Northeastern Huskies. He is not the flashiest player on the ice, but he gets his job done. With a career-high plus-minus rating of plus-23 last season, Shea has proven he can play in all situations and can make the right play when called upon. Those are both reasons why Shea’s teammates voted him team captain for the 2019–20 season. Northeastern is set to be a threat again in the Hockey East Conference, but competition will be elevated, as Boston College and Boston University have retooled after down seasons.

We’ve had some great leaders at Northeastern over the years, and we expect to add more names to the list.

Your 2019-20 #HowlinHuskies captains:

C: Ryan Shea
A: Matt Filipe
A: John Picking
A: Zach Solow pic.twitter.com/cTpwUrCWs3

— Northeastern Men’s Hockey (@GoNUmhockey) April 18, 2019

Josiah Slavin heads to Colorado College after spending three seasons in the USHL. (Photograph courtesy of Colorado College)

Josiah Slavin, Forward — Colorado College (USHL:  59 games played, 24 goals, 23 assists)

One of the most exciting college prospects this year is 2018 seventh-round selection Josiah Slavin.  At 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, Slavin skates pretty well and has a natural touch for playmaking. We saw him score a hat trick for Team Red at prospect camp this summer, where he stood out among his peers.

Slavin will begin his NCAA career in Colorado Springs playing for the Colorado College Tigers. As one of the younger teams in the NCHC, the Tigers are on the rise with several talented freshmen coming in. Head coach Mike Haviland will most likely love using Slavin for big minutes, including power play time. College hockey analyst Brad Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald has the Tigers ranked 17th in the country, noting they could be a surprise team out of the NCHC this year.

Michal Teply sends a 100-foot feed to Josiah Slavin for the regulation game winner with 6.9 seconds left on the clock. #Blackhawks prospects wrapping with a shootout now just for fun. pic.twitter.com/1LbkSL9vxX

— Carter Baum (@CarterBaum) July 19, 2019

Alex Vlasic will join Boston University for 2019–20. (Photograph courtesy of the NHL)

Alex Vlasic, Defenseman — Boston University (27 games played, two goals, 13 assists)

For the first time in a few years, the Blackhawks finally selected a defenseman with some size when they took Vlasic 43rd overall in the 2019 draft. The Wilmette, Illinois, native spent his junior career with the U.S. National Team Development Program playing alongside Cole Caufield, Jack Hughes, Alex Turcotte, Trevor Zegras and other top US-born prospects.

Vlasic brings a lot to the table besides his size. He has great reach and seems to love jumping into the play despite being a bigger defenseman. Boston University has developed some pretty good defensemen over the years and hopefully they can turn things around after a couple bad seasons.

Alex Vlasic has been showing off his speed with his size (6'6) at #Blackhawks development camp: https://t.co/38QWcVMcsK pic.twitter.com/yUksZ0CPlf

— Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) July 19, 2019

Photo courtesy of goterriers.com

Jake Wise, Forward — Boston University (12 games played, zero goals, two assists)

Although injuries kept Wise out most of the season last year, he is still seen as one of the Blackhawks’ top prospects. But, with Kirby Dach and Evan Barratt now rising to the top of the system, Wise has some ground to make up. The Terriers lost a few players to the NHL, so hopefully Wise is given some opportunities to shine somewhere in the top nine.

The last young playmaking center the Blackhawks developed was North Dakota’s Nick Schmaltz, who did not end up working out in Chicago. Schmaltz had great patience with the puck and featured excellent vision. Schmaltz did produce more than 50 points in his second season, but he struggled mightily in the face off circle. If Wise, who is similar in size, wants a shot at an NHL roster, he will have to show he can play a two-way game, as the top-six center slots will likely be filled by Jonathan Toews and Dylan Strome for the foreseeable future.

Boston’s Jake Wise #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/5Zv8dC7Mp0

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) July 15, 2019

The post Get to know your 2019–20 Blackhawks NCAA prospects appeared first on The Rink.

The-Rink.com host “Gatekeeper” is joined by staff members Mario Tirabassi, Aaron Goldschmidt, Eric Andrews, Juliana Nikac and Ron Luce to talk in-depth about Blackhawks prospects.

• The Blackhawks sit at 2-1-1 with two preseason and an exhibition game remaining.
• Roster is not finalized but is starting to shape up.
• We take a long look at the six prospect tiers and why the writers rated players the way they have.
• Don’t miss the hot takes.
• We wrap with Rinkrat PuckBag segment.

Please subscribe, rate this episode, and even write us a review. Reviews will be read on the air.

Also, Please help spread the word to more #RinkRats and visit our sponsor www.PUCKHCKY.com. Use the discount code “THERINK” for 10% off all orders.

The Rinkcast is brought to you by the Overtime Podcast Network

The post Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 3, Episode 1 – Prospect tier wrap special appeared first on The Rink.

Parts of the series

Introduction

Tiers one and two

Tier three

Tier four

Tier five

Tier six

Complete tier listings with our panel’s original average tier ratings (* represents a unanimous rating from the panel)

Tier one

Adam Boqvist (1*)
Kirby Dach (1*)

Tier two

Ian Mitchell (1.833)
Nicolas Beaudin (2.333)

Tier three

Alex Vlasic (2.833)
Alex Nylander (3)
Dominik Kubalik (3.167)
Philipp Kurashev (3.167)
Chad Krys (3.333)
Jake Wise (3.5)
Alexis Gravel (4)

Tier four

Evan Barratt (3.5)
MacKenzie Entwistle (3.667)
Aleksi Saarela (3.833)
Josiah Slavin (3.833)
Dennis Gilbert (4)
Matthew Highmore (4)
Kevin Lankinen (4)
Niklas Nordgren (4)
John Quenneville (4*)
Michal Teply (4)
Lucas Carlsson (4.167)
Tim Soderlund (4.167)
Alexandre Fortin (4.333)

Tier five

Brandon Hagel (4.333)
Antti Saarela (4.333)
Dominic Basse (4.5)
Artur Kayumov (4.5)
Josh Ess (4.667)
Jakub Galvas (4.833)
Mikael Hakkarainen (4.833)
Reese Johnson (4.833)
Cole Moberg (4.833)
Andrei Altybarmakyan (5.167)
Ivan Nalimov (5.167)
Joni Tuulola (5.167)

Tier six

Mathias From (5.333)
Roope Laavainen (5.333)
Ryan Shea (5.333)
Parker Foo (5.5)
Jake Ryczek (5.5)
Nathan Noel (5.667)
Graham Knott (5.833)

Note: Our panel discovered at a later date Jack Ramsey had been omitted from the series and agreed Ramsey falls into tier six.

The post RECAP: The-Rink’s Blackhawks prospect pyramid: Blood, sweat and tiers appeared first on The Rink.

Our series concludes today with tiers two and one, defined as a prospect seen as a top six forward, No. 2 or 3 defenseman or starting goaltender or a prospect seen as a first line forward, top pairing defenseman or elite goaltender, respectively.

As explained in the introduction piece, each eligible prospect in the system was rated by our staff panel before ultimately being debated to agree on a tier. Each prospect’s original rating average is listed in parentheses after their name, along with a brief synopsis of why they fell in the tier they did.

Players are listed in order of original rating average, with any ties being sorted alphabetically by last name.

Tier one
Adam Boqvist (1)
Boqvist rocketed to the top of the Blackhawks’ top prospects list by being drafted eighth overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The talented Swedish defenseman entered the organization as arguably the best draftee to come to Chicago since the Blackhawks selected Patrick Kane in 2007. Boqvist also became the best defensive prospect to join the organization in over 15 years. With Chicago stockpiling defensemen through the draft in the last few years, Boqvist headlines the group, as his offensive flair makes him instantly stand out on the ice. Despite questions surrounding his defensive ability and long term health, the dynamic 6-foot, 181 pound blue line phenom has progressed nicely since being selected last summer. Boqvist posted 20 goals and 40 assists in 54 regular season games with the London Knights before exploding for 10 goals in 11 postseason contests. Boqvist is expected to make the jump to the professional game this season, though that may be primarily with the Rockford IceHogs instead of the Blackhawks. Either way, Chicago fans could very well get a look at Boqvist at some point in 2019–20 if injuries require a replacement on the back end. Whether Boqvist’s chance for prime playing time comes at some point this season or beginning in 2020–21, he should become a prominent staple of the Blackhawks’ blue line for the foreseeable future.

Adam Boqvist skates at the 2018 Traverse City Rookie Tournament. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Kirby Dach (1)
Another welcome addition to Chicago’s organization, Dach instantly became the best forward prospect the Blackhawks have added in the draft since selecting Kane. Not only does Dach boast impressive offensive skill, but his size—measuring in at 6-foot-4 and 198 pounds at just 18 years of age—is also something the Chicago forward prospect pool has sorely lacked in recent years. While some considered Dach to be a bit of a surprise pick at the time, he has done nothing but impress since then with strong showings at the Blackhawks’ prospect camp, the Team Canada World Juniors Summer Showcase and the recent Traverse City Rookie Tournament. Though Dach could get a nine game look with Chicago at the beginning of the season, his status for the rest of the season remains to be seen. While it could be argued the best place for his development might be Rockford, the CHL’s transfer agreement does not allow that, meaning Dach will either have to spend the entire season with the Blackhawks or return to the Saskatoon Blades. Sustaining a concussion in the final game of the Traverse City tournament may put Dach a couple steps back since he has yet to participate in any of the Blackhawks’ training camp sessions. Regardless, it is evident that Dach will play a huge role for the organization in the future, as his total package offers a combination of skill, size, desire and leadership Chicago has not seen in quite some time. Both Dach and Boqvist joined John Quenneville as the only three players our panel voted unanimously on.

Kirby Dach skates at the 2019 Traverse City Rookie Tournament. (Photograph courtesy of Dave Reginek / NHLI via Getty Images)

Tier two
Ian Mitchell (1.833)
Mitchell was a bit of an unknown in the hockey world when Chicago selected him in the second round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft out of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. However, in the time since, Mitchell has done nothing short of show the Blackhawks got a steal, impressing in his first two seasons at the University of Denver. Though the 5-foot-11, 174 pound blue liner is viewed as an offensive defenseman, his defensive game has also developed nicely since being drafted, with some viewing him as more of a two way defenseman with high offensive upside as opposed to merely an offensively minded blue liner. In 80 total games with the Pioneers, Mitchell has racked up 57 points and a plus minus rating of 35. The St. Albert, Alberta, native will return to Denver to captain the Pioneers in 2019–20, but is expected to sign his entry level contract with the Blackhawks and forgo his senior season. Whether Mitchell makes his NHL debut late this season or in 2020–21, he has made it known he wants to make the jump straight to the NHL without any time in Rockford. Regardless of when he debuts, Mitchell should develop into a valuable part of Chicago’s back end for the foreseeable future.

Ian Mitchell will captain the University of Denver in the 2019–20 season. (Photograph courtesy of University of Denver Athletics)

Nicolas Beaudin (2.333)
Beaudin was a bit of a surprising pick to many when Chicago picked him 27th overall in 2018 after choosing Boqvist at No. 8. Then viewed as another offensively minded defenseman, Beaudin has transformed his game into being a legitimate two way option capable of chipping in offensively as well as being reliable in his own end. His efforts to focus on improving defensively showed last season. After combining for a plus minus rating of 8 over his first two full seasons with Drummondville, Beaudin exploded for a rating of 60 in 2018–19 while still posting over a point per game offensively. Initially appearing to be just another offensive defenseman in Chicago’s system, Beaudin has quickly justified his draft position by establishing himself as the top two way blue line prospect in the Blackhawks’ system. Being left handed helps Beaudin’s chances to play big minutes down the road, as both Boqvist and Mitchell play the right side. The Chateauguay, Quebec, native enters the first year of his entry level contract this season and will likely spend it learning the pro game in Rockford on what is expected to be a stacked IceHogs blue line. While Beaudin, who measures in exactly the same as Mitchell in both height and weight, will probably need at least this season to be prepared for full time NHL action, he should be another valuable piece in Chicago for the foreseeable future, as his two way game should help balance out Boqvist and Mitchell’s offensive styles of play. One panelist summed up Beaudin well by saying, “Entering the draft, Beaudin was a clear cut offensive minded blue liner, but after joining an organization with players such as Ian Mitchell, Adam Boqvist and (at the time) Henri Jokiharju, there was doubt that Beaudin could be shipped. He now looks like the defenseman that every team needs but no one talks about: A quiet (in a positive way) player who makes the smart play before the flashy play.”

Nicolas Beaudin skates at the 2019 Traverse City Rookie Tournament. (Photograph courtesy of Dave Reginek / NHLI via Getty Images)

The-Rink thanks you for tuning in for our Blackhawks prospect pyramid: Blood, sweat and tiers.

The post The-Rink’s Blackhawks prospect pyramid: Blood, sweat and tiers, part five appeared first on The Rink.

Our series continues today with tier three, defined as a prospect seen as a middle six forward, second pairing defenseman or backup goalie.

As explained in the introduction piece, each eligible prospect in the system was rated by our staff panel before ultimately being debated to agree on a tier. Each prospect’s original rating average is listed in parentheses after their name, along with a brief synopsis of why they fell in the tier they did.

Players are listed in order of original rating average, with any ties being sorted alphabetically by last name.

Alex Vlasic (2.833)

The cousin of San Jose’s Marc-Edouard Vlasic, the Wilmette, Illinois, native was selected by his hometown team in the second round this June. Vlasic boasts a massive frame for someone his age being listed at 6-foot-6 and 198 pounds. Vlasic has shown an ability to use his size to his advantage, especially in terms of breaking up plays with his reach and blocking shots. As part of the high powered US National Team Development Program over the past two years, Vlasic was relied on more so as a defensive defenseman. However, the big blue liner does have the ability to chip in from the back end thanks to his good vision and slap shot. Vlasic will head to Boston University to join the Terriers, where he will likely spend at least a couple of years before turning pro. Vlasic, who some considered to be a bit of a steal at the draft, could slot into Chicago’s top four in the future if he can develop into a bonafide shutdown defenseman. While he has a bigger frame than former Blackhawk Niklas Hjalmarsson, Vlasic could be the long awaited replacement for the three-time Stanley Cup champion.

The Blackhawks selected Wilmette, Illinois, native Alex Vlasic in the second round in 2019. Vlasic will play at Boston University in 2019–20. (Photograph courtesy of Hickling Images)

Alex Nylander (3)

Nylander, who is the brother of William Nylander of Toronto and son of former Blackhawk Michael Nylander, was acquired by Chicago earlier this summer from Buffalo in exchange for 2017 first round pick Henri Jokiharju. Alex was the eighth overall selection in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and has spent the majority of his time since then playing for the Rochester Americans in the AHL. The Calgary-born Swede possesses an undeniable amount of offensive skill and flair, but has been surrounded with questions about his intensity and desire. Nylander joins a growing list of recent reclamation projects for Stan Bowman, who hopes the Nylander experiment will turn out more like Dylan Strome than David Rundblad. Nylander’s style is clearly suited for a top six role, but, if he is unable to put his game together, could end up being more like Dylan Sikura has been recently in not quite being able to handle the top six load but also not fitting in as a bottom six player. Though the Blackhawks have a wealth of young talent on the back end, Nylander will need to prove his services were worth jettisoning Jokiharju, who seems primed for a lengthy career as a top four NHL defenseman.

Chicago acquired Alex Nylander from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Henri Jokiharju this summer. (Photograph courtesy of the NHL)

Dominik Kubalik (3.167)

Kubalik joins Chicago’s organization for 2019–20 after being acquired in January from Los Angeles in exchange for a fifth round pick. Originally a 2013 seventh round pick of the Kings, Kubalik tore up the Swiss National League in 2018–19, leading the league with 57 points in 50 games. The Czech Republic native will look to translate his production to North America, where he has not played since 2013–14 in the Ontario Hockey League. Kubalik has been a mainstay on Czech teams at international tournaments, including representing his country in the 2018 Winter Olympics. The 6-foot-2, 179-pound winger also enjoyed a breakout showing at the 2019 World Championships, scoring six goals and adding six assists in 10 games. Kubalik, who is on a one year contract with the Blackhawks, is expected to be in Chicago’s lineup this season. While he could become a standout player if he is able to produce as he did in Switzerland, Kubalik will likely be more along the lines of this year’s Dominik Kahun if he pans out, being someone who can play up and down the lineup and contribute offensively in a supporting role.

Dominik Kubalik will make his North American professional debut in 2019–20 after dominating the Swiss National League in 2018–19. (Photograph courtesy of Getty Images)

Philipp Kurashev (3.167)

Kurashev has been a pleasant surprise thus far in his development, quickly rising up the ranks in Chicago’s system. The Blackhawks drafted Kurashev in the fourth round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and the Switzerland native has since done nothing but impress regardless of the level of play. In 59 games for the Quebec Remparts, he scored 29 goals and added 36 helpers for career best marks in both goals and points in his junior career. Kurashev particularly stood out on the international stage, with the World Junior Championships highlighting his showings for his country. A regular for Swiss national teams, Kurashev lit it up to lead the tournament with six goals in seven games and finished with seven points. Following his junior season coming to a close, Kurashev made the jump to Rockford, where he played three games for the IceHogs. Kurashev is expected to return to Rockford’s lineup for 2019–20, where he will likely be among the team’s go-to offensive weapons. Though Kurashev has not yet proven himself professionally, his development is trending in the right direction and it appears he could have a successful middle six role in the NHL down the road.

Philipp Kurashev will play in his first full professional season in 2019–20 after finishing last season with the Rockford IceHogs. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Chad Krys (3.333)

Like a couple of other players already covered in the series, Krys may be a player who would best be suited by moving to another organization. The offensive defenseman was once at the top of Chicago’s blue line prospects, but has since dropped down the list with the drafting of other high end defensemen who excel offensively. Drafted in the second round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Krys spent three seasons playing at Boston University to continue his development. In his time as a Terrier, the Connecticut native posted 58 points in 105 games, including 20 points in 30 games last season as an alternate captain. Upon finishing his collegiate season, Krys signed with the Blackhawks and joined the Rockford IceHogs, playing nine games while tallying four assists. The 5-foot-11, 185 pound defender boasts strong skating and passing abilities, but would likely need to be paired with a reliable partner at the NHL level to cover for his defensive deficiencies. The majority of our panel believes Krys will become an everyday NHL player, but, as mentioned previously, his path would likely be easier in another organization. Krys will return to Rockford for the 2019–20 season on a stacked IceHogs blue line.

Chad Krys joined the IceHogs late in the 2018–19 season after spending three years at Boston University. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Jake Wise (3.5)

Wise is among the Blackhawks’ most intriguing forward prospects both because of his skill but also because of a seeming mystique around him. The Naples, Florida, native has missed time with injuries in each of his last two seasons—2017–18 with the US National Team Development Program and 2018–19 at Boston University—which has prevented him from showing what he is capable of when at full health. Once considered a potential first round pick option in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Chicago scooped up Wise in the third round. Wise is hard to miss on the ice for that reason: He is good at making defenders miss. He uses his speed and high end stickhandling to elude defenders in tight spaces. Additionally, Wise is responsible defensively, which will help his cause as he moves up the ranks. While our panel was a bit mixed on Wise, his talent is undeniable, and, if he can stay healthy and progress in his development, could turn into a draft day steal in a middle six type of role in the future. The 5-foot-10 centerman will return to the Terriers for 2019–20.

Jake Wise will return to Boston University for 2019–20 looking to put together a full season after playing just 12 games last year. (Photograph courtesy of Boston University Athletics)

Alexis Gravel (4)

Gravel’s initial vote rating indicates a spot in the fourth tier, but upon reconsidering our tiers in terms of goaltenders, our panel decided Gravel was better suited for tier three, as the group believes Gravel will be in NHL blue paint in the future. Once considered a top goaltending prospect for the 2018 draft class, the Blackhawks snagged the German native in the sixth round after a somewhat disappointing 2017–18 season with the Halifax Mooseheads. However, Gravel has done nothing but impress since being drafted, putting together a breakout 2018–19 campaign with Halifax, posting a goals against average of 2.49 and save percentage of .913, both of which were career best marks. Gravel then upped his game in the postseason, recording a .917 save percentage in 23 games, guiding his squad to second place finishes in both the QMJHL’s President’s Cup and the Memorial Cup. Boasting massive size in the goal at 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds, Gravel is still quick and tracks pucks well in addition to being technically sound. Though still relatively early in his progression, Gravel looks as though he could be among the better goaltenders the Blackhawks have drafted and developed in the 21st century. The right handed netminder will return to the Mooseheads in 2019–20.

Alexis Gravel will return to the Halifax Mooseheads for the 2019–20 season. (Photograph courtesy of Vincent Ethier/CHL Images)

Stay tuned as The-Rink progresses up the ladder in its Blackhawks prospect pyramid: Blood, sweat and tiers.

The post The-Rink’s Blackhawks prospect pyramid: Blood, sweat and tiers, part four appeared first on The Rink.

After initially going down 1–0, the team of future Blackhawks stormed back in the first period to take a 4–1 lead. Detroit fought back in the second period and tied the game. Eventually, Blackhawks 2018 first round draft pick Adam Boqvist scored from a tight angle, just 43 seconds into the overtime period, to give the visitors the win.

Chicago looked a little rusty to begin the game and Ryan Kuffner took full advantage on the power play at the 3:10 mark of the first period, beating Chicago goaltender Alexis Gravel. That was when the Blackhawks came storming back with goals by Mikael Hakkarainen, 2019 first round draft pick Kirby Dach, MacKenzie Entwistle and Jack Ramsey.

Beautiful feed from Riley McKay to his Saskatoon teammate Kirby Dach to put the #Blackhawks up after allowing an early goal shorthanded.

Catch it live here https://t.co/3XwSy9Jn5c pic.twitter.com/JOV50RFnio

— Carter Baum (@CarterBaum) September 6, 2019

Detroit took advantage of five Blackhawks penalties in the second period and scored power play goals by Jarid Lukosevicius and Joe Veleno. Velano also scored an unassisted goal after picking the pocket of Brandon Hagel in the Blackhawks’ zone.

Following a scoreless third period, the game went to overtime. Boqvist took advantage of goalie Kaden Fulcher, as he left just enough space to beat Fulcher under the crossbar and win the game. The goal was assisted by Dach and Hagel. Hagel was a huge bright spot for the Blackhawks, wearing the “A” on his sweater and assisting on two additional goals earlier in the game. After one game, the former Red Deer Rebel leads the tournament in points scored.

Gravel saved 27 of 31 shots for the win, also making two highlight reel saves in the third period to keep the game tied.

The Blackhawks will face the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday at 2 p.m. Central and the St. Louis Blues on Monday at 4:30 p.m. Central. The tournament wraps up Tuesday with the championship and other placement games.

Look back at last night’s 5-4 OT win for the #HawksProspects over Detroit and preview this afternoon’s meeting against Toronto pic.twitter.com/HTt04SzmK9

— Carter Baum (@CarterBaum) September 7, 2019

The post Blackhawks open rookie tournament with 5–4 overtime win appeared first on The Rink.

Our series continues today with tier four, defined as a prospect seen as a bottom-six or extra forward, third-pairing or extra defenseman or fringe goalie.

As explained in the introduction piece, each eligible prospect in the system was rated by our staff panel before ultimately being debated to agree on a tier. Each prospect’s original rating average is listed in parentheses after their name, along with a brief synopsis of why they fell in the tier they did.

Players are listed in order of original rating average, with any ties being sorted alphabetically by last name.

Evan Barratt (3.5)

The 2017 third-round pick was one of the players our panel had the hardest time coming to a consensus on. Some felt Barratt is capable of converting his offensive firepower at the collegiate level to the professional ranks for a middle-six role, while some felt he will be nothing more than a serviceable depth piece in the NHL. Either way, Barratt brings a combination of skill and sandpaper the Blackhawks could use in their lineup down the road. The Bristol, Pennsylvania, native will return to Penn State in 2019–20, where he ignited for 43 points in 32 games last season.

Evan Barratt will return to Penn State for the 2019–20 season. (Photograph courtesy of Penn State Athletics)

MacKenzie Entwistle (3.667)

Since being acquired in the infamous trade that saw Marian Hossa’s contract dealt to Arizona, Entwistle has established himself as one of the Blackhawks’ most solidified prospects in terms of their future role. The 2017 third-round pick of the Coyotes has embraced the idea of being a bottom-six player at the NHL level and has adjusted his game to suit that role. After winning back-to-back OHL championships on the Hamilton Bulldogs and Guelph Storm and enjoying a breakout showing at the World Junior Championships, Entwistle will turn pro in 2019–20 to join what will likely be a youthful Rockford IceHogs lineup.

Guelph Storm forward MacKenzie Entwistle (left) battles for a puck at the Memorial Cup. (Photograph courtesy of Vincent Ethier / CHL Images)

Aleksi Saarela (3.833)

Saarela joins the Blackhawk organization this season after spending the last two in Carolina’s system. Originally a 2015 third-round pick of the New York Rangers, Saarela was part of the trade that saw Eric Staal leave the Hurricanes at the 2016 trade deadline. Since then, Saarela has spent the majority of his time playing for the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL, where he and his team won the Calder Cup last season. Saarela’s big shot helped him score 30 goals in 2018–19, but he likely will not reach a level like that in the NHL. If Saarela wants to have a lengthy NHL career, it will likely need to be in a depth role. Saarela will be given a chance to crack Chicago’s opening night lineup, but is more likely to start the season in Rockford to adjust to the Blackhawks’ system.

Aleksi Saarela joins the Blackhawks organization for 2019–20 after winning the Calder Cup with the Charlotte Checkers. (Photograph courtesy of Patrick Gorski / Icon Sportswire

Josiah Slavin (3.833)

Slavin was another polarizing player among our panel members. With votes as high as tier two, he clearly is a player who has quickly grabbed the attention of some panelists despite being a seventh-round pick in 2018. Slavin’s rise in the USHL over the last two seasons and showings at the Blackhawks’ development camps have led some to feel he has the tools needed to be a legitimate contributor at the NHL level, playing a simple, but effective, pro-style game. Slavin, who is the younger brother of Carolina’s Jaccob Slavin, possesses a strong work ethic and displays leadership on and off the ice, which have helped his development thus far. The Erie, Colorado, native will head to play at Colorado College, where he will likely spend at least two years before turning pro. While he still has some developing to do, Slavin could very well turn out to be a diamond in the rough and have a successful NHL career, whether as a middle-six player or a depth option.

Josiah Slavin heads to Colorado College after splitting the 2018–19 season between Lincoln and Chicago in the USHL. (Photograph courtesy of Brad Repplinger)

Dennis Gilbert (4)

Gilbert is a perfect representation of a few players who our panel feels can be a solid NHL player, just likely not in a Blackhawk sweater. The Notre Dame product provides the physicality Chicago’s blue line pipeline lacks, but very well might not have a clear path to NHL ice time with all of the other young defensemen in the system who have higher upsides. Drafted in the third round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Gilbert turned pro in 2018–19 after three seasons with the Fighting Irish. The Buffalo, New York, native played in 63 games for Rockford, where he racked up 14 points, to go along with one game for the Blackhawks. Our panel was in full agreement Gilbert has the tools to be a reliable and rugged stay-at-home defenseman in the NHL, but most felt that would be elsewhere.

Dennis Gilbert tallied 14 points for the Rockford IceHogs in 2018–19. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Matthew Highmore (4)

Highmore is a bit of an interesting player in the group because of his circumstances. Most of our panel feels he has the tools needed to be an everyday bottom-six center in the NHL. However, injuries have hampered Highmore thus far in his career, washing out the majority of his 2018–19 season. The undrafted free agent signing played in 13 games for the Blackhawks in 2017–18, but managed just 12 games in 2018–19, all with Rockford. Despite his injury issues, Highmore has proven to be an effective scorer at the AHL level, posting 52 points in 76 games over two seasons with the IceHogs. Hopes are 2019–20 can be a fresh start for Highmore, but he will need to earn a spot in Chicago, as there is a slew of other players who could very well beat him out for depth roster spots.

Matthew Highmore enters 2019–20 looking to rebound from his injury-shortened 2018–19 campaign. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Kevin Lankinen (4)

The undrafted free agent signing came over to play in North America for the first time in 2018–19, splitting time with Indy in the ECHL and Rockford in the AHL. While he posted decent numbers with the IceHogs (2.50 goals against average and a .910 save percentage in 19 games), Lankinen took the world by storm for his native Finland in the World Championships, backstopping the Finns to the gold medal with sparkling numbers of a 1.50 goals against average and a .942 save percentage. His efforts quickly caught the attention of many in the Blackhawks’ fanbase, but he needs to show that ability on a consistent basis for an extended period of time for our panel to place him in a higher tier. Lankinen is expected to return to Rockford for 2019–20, where he will get a chance to show if he is truly the lights-out goaltender he was at the World Championships or if his heroics were just a flash in the pan.

The 2019–20 season will give Kevin Lankinen an opportunity to show if his heroic performance at the 2019 World Championships was his true self or just a flash in the pan. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Niklas Nordgren (4)

The 2018 third-round pick of the Blackhawks is an intriguing prospect because of his ability to score. However, his size is a bit of a question mark, as is his skating, which will definitely need to be improved if he wants to translate his production to the game’s highest level. Unlike the majority of prospects in the system, Nordgren has been limited in his participation in prospect camp over the past two summers, as he was injured early in the 2018 camp before being an off-ice participant in 2019. Nordgren has split time between HIFK’s main Liiga men’s team and the organization’s U20 team over the last two seasons. The Helsinki native tallied 26 points in 28 games between the two teams in 2018–19 and will return to HIFK for 2019–20. Nordgren’s development will be worth keeping an eye on, as he could become a scoring threat in the NHL if he pans out.

Niklas Nordgren combined for 26 points in 28 games in the HIFK organization in 2018–19. (Photograph courtesy of AOP)

John Quenneville (4)

The cousin of longtime Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville, John was one of three prospects to receive an identical rating from each member of our panel. Acquired earlier this summer in exchange for John Hayden, Quenneville will enter camp looking to earn a full-time job in the NHL for the first time. The 2014 first-round pick of New Jersey played in 33 games for the Devils in his time with the organization, spending the majority of that time playing for the Albany Devils in the AHL. After racking up 39 points in 37 AHL games last season, Quenneville appears ready to take the next step, but might have a hard time grabbing a roster spot in Chicago. Regardless, Quenneville should be able to be a decent depth piece at the NHL level in the future.

John Quenneville joins the Blackhawks organization after being acquired from New Jersey this summer. (Photograph courtesy of Ed Mulholland / USA TODAY Sports

Michal Teply (4)

Teply will be another intriguing prospect to keep an eye on as his career progresses. Selected in the fourth round this June by the Blackhawks, the noted playmaker will come to North America to join the Winnipeg Ice for 2019–20 after being chosen fourth overall by the Ice in the CHL Import Draft. The Czech Republic product posted 21 points in various Czech leagues in 2018–19 before racking up six points in four playoff games for the Bili Tygri Liberec U19 team. Teply has been a mainstay on the Czech Republic’s international teams growing up, representing his country in various tournaments in each of the past three seasons. The big-bodied winger will need to work on his skating and adjust to the North American game, but, if he can do those things, seems like he can be a depth contributor in the NHL.

Michal Teply will head to North America for 2019–20 to play for the Winnipeg Ice. (Photograph courtesy of the IIHF)

Lucas Carlsson (4.167)

The 2016 fourth-rounder made the transition to North America in 2018–19, playing 69 games with Rockford and tallying 33 points, after a lengthy career in the Brynas organization in Sweden. While generally known to be an offensive defenseman, Carlsson is capable of holding his own in his own end. Of course, being part of an impressive blue line pipeline in the Chicago system, Carlsson might have a hard time cracking the Blackhawks’ lineup in the future. Multiple members of our panel believe he has the tools needed to be a regular depth defenseman in the NHL, but would likely only be able to realize that potential in a different organization. As one panelist noted, Carlsson feels a bit like Ville Pokka in the sense he might be too good for the AHL but never be able to make it in the NHL given the situation he is in. The Swede is expected to return to a stacked blue line in Rockford in 2019–20.

Lucas Carlsson posted 33 points for Rockford in 2018–19. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Tim Soderlund (4.167)

Soderlund’s skill set lends itself to a bottom-six role, which is likely what he would need to be in order to have an NHL career. While Soderlund has looked good at both ends in his time playing in Sweden’s SHL over the last three seasons, he has not stood out much at Chicago’s prospect camps since being selected in the fourth round in 2017, though that is not an end-all, be-all setting. Soderlund will join Rockford for 2019–20, where he will get his first taste of the North American game. Sometimes compared to fellow Swede Viktor Arvidsson, Blackhawks fans should be cautiously optimistic about Soderlund’s future. If he can translate his game to North America, he should have a chance to establish himself as a reliable depth player capable of chipping in offensively from time to time.

After spending his whole career in Sweden, Tim Soderlund will come to North America for the 2019–20 season. (Photograph courtesy of Ola Westerberg / Bildbyrån)

Alexandre Fortin (4.333)

Once the “golden boy” of the Blackhawks’ prospect camps, Fortin has a well-known story that has led him to the professional ranks. Unfortunately for Fortin, it sometimes seems like he just is not getting the opportunity he needs to establish himself at the NHL level. After struggling with injuries in his first professional season in 2017–18, the undrafted free agent signing split time between Chicago and Rockford in 2018–19, posting consistent numbers at both levels. Fortin tallied three goals and three assists in 24 games for the Blackhawks and doubled his totals in 47 games with the IceHogs. Fortin has speed to burn, but the rest of his game will need to catch up to his feet in order to put it all together. Though there is still time for Fortin to earn himself a regular NHL job, he might be passed over for other options as time progresses. Fortin is another player who may be better off starting fresh in another organization to get the most out of his career moving forward.

Alexandre Fortin will look to grab a full-time roster spot in Chicago in 2019–20. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Stay tuned as The-Rink progresses up the ladder in its Blackhawks prospect pyramid: Blood, sweat and tiers.

The post The-Rink’s Blackhawks prospect pyramid: Blood, sweat and tiers, part three appeared first on The Rink.

Our series continues today with tier five, defined as a prospect seen as a fringe forward, fringe defenseman or AHL goalie with a chance to play in the NHL.

As explained in the introduction piece, each eligible prospect in the system was rated by our staff panel before ultimately being debated to agree on a tier. Each prospect’s original rating average is listed in parentheses after their name, along with a brief synopsis of why they fell in the tier they did.

Players are listed in order of original rating average, with any ties being sorted alphabetically by last name.

Brandon Hagel (4.333)
The majority of our panel agreed Hagel would be a fringe NHL player who has the capabilities needed to contribute in a depth role, but one member felt Hagel’s upside could be as high as a middle-six role. The most valuable player of the Blackhawks’ development camp scrimmage possesses a variety of skills in his game, but will need to fine tune them to get to the next level. Hagel will likely spend the 2019–20 season with the Rockford IceHogs after a breakout 2018–19 campaign with the Red Deer Rebels.

Brandon Hagel played in eight games for the Rockford IceHogs at the end of the 2018–19 season after scoring 102 points with Red Deer in the Western Hockey League. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Antti Saarela (4.333)
The 2019 fourth-round pick will be a project, but showed flashes of his ability in development camp. The younger brother of fellow Blackhawk prospect Aleksi Saarela possesses a good shot, but will need to improve his skating to be effective in the NHL. Saarela will stay in Finland for the 2019–20 season, where he will join Ilves after spending his entire career thus far with Lukko.

Antti Saarela will join Ilves for the 2019–20 season after spending all of his career with Lukko in Finland. (Photograph courtesy of Lansi Suomi)

Dominic Basse (4.5)
Basse adds impressive size to the Blackhawks’ prospect pool in the blue paint, measuring 6-foot-6 at just 18 years of age. Basse dominated in 2018–19 for the Selects Hockey Academy 18U team, compiling a 1.91 goals against average and .924 save percentage in 42 games played. The Colorado College commit has not yet announced his plans on where he will play in 2019–20, but perhaps the most likely scenario would see him join the Youngstown Phantoms in the USHL, as the Phantoms hold his USHL rights. Basse will be an interesting project to keep an eye on in the future.

Dominic Basse provides the Blackhawks’ system with size at the goaltender position. (Photograph courtesy of Colorado College)

Artur Kayumov (4.5)
Kayumov is among the most polarizing prospects in the Blackhawks’ system. A skilled and passionate left winger, Kayumov has yet to break out in his time playing in the KHL in his native Russia, tallying just 13 points in 46 games for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in 2018–19. Despite this, his skill set would likely allow him to be a contributor in the NHL, though this looks less and less likely with each passing season for the 2016 second-round pick. Kayumov will return to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl for 2019–20.

Artur Kayumov will stay in Russia for yet another season in 2019–20. (Photograph courtesy of the Chicago Blackhawks)

Josh Ess (4.667)
Ess has made strides since being selected in the seventh round in 2017. In his time since being drafted, Ess has established himself as a steady presence on Wisconsin’s blue line. The Minnesota native moves the puck well, but needs to keep working on his overall game to have a chance at playing in the NHL. Even if Ess can take the next step in his development with a big year for what is expected to be a potent Badger lineup in 2019–20, he would need to jump over a slew of other young defensemen in the system to don the Indian head down the road.

Josh Ess posted career-high totals of five goals, eight assists and 13 points as a sophomore at Wisconsin in 2018–19. (Photograph courtesy of the University of Wisconsin)

Jakub Galvas (4.833)
Galvas is known as a puck-moving defenseman, something the Blackhawks have plenty of in their system. Despite having others ahead of him on the organizational depth chart, Galvas could break through for NHL playing time if he rounds out his game. The 2017 fifth-rounder has become a mainstay on international tournament teams for his native Czech Republic, including a pair of appearances in the World Junior Championships. A longtime member of the HC Olomouc organization, Galvas will head to Finland to play for Jukurit for the next step of his development.

Jakub Galvas will leave the Czech Republic to play in Finland for the 2019–20 season. (Photograph courtesy of Miroslav Chaloupka / CTK Photo)

Mikael Hakkarainen (4.833)
Hakkarainen dominated the USHL last season, tallying 19 goals and 28 assists in 42 games with the Muskegon Lumberjacks after leaving Providence College following just one game at the beginning of the season. With little left to prove at the junior level, the 2018 fifth-rounder will turn pro to likely join the Rockford IceHogs for the 2019–20 season. At times, the Finn looks like he has a promising future in a depth role, but he will need to transfer his scoring ability at the junior level to the pro ranks—or adjust his style of play—in order to earn a regular NHL spot.

Mikael Hakkarainen will join the Rockford IceHogs for the 2019–20 season. (Photograph courtesy of Justin Berl / Getty Images)

Reese Johnson (4.833)
After spending the majority of the 2018–19 season as the captain for the Red Deer Rebels, Johnson finished the year in Rockford. Johnson improved his offensive numbers in his final year playing juniors, nearing a point-per-game pace with 27 goals and 26 assists in 67 games. The undrafted free agent signing then posted four assists in his six games with the IceHogs. Though Johnson finally started showing his offensive ability last season, he will likely be relied on as a more defensive forward should he make it to the NHL. Johnson will return to Rockford for the 2019–20 campaign.

Reese Johnson joined the Rockford IceHogs late in the 2018–19 season after playing for Red Deer of the Western Hockey League. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Cole Moberg (4.833)
The 2019 seventh-round pick broke out in a big way for a bad Prince George Cougars team in 2018–19, blowing away his previous career-high marks with 13 goals, 27 assists and 40 points. Our panel was relatively split on the 6-foot-3 defender, as some felt he could become a regular bottom-pairing option in the NHL down the road, while some feel it is too early in his development to project a ceiling of that nature. Moberg will return to the Cougars for 2019–20, where he will be relied upon as a leader on and off the ice for Prince George.

2019 seventh-round pick Cole Moberg was among the few bright spots for the Prince George Cougars in 2018–19. (Photograph courtesy of the Prince George Cougars)

Andrei Altybarmakyan (5.167)
Another wildcard within the Blackhawks’ system, Altybarmakyan boasts an impressive offensive skill set. However, the 2017 third-rounder has yet to put it together in the KHL, posting just six points in 38 games last season with HK Sochi. Of course, the Russian factor is also in effect here, as Altybarmakyan may very well never play in North America. Even if Altybarmakyan does play in North America, he would likely need to prove he can be somewhat reliable defensively to earn a chance at regular NHL ice time.

Andrei Altybarmakyan will stay in Russia for the 2019–20 season. (Photograph courtesy of the KHL)

Ivan Nalimov (5.167)
Another Russian with dwindling likelihood of playing in North America, Nalimov has been the ultimate hit-or-miss goaltender in the KHL. At times looking like a legitimate NHL goaltender while resembling a headcase piece of Swiss cheese at others, the 2014 sixth-round pick will enter his sixth KHL season in 2019–20 with his sixth team. While Nalimov has expressed an interest to come play in North America in the past, the Blackhawks have not reciprocated the desire. It appears likely at this point Nalimov will not have a future in the NHL unless his rights are dealt and another team gives him a chance.

Among the more intriguing prospects in the Blackhawks’ system, Ivan Nalimov will join his sixth team in the KHL for the 2019–20 season. (Photograph courtesy of Kunlun Redstar)

Joni Tuulola (5.167)
Tuulola played his first full season of North American hockey for the IceHogs in 2018–19, posting four goals and 10 assists in 52 games. The 2015 sixth-round selection has generally been a defense-first blueliner, but has shown an ability to chip in offensively as well. However, with as many offensive defensemen as the Blackhawks have in their system already, Tuulola will need to focus on being rock-solid in his own end if he wants a chance to play in the NHL. Tuulola will return to Rockford’s defensive core for the 2019–20 season.

Joni Tuulola will return to Rockford for 2019–20 after posting four goals and 10 assists for the IceHogs in 2018–19. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Stay tuned as The-Rink progresses up the ladder in its Blackhawks prospect pyramid: Blood, sweat and tiers.

The post The-Rink’s Blackhawks prospect pyramid: Blood, sweat and tiers, part two appeared first on The Rink.

Our series kicks off today with tier six, defined as a prospect seen as an organizational depth player or goalie with little to no chance to play in the NHL.

As explained in the introduction piece, each eligible prospect in the system was rated by our staff panel before ultimately being debated to agree on a tier. Each prospect’s original rating average is listed in parentheses after their name, along with a brief synopsis of why they fell in the tier they did.

Players are listed in order of original rating average, with any ties being sorted alphabetically by last name.

Mathias From (5.333)
To some, From feels like he could be a fourth-liner in the NHL. Others believe he will never even set foot on professional North American ice. From has shown skill in the Blackhawks’ development camps he has attended, but not enough to put himself in a higher tier. A fifth-round pick in 2016, From tallied 16 points in 45 games last season with AIK in Sweden. The Denmark native will join Blackhawks 2014 fourth-round pick Fredrik Olofsson on MODO for the 2019–20 season.

Mathias From scored 16 points in 45 games for AIK last season. (Photograph courtesy of Sportbibeln)

Roope Laavainen (5.333)
Laavainen is an intriguing piece within the prospect pool because the organization seems to think he can be a player moving forward. While one member of our panel felt similarly, thinking Laavainen could be a bottom-pairing NHL defenseman in the future, the majority did not see anything to justify a spot on a higher tier. The 2017 fourth-rounder will return to play with HPK in Finland this season.

Roope Laavainen will return to play for HPK in Finland this season. (Photograph courtesy of Jukka Rautio/Kuva Europhoto)

Ryan Shea (5.333)
The 2015 fourth-rounder has been a steady presence for Northeastern University in his three seasons with the Huskies, the first two of which he played with Dylan Sikura. Shea will return to Northeastern for his senior season, where he will captain the Huskies. Should the Blackhawks choose to sign Shea in the future, he would likely have to jump a number of other young defensemen in the system for a shot at playing in the NHL.

Ryan Shea will captain Northeastern University this season. (Photograph courtesy of Northeastern University)

Parker Foo (5.5)
The Blackhawks are likely hoping Foo can follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Spencer, in becoming a good-looking prospect who had success at the collegiate level, but until further notice, the 2017 fifth-rounder might have nothing more than a future in the minor leagues. Foo will return to Union College this fall for his junior season after posting 15 points in 35 games as a sophomore with the Dutchmen.

Parker Foo will return to Union College for his junior season with the Dutchmen. (Photograph courtesy of Robert Morris University)

Jake Ryczek (5.5)
Ryczek will turn pro this season after spending two years playing for the Halifax Mooseheads in the QMJHL. While he could still develop into a serviceable player, 2019 first-round pick Kirby Dach did nothing to help Ryczek’s cause at this year’s development camp, making the 2016 seventh-rounder look more like a pylon than a future NHL defenseman. Ryczek would also have to jump over a glut of other young defensemen to get his shot at the NHL level, which seems unlikely.

Jake Ryczek will turn pro this season after spending two years with the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL. (Photograph courtesy of Katie Whitty)

Nathan Noel (5.667)
A fourth-round pick in 2016, Noel has struggled to put up numbers since turning pro in 2017, scoring just seven goals and adding 11 assists in 84 games split between the Rockford IceHogs and Indy Fuel. At this point, Noel, who struggled to stay healthy last season, will likely be nothing more than a depth player in the minors.

Nathan Noel will enter his third professional season with the Blackhawks’ organization this fall. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Graham Knott (5.833)
Needless to say, Knott looks to be among the biggest disappointments in the Blackhawks’ prospect pool since Kyle Beach. Originally a second-round pick in 2015, Knott has scored just eight goals in 126 professional games over two seasons with the Rockford IceHogs. Short of a miraculous turnaround, it would be safe to write off any chance of Knott making it to the NHL moving forward.

Graham Knott posted four goals and nine assists last season with the Rockford IceHogs. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Stay tuned as The-Rink progresses up the ladder in its prospect pyramid: Blood, sweat and tiers.

The post The-Rink’s Blackhawks prospect pyramid: Blood, sweat and tiers, part one appeared first on The Rink.

After another season of hockey, the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and July’s development camp for the Blackhawks, The-Rink has assessed where each prospect in the system stands in terms of their ability to make an impact moving forward.

Many outlets piece together a prospect rankings list to show who may be next in line for NHL stardom. However, The-Rink believes a mere rankings list proves inadequate of truly judging a prospect’s ability to make a mark at the game’s highest level. As such, The-Rink has developed a system of placing prospects into tiers based on their potential.

To be clear, this project has been a group effort. Six of The-Rink’s staff members most in tune with prospects—Eric Andrews, Aaron Goldschmidt, Ron Luce, Ray Napientek, Juliana Nikac and Mario Tirabassi—poured many hours of thought, discussion and compromise into the development of the tiers.

The process began with determining which players would be eligible. After some debate, The-Rink settled on skaters 24 and under with 40 or less NHL games played and goaltenders with 10 or less NHL games played.

From there, tiers needed to be established to place the eligible prospects in. Again, after some debate, The-Rink decided on six different tiers, ranging from high-end NHL players to minor league depth players. The complete list of tiers is as follows:

Tier one = First-line forward, top-pairing defenseman, elite goalie

Tier two = Top-six forward, No. 2 or 3 defenseman, starting goalie

Tier three = Middle-six forward, second-pairing defenseman, backup goalie

Tier four = Bottom-six forward, third-pairing defenseman, fringe goalie

Tier five = Fringe forward, fringe defenseman, AHL goalie with a chance to play in the NHL

Tier six = Organizational depth player or goalie with little to no chance to play in the NHL

The six staff members involved in the project then placed the prospects into the tiers they felt were most appropriate. Of course, each staffer’s ratings varied, resulting in the necessity to debate where players belonged. In fact, just three players received an identical rating from each of the six staffers involved—those players will be denoted when their tier is released. The final tiers reflect the agreed-upon consensus following a debate about each player.

In the coming weeks, The-Rink will be unveiling its prospect tiers along with a brief synopsis of each player and why they fell into the tier they did, starting with tier six and building up to tier one.

Stay tuned to see how each prospect fared in The-Rink’s prospect pyramid: Blood, sweat and tiers.

The post Introducing The-Rink’s prospect pyramid: Blood, sweat and tiers appeared first on The Rink.

The-Rink’s Blackhawks writer and Rockford expert, Mario Tirabassi, was out to catch all the action and report on the latest happenings in camp. Please check out all the pieces from this week, including special daily one-on-one features with MacKenzie Entwistle, Chad Krys and Josiah Slavin.

Please take some time to enjoy our in-depth coverage:

Day 1 (with one-on-one featuring Chad Krys)
Kirby Dach settling into new city and organization
Day 2 (with one-on-one featuring Josiah Slavin)
Blackhawks trade Artem Anisimov to Ottawa for Zack Smith
Alex Vlasic not planning to rush his development
Stan Bowman, Jeremy Colliton address Blackhawks camp on day three
Nicolas Beaudin becoming well-rounded ahead of pro debut season
Day 4 (with one-on-one featuring MacKenzie Entwistle)
Blackhawks development camp wraps up with futures game

Please enjoy this highlight reel set up by Blackhawks defenseman Adam Boqvist, captured by The-Rink’s Aaron Goldschmidt:

.@BoqvistAdam #Blackhawks @BarDown @GoLondonKnights pic.twitter.com/lJffmwpDU2

— Aaron Goldschmidt (@lateinthegoldie) July 19, 2019

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

The post Full wrap-up of the 2019 Chicago Blackhawks development camp (links) appeared first on The Rink.

Each year, it seems that more NHL prospects are choosing college hockey as their route to the pros.  It is not just because the level of competition has increased, but it gives players the opportunity to thrive as student athletes and to be around kids their age in an educational environment. This year, Blackhawks prospect Josiah Slavin will be heading to Colorado Springs, Colorado, for his freshman year playing for the Colorado College Tigers. Led by former Blackhawks assistant coach Mike Haviland, the Tigers play in one of the toughest conferences in college hockey, as the NCHC has been home to the last four NCAA national champions.

Slavin has some history with Colorado College. His big brother, Jaccob, attended CC from 2013–2014 and now plays for the Carolina Hurricanes. Although he will not be playing with his brother, Josiah will not be going to college alone. He will be joined by fellow Chicago Steel alum Casey Staum. Staum is a 2016 Montreal Canadiens fifth round draft pick and played in the USHL for three seasons.

Last season after Slavin was drafted, he made a strong impression with the Blackhawks staff at development camp. His size and skill, although somewhat raw, complemented his compete level nicely. He won pucks in the corners and created chances for his teammates a lot of the times out of nothing. Slavin also looked very strong on the puck. It is not often that late-round draft picks are talked about, but he did get Joel Quenneville’s attention on the first day.

As Slavin enters his first year in the NCHC, he could really thrive under Haviland. The Tigers play a simple, downhill game that is so persistent that you can never count them out until that third buzzer. Haviland preaches that a simple game with hard work will reward you with success. The Tigers won a lot of games despite several injuries to key players last season, and as they continue bringing in their recruits under Haviland, they will continue to round out their depth. Slavin will play a big role in their improvement.

Four times a year, Slavin will run into a familiar face in Ian Mitchell, a junior at the University of Denver who is now captain of the Pioneers. Slavin and Mitchell will have participated in two development camps after this July and will now be a part of a bitter rivalry in the Battle for the Gold Pan between CC and DU. The games tend to be competitive and very hard-hitting no matter where the teams are in the standings.

Something to watch for next season is how much opportunity Haviland gives his young guys. After losing seniors Mason Berg, Trey Bradley and Westin Michaud, the Tigers lost a lot of production and top-six players. CC will be leaning on a couple sophomores in Ben Copeland and Grant Cruikshank and to step up and help senior Nick Halloran put points on the board. Slavin could be a big help on the powerplay if he can get to dirty areas and use his size to his advantage. If he can stay healthy and implement his leadership skills in a very team-first system, Slavin could be an immediate-impact type player for the Tigers.

The post Blackhawks’ Josiah Slavin set to debut with Colorado College this fall appeared first on The Rink.

In an announcement from the Denver Pioneers website today, Blackhawks prospect Ian Mitchell has decided to return to college to play his junior year. It was thought by many that Mitchell would turn pro after his sophomore year, but he believes Denver is the best place for him right now to develop. The Pioneers have reached the NCAA tournament in both of Mitchell’s seasons with Denver and made it to the Frozen Four this season. Here is what Mitchell had to say about his decision:

“In the past few days since our season ended, I have had the chance to reflect on the year and the season our team had,” Mitchell said. “It became clear to me during that time that I did not feel ready mentally or physically to leave Denver. I believe this is the best place for me to become a better hockey player and as a team we have an opportunity to do something very special next year. I would like to thank the Chicago Blackhawks organization for being so supportive and respectful of my decision to remain in school and continue my development. I am looking forward to next season.”

Ian Mitchell is BACK! #PioneerTogether https://t.co/ItMXuGMNe7

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) April 17, 2019

There were probably a lot of factors that went into Mitchell’s decision, including the number of young Blackhawks defenseman that will be fighting for ice time in Rockford for the IceHogs. Former Pioneer Blake Hillman is there now along with Notre Dame’s Dennis Gilbert and others. It is also possible that first round picks Adam Boqvist and Nicholas Beaudin could join as well. The AHL is a physical league that may not be the best right now for Mitchell’s development being a smaller player. Although the case is made often that playing more games prepares young players for the NHL, getting quality minutes in a storied NCAA program is good for development as well.

For folks that are worried that Mitchell could become the next Jimmy Vesey, do not be alarmed. Mitchell is a top prospect who loves the Blackhawks organization and their plans for his development. General Manager Stan Bowman is most likely understanding of where his players are in terms of development, but he and the fans have to be patient with the process. There are several Blackhawks defenseman in the system who could help at the pro level soon, but it is rare that players in their young twenties make a difference.

The Denver Pioneers will compete again next year for the NCAA Championship and Mitchell will be a big part of that campaign. He will be a captain again and will have more young players looking to him for guidance. It will be a big season in the NCHC that hosts some of the best teams in college hockey and it is possible that Mitchell will be one of the conference’s best players.

The post Blackhawks’ Ian Mitchell decides to return to Denver for junior season appeared first on The Rink.

Blackhawks fans can’t help looking toward the future.  As much as it would be nice to make the playoffs, most of us know what a playoff roster looks like and it’s debatable whether the Hawks have that right now or not.  But as we’ve been saying all season, help should be on the way.  There are a handful of Blackhawks prospects that are participating in their conference tournaments right now for a chance to earn a NCAA tournament berth.

Last year was a unique Frozen Four with three Big Ten teams in Michigan, Notre Dame, and Ohio State.  But this year there are a lot of good teams heading into the tournament that aren’t just from the Big Ten.  With traditional powerhouses like North Dakota and Boston University having down seasons, there may be some new faces this year in Buffalo.

Let’s take a look at where the Blackhawks prospects are.

Photo courtesy of PennLive.com

Evan Barratt – Penn State University

Barratt has had an outstanding sophomore season with the high flying Nittany Lions of Penn State.  He more that doubled his point total from his freshman year scoring 16 goals and 27 assists this season.  Penn State won their first two series of the Big Ten Tournament by defeating Wisconsin in the first round and shocking #1 seed Ohio State.  Penn State will face Notre Dame in the conference final this Saturday.  Should Penn State lose, they will be on the cusp of the Frozen Four Tournament bubble team as they’re current #16 in the pairwise rankings.

Photo courtesy of cornellsun.com

Beau Starrett – Cornell University

The ECAC was a very competitive conference this season and Cornell finished tied for first with Quinnipiac.  Beau Starrett chipped in seven goals and six assists in the regular season, and now can help the Big Red reach the conference finals if they can defeat Brown University this Saturday in the semifinals.  The Big Red ended Union’s season last week, the team Blackhawks prospect Parker Foo plays forward for.  If Cornell advances to the championship, they will play the winner of the Harvard vs Clarkson game this Friday.

Photo courtesy of goterriers.com

Chad Krys – Boston University

What a wild ride it’s been for the Boston University Terriers this season.  After going 16-17-4, the BU has found some life at the end of the year.  Winners of four of their last six games, Boston went into UMass-Lowell and won their first round matchup of the Hockey East Tournament.  Chad Krys scored four points in the series and has proven to be one of BU’s leaders on the ice and in the locker room.  The Terriers will play Northeastern University for the chance to play for the final against either UMass or Boston College.  This is probably the best chance BU has at getting into the NCAA Tournament.

Photo courtesy of 929theticket.com

Ryan Shea – Northeastern University

#3 seed Northeastern has had a great year in Hockey East tying for second in the conference with 36 points.  Their offense did well, but their defense and goaltending gave up a conference low 73 goals all season.  A quiet reason why is Blackhawks prospect Ryan Shea who finished the regular season with 15 points and was a +21.  As the #8 team in the nation, it looks like Northeastern will dance in the NCAA tournament even if they don’t win Hockey East.

Photo courtesy of dobberprospects.com

Ian Mitchell – Denver University

After eliminating the University of North Dakota last weekend, Denver enters the Frozen Face-off in St. Paul with a chance to defend their title from last year.  Ian Mitchell has been a big leader for the Pioneers this season, a young team that has shown they are capable of beating any team in the NCHC.  With 23 points on the season, Mitchell’s game has grown to a new level being more aggressive and owning more responsibility on the ice.  Despite only being a sophomore, Mitchell will be showing a lot of younger players how to manage playoff hockey in one of the hardest conferences in the NCAA.

The post Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Prospects Update: Post-Season Edition appeared first on The Rink.

IceHogs Getting Healthy

As the IceHogs prepare to go into their final 17 games of the season, 16 of them will be against Central Division foes. With just four points separating fourth-place from eighth-place in the Central, every point and every player counts. Rockford faced the same kind of pressure last season, moving from sixth-place into fourth-place and sealing a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs in the second-half of the season. A big part of that late-season surge was forward Matthew Highmore.

Highmore has been out of action since mid-November with a shoulder injury and surgery, but has returned to the ice in the last few weeks. IceHogs head coach Derek King mentioned earlier this month that Highmore was progressing on schedule and if all goes to plan, should be available to return to the lineup by the end of March. Highmore had seven points through eight games to begin the season. Last year he ranked second in scoring with 43 points and set the IceHogs AHL franchise rookie goal-scoring record with  24 goals last season.

Matthew Highmore of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

Another IceHogs staple from the 2017-18 season that is set to return to health this weekend is forward Tyler Sikura. While his production has not been on the same level it was during the 2017-18 season, Sikura still provides a bit of veteran experience and a net-front presence that the IceHogs could use. This season, Sikura has 14 points in 33 games, but has missed the last two months with an upper-body injury. Rockford head coach Derek King will have Sikura back in the lineup as the IceHogs travel to Manitoba for back-to-back weekend games against the Moose.

Tyler Sikura of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Todd Reicher)

The returns of both Sikura and Highmore should provide the IceHogs with some offensive pop. Rockford ranks at the bottom of the league in goals-scoring, but has seen a recent increase with the production of Henri Jokiharju, Peter Holland and Jordan Schroeder coming through in the last handful of games.

The good thing about the AHL season this time of year is that not only will teams be able to rely on their own players to try to pull them through the final stretch of the season, they also can field a number of fresh faces as the NCAA and Junior Hockey seasons come to a close in the middle/back-end of March.

College Boys Making The Jump

While the IceHogs are benefiting from players returning to health from their own roster, it doesn’t rule out players ready to make the jump from the NCAA ranks to the Pro game. Players in recent years like Anthony Louis and Luc Snuggerud have made the transition after their final year of College Hockey and have made impacts right away. For more on NCAA players who could make the jump this Spring, I turn it over to The-Rink NCAA Lead Writer, Aaron Goldschmidt.

Fredrik Olofsson (Omaha-Nebraska: 32 GP, 10 G, 21 A)

Of all the players that could be ready for professional hockey this spring, Fredrik Olofsson probably fits the bill the most. After four years of college hockey at Omaha in the NCHC, one of the NCAA’s toughest conferences, the Blackhawks 2014 4th round selection has evolved his game in several different ways.

Blackhawks forward prospect Fredrik Olofsson of the University of Nebraska-Omaha. (Courtesy: Omaha Athletics)

After scoring 27 goals in the USHL with the Chicago Steel in 2015, Olofsson made his way to college hockey and would eventually change his position from wing to center. He’s always been a play-making forward, but he’s really rounded out his game during his time at Omaha. Having his best season of his college career, Olofsson has 31 points in 30 games (10G, 21A) this season. He’s been a big threat on Omaha’s powerplay and has also shown improvement in his puck control and physicality. Olofsson has always seen the ice well and had great patience with the puck which makes him a great candidate to sign pro after this season.

Ryan Shea (Northeastern: 33 GP, 3 G, 10 A, +17)

Ryan Shea, the Blackhawks 2015 4th round pick, is having a solid junior season with the Northeastern Huskies. Following his sophomore year where he racked up 17 points playing with top forwards Dylan Sikura, Adam Gaudette, and Nolan Stevens, it was unsure whether Shea would have the same offensive output with those players signing pro but Shea has remained consistent. With three goals and nine assists in 31 games this season, Shea is on pace to to as good as he was last year, including having a plus/minus over +15.

Blackhawks defensive prospect Ryan Shea of Northeastern Univeristy. (Courtesy: Northeastern Athletics)

Reporting on the Blackhawks prospects last year, I spoke with a Huskies blog often about Dylan Sikura who was the talk of the NCAA at the time. The writer for that blog would always ask me to keep my eye on Ryan Shea, especially at Blackhawks prospect camp. Although I believe Shea will return for his senior season, he could have a chance to contribute one day for the Blackhawks who have few “defensive-defenseman” in their system.

Beau Starrett (Cornell: 29 GP, 6 G, 5 A)

Beau Starrett is a player that the Blackhawks really could use, but he’s yet to light it up in college. Playing in his 4th year at Cornell, Starrett has never scored more than 14 points in a season despite looking relatively good in prospect camps. He has a large frame and can skate pretty well for a big man, but there isn’t one thing he does particularly well.

Blackhawks forward prospect Beau Starrett of Cornell University. (Courtesy: Thomas Labarbera)

A comparison may be someone like Graham Knott, although Knott was thought to have a much higher ceiling. The Blackhawks may give Starrett a shot at a pro deal since he was a third round pick, but it’s difficult to tell how effective he could be right away.

Liam Coughlin (Vermont: 29 GP, 6 G, 11 A)

Liam Coughlin could be a wildcard for the Blackhawks. The 2014 5th round pick has shown glimpses of serious talent, but he’s a streaky scorer. There is a lot of compete to Coughlin although it doesn’t show in his numbers. Many forwards have issues adjusting to pro hockey since many junior or college guys play top six situations for their teams, then have to step into 3rd or 4th line roles in the pros.

Blackhawks forward prospect Liam Coughlin of the University of Vermont. (Courtesy: Vermont Athletics)

I think this may be an advantage for Coughlin, taking some pressure off and letting him have some fun grinding. Coughlin can skate and also isn’t small at 6’3 200 lbs. I’d roll the dice on him to add some depth at the forward position.

Jack Ramsey (Minnesota: 35 GP, 3 G, 1 A)

Jack Ramsey is a senior at Minnesota and could give the Blackhawks something to think about at the end of this season. He won’t wow you with his points, but this is a heart-and-soul type player. Ramsey brings leadership, effort, and grit to the table, something the Hawks will never have enough of. Ramsey reminds me a lot of Andrew Desjardins. He won’t go nuts on the score-sheet, but he’s a smart hockey player that puts you in good position to score.

Blackhawks forward prospect Jack Ramsey of the University of Minnesota. (Courtesy: Minnesota Athletics)

There aren’t enough chip and chase players in the Hawks system who are willing to win pucks in corners and battle below the goal line. Ramsey can be a nice add especially in Colliton’s system.

Chad Krys (Boston: 25 GP, 7 G, 9 A, -8)

The Blackhawks 2016 2nd round pick Chad Krys has had a down year for his standards in his junior season at Boston University. He’s missed some time due to injury and hasn’t returned to his pace from last season where he scored 27 points in 36 games. Krys does a great job leading the breakout for BU and has the offensive ability to take over a game. He can be lethal on the powerplay and often finds scoring lanes from the left point. Although it will be a gamble for him, I think Krys returns to BU for his senior season.

Blackhawks defensive prospect Chad Krys of Boston University. (Courtesy: Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)

There is no rush for him to get to the pros and he will get more opportunities next season to get his stock back up. People often talk about Adam Boqvist, Ian Mitchell, and Nicolas Beaudin, but Krys should be in that same conversation. His skill set rivals his fellow prospects and maybe one more season to mature his game could be what’s needed.

Juniors On Their Way Up?

It could end up being a packed house for the IceHogs if any of the NCAA prospects make the jump, but in the Junior ranks, the Blackhawks organization has a number of players who are at the age where a jump to the Pro game is the next step. For a look at those players in the North American Junior ranks, I’ll turn it over to The-Rink Juniors Feature Writer, Ron Luce.

Courtesy of NHL.com / Chicago Blackhawks

Brandon Hagel (Red Deer, WHL: 61 GP, 38 G, 54 A)

Brandon Hagel was signed in October by the Blackhawks. He was originally a draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 2016.

Hagel brings a big frame (6’1”) and scoring touch to the IceHogs assuming he joins the club for a playoff push. The big winger can certainly bring some scoring touch to the offense-lacking IceHogs. As of March 7th, Hagel is tied for fifth in WHL scoring, with 92 points (38 G, 54 A) in only 61 games.

Assuming Hagel can carryover some of his offensive success in the WHL to the AHL, Hagel could be a welcomed addition. With Matthew Highmore being injured nearly the whole season, the IceHogs have lacked a game breaker at forward. Hagel certainly has provided hope as being that type of player.

Hagel has been very successful on a Red Deer team that will likely miss the playoffs. He would arguably be the biggest addition to the IceHogs as they look to have another playoff run similar to last season.

Mikael Hakkarainen (Muskegon, USHL: 35 GP, 17 G, 28 A)

Mikael Hakkarainen has had quite a unique season for the Muskegon Lumberjacks. It began with Hakkarainen leaving Providence College where he was set to play at the NCAA level, to return to the USHL club he played for last season. In his return, Hakkarainen has been nothing short of spectacular, as he sits fourth on the Lumberjacks in scoring, despite playing almost 15 fewer games than his teammates.

Muskegon Lumberjacks forward Mikael Hakkarainen. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

Haakarainen, despite missing as much time as he did, is also still in the top-20 in USHL league scoring with 45 points (17 G, 28 A). The 6’0” 193lb center can add great skill for the IceHogs down the stretch. Since Haakarainen left Providence, he is able to go to the pros, which is the logical next step in his development if the Blackhawks are committed to him long-term. It makes a lot of sense for Haakarainen to join the IceHogs and gauge where he is in his development playing against men. The young Finn has made easy work of the teenage USHL competition he’s faced.

Haakarainen would provide play-making ability to the IceHogs. He has good size and can make plays in tight areas. He has been in numerous USHL highlight videos this year with his perfect passes and big goals for the Lumberjacks. Like Hagel, Hakkarainen is likely to join the IceHogs given his history and ability to play pro.

Josiah Slavin (Chicago, USHL: 45 GP, 17 G, 20 A)

Younger brother of Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin, Josiah Slavin has had a very strong season in the USHL. The Colorado College commit started the season with the Lincoln Stars, tallying 27 points in 32 games (10 G, 17 A). As the Stars began selling players off, the Chicago Steel acquired the Blackhawks prospect and he has 10 points in 13 games since being acquired by Chicago (3 G, 7 A).

Photo by: Jeff Osborn/The-Rink

With Slavin’s impending commitment to Colorado College and the NCAA, it’s uncertain if he will join the IceHogs. If he is allowed to join the IceHogs on an amateur tryout contract (ATO), he could possibly provide some nice depth for the IceHogs. He isn’t as prolific a scorer as Hagel or Hakkarainen, but he still brings a lot of skill to his team. Slavin’s size is comparable to that of Hakkarainen, so he has solid size to compete at the AHL level.

However, I believe it is safe to assume that Slavin will not join the IceHogs and prepare for his fall season at Colorado College, where Aaron Goldschmidt will happily cover the Colorado native.

Philipp Kurashev (Quebec, QMJHL: 55 GP, 27 G, 34 A)

Philipp Kurashev really jumped onto the prospect scene when he had an incredible World Juniors tournament for Team Switzerland. The 20-year old center has been sensational this season, pacing the Remparts in team scoring. Early in the season, Kurashev was a top scorer in the QMJHL. However, Kurashev has fallen off a bit of late, but nonetheless is still having a great year.

Quebec Remparts forward Philipp Kurashev. Courtesy: Quebec Remparts)

Kurashev paces the Remparts in scoring with 61 points in 55 games (27 G, 34 A). The next closest scorer on the team has played eight more games and has 15 fewer points than Kurashev. It’s no surprise the team hasn’t had as good of a season as they may have hoped, since Kurashev is the only player with more than 20 goals on the roster.

The Remparts could always make a run in the QMJHL tournament and prevent Kurashev from joining the IceHogs. Given his age, Kurashev will likely play with Rockford next season, so it would be intriguing to see what he can do in the AHL. He hasn’t dominated the juniors like Hagel has, so it’s uncertain if the over-ager will produce at the pro level. If the young Swiss forward performs like he did in the World Juniors tournament, he could become a nice top-9 forward in the NHL down the road.

Two players that are not described above are Jake Ryczek and Reese Johnson. Ryczek is a former seventh round pick, and has been in the QMJHL since being drafted. He is currently playing on the third defensive pairing for the Halifax Mooseheads. One would hope a player like him, if going to make an impact, would make more of an impact for his junior team when he is 21 years old.

Reese Johnson is certainly a candidate to join the IceHogs late in the year with WHL teammate Brandon Hagel. Since Johnson is a new signing, we did not include a report on his prospects of joining the IceHogs, although it is likely given his age and situation. Johnson is the Captain in Red Deer and has second in scoring with 45 points in 62 games this season.

What’s Next?

The Rockford IceHogs are back in action on Saturday and Sunday as they take on the Manitoba Moose in a weekend double-header in Manitoba. After a week off, the IceHogs take on the Moose in back-to-back weekend games in Manitoba on March 9 and 10. Saturday’s puck drop is set for 6pm CT, while Sunday’s puck drop is set for 2pm CT at Bell MTS Place. Rockford holds a 1-0-1 record against the Moose this season.

The post IceHogs Late-Season Reinforcements On Their Way? appeared first on The Rink.

Today we saw the LA Kings deal defenseman Jake Muzzin to Toronto and get a nice return including a 2019 1st round pick.  The Kings are in a similar situation where they have a core of aging vets locked into long term deals, yet they are at the bottom on their division.  But the Kings are making the best of it by selling off valuable assets for future picks.

.@SportChek Player Alert: The @MapleLeafs have acquired defenceman Jake Muzzin from Los Angeles in exchange for forward Carl Grundstrom, the rights to Sean Durzi and Toronto’s first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft.#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/3DYt3w0dc1

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) January 29, 2019

But in the minds of John McDonough and Stan Bowman, they still believe winning can be achieved.  Even with both executives deeming the last few seasons as unacceptable, the turmoil continues to trend south.

So what’s the answer?  Time will surely tell, but for now the Blackhawks need to do what most good teams do.  That is building through the draft.  The Hawks have several high-end prospects that will make their way to the NHL soon, but star-power doesn’t get you everything in today’s NHL.  You need depth scoring and surprise surprise; toughness.  NHL teams did a great job of transforming the game into a mostly skill game, but teams with predators like Tom Wilson are proving to have an edge over less-physical teams.

I wanted to point out a couple of players that are in the Blackhawks NCAA prospect system that could add some edge to the bottom six that would be low cost and high reward.  Let’s take a look.

Jack Ramsey – Forward – University of Minnesota

I’ve always thought that to make it in the NHL, you need to do at least one thing right.  The higher paid guys do several things right, but you can survive with a singular talent.  You can win face-offs, block shots, hit, or simply just be smart and responsible with the puck.  The point is that guys can make a career by knowing their role and doing their job.

Jack Ramsey isn’t a points guy, although he’s looked pretty good offensively against other Blackhawks prospects in camp.  Ramsey has great size and speed, and most importantly he knows his role.  He’s not going to dazzle you with stick-handling but he’s going to live in the corners and create space for other players.  He can hunt the puck and force costly turnovers.

The Blackhawks bottom six is full of a bunch of “guys” right now who don’t really know what they want to do well.  Ramsey would bring a physical edge and a lot of heart to the Hawks.

Fredrik Olofsson – Forward – University of Nebraska-Omaha

I’ve had the pleasure of talking with Freddy and watching him play a handful of times and it’s been a treat watching his game mature.  Olofsson is in his senior year playing for the Mavericks and is one of the most experienced Blackhawks prospects in the system.  His transition from wing to center has really taken form this season.  Olofsson is having a career season with eight goals and 17 assists in 24 games.

One thing that I’ve noticed is Olofsson’s will that has changed.  He’s always been a player that can score.  His can pick corners well, his passing anticipation is strong, and his skating has always been good.  But this season, it’s noticeable that he’s out-willing other players for the puck.  He’s always been responsible in his own end, but now Omaha runs their top lines through him.

Another vast improvement has been his face-offs.  Olofsson can win a draw cleanly, but he’s even better at tying a guy up and winning the puck back.  These little moves and tricks that he’s picked up give him the advantage over younger players and make him invaluable to the Mavericks.

It will be interesting to see if the Hawks work out a deal with Olofsson after his NCAA season is over.  The Hawks are desperate for center depth so it’s possible he gets a look.

Evan Barratt – Forward – Penn State

I’m not sure how this all happened so fast for Evan Barratt, but it did and all at the same time.  From his lacrosse-style goal, to making the world junior USA team, back to helping lead his Penn State hockey club, Evan Barratt grew up pretty fast.  With 15 goals and 20 assists, there will be some serious pressure for Barratt to come out of college just after his sophomore season.  But what better time than now?

The Blackhawks are starving for a heart-and-soul player like Barratt to come through the system.  He plays with a lot of edge, running around pissing people off like Andrew Shaw used to do at the United Center.  Yet, Barratt can really score.  He players in a very fast system at Penn State so he may be a fit for a top-nine role with the Hawks.  It just depends how much seasoning the Hawks brass thinks Barratt needs.  If he does sign at the end of this year, it will be a big boost to their forward depth.

Can the Hawks turn things around?

We’ve been asking ourselves this question all year.  Can the Blackhawks find some combination where they can compete with the top teams in the league?  Corey Crawford’s health is the biggest issue and we all have to assume at this point that he can’t play at a high level right now.  We also have to face the reality that our defense got old overnight.  And with every year that passes, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane prove the law of diminishing returns.

We all want this movie to never end, but it just needs to be rewritten.  That process starts with getting young guys ice time.  Collin Delia looks to be something in goal.  There are tons of defenseman in the system.  Now, it’s time for some young forwards to get a look.

The post Blackhawks Need to Develop Impact Players From Within appeared first on The Rink.

The Blackhawks’ prospect pipeline is sprinkled with some serious talent on the blue line and they have the opportunity to draft high again this year.  The problem is if the Hawks have the right GM to successfully rebuild the team.  Hitting on draft picks and development is the only way to sustain winning in today’s NHL and it’s debatable whether Bowman is the right person for the job.  But with interest waning and ticket prices still sky high, the Blackhawks need some sort of splash to keep them relevant.

Last weekend, we saw a couple players stand out and contribute to their teams who aren’t usually on the scoresheet.  We also saw Ian Mitchell return from the World Juniors and not miss a beat.  As we enter the second half of the NCAA season, competition is starting to ramp up.  Let’s get into what happened last weekend.

Parker Foo – Forward – Union

Parker Foo sure picked a great weekend to shine for the Union Dutchmen.  Union took on top-ranked St. Cloud State Friday night and upset the Huskies 7-2 in Pittsburgh in the Three Rivers Classic.  Foo scored his fourth goal of the season after he beat the defenseman to the outside and drove the net.  Foo also added two assists to his total on Saturday in the Dutchmen’s loss to Brown 6-3.  Foo now has four goals and four assists in his sophomore season at Union in 16 games.

(1/2) Let's recap those Dutchman goals during the second period shall we? Here's a look at Foo's goal that he scored driving to the net! pic.twitter.com/ir3L2pgEEl

— Union College Men's Hockey (@Unionmhockey) January 4, 2019

Jack Ramsey – Forward – Minnesota

The Gophers had a tough test this weekend when they welcomed the Penn State Nittany Lions to Minneapolis.  Penn State is known for putting up a huge amount of shots per game and can score over five goals with ease.  But the Gophers fought hard and earned a split.  Blackhawks prospect Jack Ramsey scored a couple nice goals earning him his first two points of the season.

Ramsey’s first goal was a beautiful curl-and-drag snipe that will most likely be one of the plays of the week.  And with his second, Ramsey fights hard in front of the net and somehow maneuvers the puck around the goaltender for the score.

Toe drag swag. pic.twitter.com/Uk2QAeKlmo

— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) January 5, 2019

Jack Ramsey is having a really, really good weekend. pic.twitter.com/EeebX8ID9F

— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) January 6, 2019

Jack Ramsey's first goal of the year gave the #Gophers a late spark last night…five of the the senior assistant captain's 21 career points have now come against Penn State. #PrideOnIce

Hear from Ramsey after last night's game at 3MAM. pic.twitter.com/51eoSx1MbJ

— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) January 5, 2019

Ian Mitchell – Defenseman  – Denver

After a bittersweet exit from the World Juniors Championship, Mitchell didn’t sulk for long.  The Denver Pioneers defenseman caught up with his teammates for their first series of 2019 against Wisconsin and he contributed in a big way.  Mitchell had three assists in the weekend series where the Pioneers swept the Badgers on the road.  I’m not sure when the Blackhawks are going to see Ian Mitchell, but when they do he’s really going to turn heads.  He has the talent to snipe a goal or circle the wagons until he finds a man open for the easy score.  He has the complete game.

Ian Mitchell (@DU_Hockey) scores his first of the tournament to put up by one early in the second! #CANvsFIN #REPRESENT #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/IDXLJQFlAs

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 3, 2019

GREAT to have you back, Mitchy  #PioneerTogether pic.twitter.com/gZoPnAFNIq

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) January 5, 2019

Evan Barratt – Forward – Team USA

Meanwhile in the gold medal game of the World Junior Championship, Evan Barratt and Team USA fell to Henri Jokiharju and Finland.  Barratt had a strong start to the tournament, but cooled off eventually.  In a bizarre year where Canada and Sweden were knocked out early, USA had the opportunity to come away with gold, but fell just short.

#Blackhawks prospect Evan Barratt (#17) accepts his Silver Medal#USAWJC #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/MLCjs0qfB3

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) January 6, 2019

The post Blackhawks NCAA Campus Report: Jan 4-6 appeared first on The Rink.

The-Rink.com co-hosts Jeff “Gatekeeper” Osborn, John Jaeckel and The Rink Feature NCAA Writer Aaron Goldschmidt get together to talk about the latest developments in Blackhawks land heading into the holidays.

• Corey Crawford is out with another serious concussion
• Marcus Kruger joins him as the walking wounded increase
• Collin Delia, Dylan Sikura, Carl Dahlstrom and Luke Johnson all get recalled
• The Gustafsson delusions
• Addressing the Panarin nonsense again.
• We answered some great listener and reader questions

As a special holiday gift, we close out with “On My Side” from The-Rink friend and huge Blackhawks fan Patrick Judge with his bandmates in Demon Hunter.

Please subscribe, rate this episode, and even write us a review. Reviews will be read on the air.

Also, Please help spread the word to more #RinkRats and visit our sponsor www.PUCKHCKY.com. Use the discount code “THERINK” for 10% off all orders.

The post The Blackhawks Rinkcast – Episode 39 – Injuries Aplenty appeared first on The Rink.

Team Canada looks to have selected a combination on heavy and versatile defenseman to round out their roster going into the tournament.  A big advantage of keeping Mitchell on the roster is most likely his ability to lead the Team Canada powerplay.  Mitchell’s a great facilitator on special teams and there is no doubt he will be successful.  He’s responsible in his own zone and has one of the best first passes in college hockey.

Mitchell is in his second season at Denver and is taking on a much larger role this season with the departures of Henrik Borgstrom, Dylan Gambrell, and Troy Terry.  In 14 games this season, Mitchell has two goals and nine assists helping the Pioneers to a 8-4-2 record this season.

Earlier this year, The-Rink caught up with Mitchell to talk about the growth of his game this season.

.@DU_Hockey defenseman @IanMitch15 on the growth of his game this season and facing @SCSUHUSKIES_MH next week #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/XAqzOsQFsX

— Aaron Goldschmidt (@lateinthegoldie) November 4, 2018

For more on Ian Mitchell and other Blackhawks prospects playing in the World Junior Tournament, be sure to check back in with The-Rink.com.

The post Blackhawks Prospect Ian Mitchell Makes Team Canada World Junior Roster appeared first on The Rink.

It’s a good sign that the Hawks have a couple players in college hockey that are doing well, as well as their prospects playing in the CHL.  But who are the next young players that can turn into regulars at the United Center?  Apparently it wasn’t Nick Schmaltz and maybe not Dylan Sikura.  And with systems changing under head coach Jeremy Colliton, it’s hard to say who will fit the new Blackhawks model.

As we approach March, careful eyes will be on the Blackhawks who in my opinion have a lot to sell.  The dilemma will be with Stan Bowman, a GM who may be too proud to sell off core pieces who still have value to save his own job.  When in reality, the Blackhawks need to get back to the basics and draft good players.  It’s hard to watch the slow decline of this core and listen their answerless post-game interviews.  It’s time to take a hard look in the mirror and acknowledge who the Blackhawks are and where they’re going because fan support is waning.

Let’s take a look at something more positive, like the Hawks’ college hockey prospects.

Evan Barratt – Forward – Penn State University – 12G, 13A

Photo courtesy of the Daily Collegian

Evan Barratt continued his hot streak going into last weekend.  He scored a goal and an assist in Friday and Saturday’s game.  Unfortunately the Nittany Lions tied 3-3 on Friday and lost to Wisconsin on Saturday 5-8.  Team USA will be announcing their preliminary roster invitations for the World Junior Tournament in the coming days and Barratt’s name will be on watch for Blackhawks fans.

Penn State hosts Notre Dame this weekend.

https://twitter.com/PatrickBurns_/status/1068694883454599173

Gadowsky on Evan Barratt: "Two things really stand out about him: his compete level and IQ are off the charts. He loves to compete, and his mind is elite — it's different."

— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) December 4, 2018

Ian Mitchell – Defenseman – University of Denver – 2G, 9A

Photo courtesy of Magness Mayhem

The Pioneers were off last weekend, but two weeks ago Denver beat and tied Providence in a solid series at home.  Mitchell was held to one point, but continues to show his leadership and poise on the powerplay.  He has shown a lot of growth since his freshman year and isn’t shy about the spotlight.  Mitchell tends to make plays when he has the puck and his Pioneers teammates trust him to carry the mail at the point.

Team Canada has also noticed his progress this season, selecting Mitchell to the preliminary World Juniors roster.

The Pioneers travel to North Dakota to play the Fighting Hawks this weekend.

Making power moves #PioneerTogether pic.twitter.com/x5MWtLnsJx

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) November 25, 2018

Ian Mitchell → Hockey Canada WJC Selection Camp

Release: https://t.co/vOrmyXKMQg | #PioneerTogether pic.twitter.com/K89boo6miE

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) December 3, 2018

Chad Krys – Defenseman – Boston University – 3G, 5A

At 4-7-2, the Boston Terriers aren’t the powerhouse of Hockey East this year and that’s unfortunate for Chad Krys.  The Blackhawks 2016 2nd round pick has lost a lot of hype since the Blackhawks drafted Henri Jokiharju, Adam Boqvist, and Nicholas Beaudin and the struggling Terriers aren’t helping his cause.  Krys still has eight points in 10 games this season and continues to be a veteran leader for Boston.  It will be interesting to see where Krys fits into the Hawks system if he chooses to sign after this year.

Boston hosts UMass-Lowell this weekend.

Here's the goal that got @AgganisArena rocking in the first! #GoBU pic.twitter.com/IabyYEfOr5

— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) December 1, 2018

Other Notables

Check out Beau Starrett's third goal of the year, which also accounts for Joe Leahy's first collegiate point on the assist! pic.twitter.com/d7KREr3ROM

— Cornell Video (@CornellVideo) December 1, 2018

Clean as it gets. Madden wins the faceoff, Shea shovels it over to Filipe, and Matty rips it home for the early lead | #HowlinHuskies pic.twitter.com/7jrzZdYxH0

— Northeastern Men’s Hockey (@GoNUmhockey) December 1, 2018

Fredrik Olofsson, who leads the NCHC in power play points, added another with an assist on the Morelli power play goal!

Freddy is…wicked. pic.twitter.com/grOjZoiXQF

— Omaha Hockey (@OmahaHKY) December 1, 2018

The post Blackhawks NCAA Campus Report: Nov 30 – Dec 1 appeared first on The Rink.

This is great news for Blackhawks fans.  If Barratt can provide some center depth in a couple years, he will bring a lot of value.  There aren’t a lot of guys willing to get to the net on the Hawks right now and that’s something new head coach Jeremy Colliton is stressing.  They need players who want to work to get to the dirty areas and get rewarded.  Barratt could be one of those players.

Let’s get right into what happened this weekend in college hockey for the Blackhawks prospects.

Evan Barratt – Forward – Penn State University – 9G, 10A

Photo courtesy of the Daily Collegian

Last time we left off, we talked about how Evan Barratt was a nice player on a pretty good team.  But this week in Penn State’s series against the University of Michigan, Barratt turned into a star.  The Nittany lions split the series with the Wolverines, but again it was a high scoring bout.  Barratt added a goal and an assist in Friday’s game and had a hat-trick in Saturday’s game.

NOT 1⃣. NOT 2⃣. BUT 3⃣ GOALS.@BarrattEvan became the seventh player in program history to score a hat-trick on Saturday night against Michigan! #HockeyValleyHatTrick pic.twitter.com/Gq7aPOpmi3

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) November 18, 2018

Penn State plays at Ohio State next weekend.

Ian Mitchell – Defenseman – University of Denver – 2G, 8A

Photo courtesy of Magness Mayhem

Ian Mitchell and the Denver Pioneers had a difficult matchup this weekend when they hosted the No. 1 ranked Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs.  The teams split the series, but it was one of the most exciting couple of games in college hockey.  The Pioneers won Friday’s game 2-0 with Mitchell scoring the first goal on the powerplay, followed by a late game empty net goal.

IAN MITCHELL WITH A FROM THE POINT. 1-0 PIOS ! pic.twitter.com/gGRi73ORti

— LetsGoDU (@LetsGoDU) November 17, 2018

The Pioneers host Providence next weekend.

Chad Krys – Defenseman – Boston University – 2G, 5A

The Boston Terriers are slowly getting warmer after a slow start to the season.  Until Saturday night’s loss at home against Maine, Boston had won three games in a row.  Chad Krys and the veteran blue liners had some nice puck movement on this powerplay goal by Joel Farabee Friday night.

And then Farabee gave us a lead moments later… #GoBU pic.twitter.com/moYhTPpt92

— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) November 17, 2018

Boston plays UConn and Yale/Union next weekend.

Other Notables

Boston University’s Jake Wise assisted on David Farrance’s game-winning powerplay goal Friday night.

Here's a look at Farrance's late game-winner. Our third PP goal of the night. #GoBU pic.twitter.com/vejZXVJG4F

— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) November 17, 2018

GOAL, Cornell:
Beau Starrett deflects a long shot by Cody Haiskanen past Princeton goaltender Ryan Ferland to give Cornell a 2-0 lead 11:02 into the contest. pic.twitter.com/85lju224Gp

— Cornell Daily Sun Sports (@DailySunSports) November 18, 2018

The post Blackhawks NCAA Campus Report: Nov 17-18 appeared first on The Rink.

It’s a little early to think about how some of the college players can help the pro level teams, but there will be an influx of players at the end of this year who will be ready for the pros.  And it’s kind of crazy to think about considering how many defenseman are competing for ice time in Rockford.  It will be interesting to see who is there one year from now, but there is no question that help is on the way.

Evan Barratt – Forward – Penn State University – 5G, 9A

Photo courtesy of the Daily Collegian

Evan Barratt and the Nittany Lions continued their impressive season this weekend by sweeping Robert Morris University.  Barratt added two goals and two assists to his season total putting him at 14 points, tied for 3rd best in the NCAA.

https://twitter.com/PatrickBurns_/status/1061053435934597120

Barratt has made an extraordinary step in his sophomore year and looks to be a very versatile player.  He plays with an edge but is also in the right place at the right time to score.  A lot of people were hoping that Barratt could be similar to Dave Bolland but he might be even better.

In an article written in OnwarsState.com by Mikey Mandarino, head coach Guy Gadowski spoke very highly of the Blackhawks prospect:

“He’s a much, much more consistent and mature hockey player,” Gadowsky said. “It’s not only that — I just love the fact that he brings a lot of energy. We’re very happy with his development. He’s very receptive to improvement and suggestions, and he’s just a really good teammate.

“When you combine those things with his skillset, you get a very special player.”

Penn State hosts Michigan next weekend.

Fredrik Olofsson – Forward – University of Nebraska-Omaha – 3G, 8A

Photo courtesy of omavs.com

The Omaha Mavericks played the Western Michigan Broncos on the road and got a much needed split.  The Mavs are now 2-7-1 are are looking to turn around their slow start.  Olofsson continues to be a silver lining for the Mavs who added another power play goal and assist this weekend to his total.  He has three goals and assists on the season.

The Mavericks are off next week and will host Arizona State in two weeks.

P3 | Fredrik Olofsson scores on the power play!

The Mavericks are on the board pic.twitter.com/LNr481NDSm

— Omaha Hockey (@OmahaHKY) November 10, 2018

Ian Mitchell – Defenseman – University of Denver – 1G, 8A

Photo courtesy of the St. Cloud Times

The Denver Pioneers had a tough matchup this weekend taking on the No. 2 St. Cloud State Huskies in Minnesota.  St. Cloud has shown to be one of the NCHC’s top teams, but the Pioneers hung in there with them losing both games by just one goal.  Ian Mitchell had an assist in Saturday’s loss.

The Pioneers host the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs next weekend.

Chad Krys – Defenseman – Boston University – 2G, 3A

The Terriers won their only game this weekend against New Hampshire 3-2.  Chad Krys scored the first goal of the game followed by two goals by Avalanche prospect Shane Bowers.  Krys and the Terriers will try to dig their way out of a slow start to the season when they host the University of Maine next weekend.

Shot from above the left circle gets through traffic… PP goal by Chad gives us an early 1-0 lead! #GoBU pic.twitter.com/FkBqpLQyMu

— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) November 11, 2018

Other Notables

Josh Ess gives @BadgerMHockey the lead!!!

(also: he's from Minnesota )

https://t.co/AGNL74FrC1 pic.twitter.com/ZRa4BuGHUy

— Bally Sports Wisconsin (@BallySportWI) November 11, 2018

#VCATS GOAL

Jake Massie rings one off the post and in with 2 seconds left on the first Eagle penalty! pic.twitter.com/Qwb1AEtSjb

— UVM Men's Hockey (@UVMmhockey) November 10, 2018

A beautiful pass from the right point to exploit a defensive breakdown, and Starrett taps it in to double the lead! pic.twitter.com/3tT53RDrtB

— CornellSportsGameday (@CUBigRedGameday) November 10, 2018

The post Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Campus Report: Nov 8-10 appeared first on The Rink.

I was lucky enough to sit next to an NHL scout this weekend at the University of Denver game against Western Michigan. He me some great insight on what NHL teams are looking for in amateur players.  He emphasized that good players will play no matter their size, and that skating is everything.

Although the Blackhawks prospects are putting up some good numbers at the collegiate level, they are also bring different things to the table which is why Blackhawks fans should be excited about the future.

Evan Barratt – Forward – Penn State University – 3G, 7A, +6

Photo courtesy of gopsusports.com

It was quite the weekend for Evan Barratt and the Nittany Lions.  Penn State and Arizona State split their series with both games being decided by one goal.  Barratt picked up a pair of goals and an assist giving him an impressive 10 points in seven games, tied for the team lead.

Barratt was featured on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top Plays showing his incredible wrap-around goal.  It’s not often that college hockey plays get on ESPN but this goal was quite special.

Penn State plays a home-and-home with Robert Morris next weekend.

@BarrattEvan @ESPNAssignDesk @Buccigross #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/Jy1zL1nNEH

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) November 4, 2018

Fredrik Olofsson – Forward – University of Nebraska-Omaha – 2G, 7A, -6

Photo courtesy of omavs.com

The Omaha Mavericks finally got in the win column this weekend, splitting the series with the Miami University RedHawks.  Fredrik Olofsson continued his hot start adding a goal and an assist to his total on the year.

Olofsson scored another powerplay goal by creating space for himself on the right side and sniping a top corner.  On tape, Olofsson looks a lot more comfortable skating the puck up the ice and distributing it to his wings.  In his second full season playing the center position, he’s showing good development and productivity despite the Mavericks record.

The Mavs travel to Kalamazoo Michigan next weekend to take on the Western Michigan Broncos.

Freddy Olofsson starts a of @OmahaHKY scoring in the second period. The Mavericks lead Miami 4-2 headed to the 3rd period. pic.twitter.com/s7Riedg7px

— Omaha Video (@OmahaVID) November 4, 2018

Ian Mitchell – Defenseman – University of Denver – 1G, 7A, +4

Photo courtesy of JJ Seaward

The University of Denver Pioneers always get a handful of top recruits every year so it can be hard to stand out at times.  But sophomore Ian Mitchell is showing noticeable growth in his game.  This past weekend against division rivals Western Michigan, Mitchell earned four assists and made some highlight reel plays.

Mitchy put it on a platter #PioneerTogether pic.twitter.com/P4OCm4WeCG

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) November 3, 2018

After the game Saturday night, we caught up with Mitchell who talked about the growth of his game and how he’s stepped into a leadership role on the Pioneers.

Denver travels to St. Cloud next weekend to battle the Huskies in a big NCHC showdown.

.@DU_Hockey defenseman @IanMitch15 on the growth of his game this season and facing @SCSUHUSKIES_MH next week #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/XAqzOsQFsX

— Aaron Goldschmidt (@lateinthegoldie) November 4, 2018

Chad Krys – Defenseman – Boston University – 1G, 3A, +3

The Terriers picked up their first win of the season this weekend against Northeastern in a home-and-home series.  Chad Krys broke out in the second game adding three assists.  Krys had a nice powerplay goal in Thursday night’s game but the Terriers tied with the Huskies.

Crazy game at Northeastern. 5-5 after BU’s Chad Krys (@NHLBlackhawks 2nd rounder) power play goal #CawlidgeHawkey pic.twitter.com/DFHqmDq48R

— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) November 2, 2018

Despite their slow start, Krys said in an interview with Boston University that he feels confident that the team will find their stride as the season goes on.

The Terriers play next Saturday at New Hampshire.

Check out the weekend preview with rinkside reporter @catherinebogart and junior Chad Krys. #GoBU pic.twitter.com/bed0eV0Yua

— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) November 1, 2018

Liam Coughlin & Jake Massie – University of Vermont

Coughlin and Massie are off to productive starts with four and three points in six games, respectively.  The Catamounts are 3-3 after a tough series that they split with UConn.

Head coach Kevin Sneddon praised the play of Massie and Coughlin to get the game tied that Vermont ultimately won in overtime.

Vermont plays at Boston College next week.

Coach Sneddon’s postgame thoughts. #VCats #ThisIsVermont pic.twitter.com/gtrWawjvtH

— UVM Men's Hockey (@UVMmhockey) November 4, 2018

The post Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Campus Report: Nov 1-4 appeared first on The Rink.

It’s interesting to see so many non-conference series to start the season in college hockey because there isn’t the element of familiarity.  But as we enter November, teams will start to welcome bitter foes into their own barns which will ignite the competition level.  This should be a fascinating season for Blackhawks prospects in college hockey with several of them having the potential to sign professional deals at season’s end.

Evan Barratt – Forward – Penn State University – 1G, 5A, +5

Photo courtesy of OnwardState.com

This weekend Penn State was host to Niagra and defeated them in both games by sizable margins.  Friday night the Nittany Lions won 8-2, followed by a 4-1 Saturday night win.  Evan Barratt had a great series scoring a goal and four assists.

In an article by The Daily Collegian, Jim Krueger describes Barratt’s contributions coming in the form of points and physicality:

“Beyond his scoring exploits, he was destructive force on the ice.  His passing and scoring was complemented by his checking. He layed out several good hits, agitating the Niagara skaters.”

Barratt had this to say about the line of he, Liam Folkes, and Alex Limoges that has been coming up big for the Nittany Lions:

“I’m sure you guys can see on the ice how much fun we’re having,” Barratt said. “Every time, if it’s practice or a pregame skate or whatever it may be we’re so happy to be on the ice together.”

Penn State will host the Princeton Tigers next weekend.

Check out the highlights from Friday night's 8-2 victory over Niagara! Folkes and Larsson score twice to lead six players with multi-point efforts!! #WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/0CoT2ZVE20

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) October 20, 2018

Fredrik Olofsson – Forward – University of Nebraska-Omaha – 1G, 5A, -7

Photo courtesy of the Omaha World-Herald

The Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks are starting their season a bit slow losing three of their first four games.  This past weekend, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish didn’t give them much of a chance in South Bend beating UNO 4-1 and 8-2 in the two games series.

One bright spot for the Mavericks was a nice powerplay goal by Fredrik Olofsson.  From the top of the circle, Olofsson ripped a wrist shot by the Notre Dame goaltender to even the game at 1-1.

Get that MINI ZAMBONI out! @OmahaHKY ties it up off the power play. pic.twitter.com/JuhVU4cvH7

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) October 19, 2018

After Saturday night’s game, Olofsson met with the media and was confident that the Mavericks can play with top teams like the Fighting Irish:

“I thought there was energy in the room, we were pretty dialed(in).  It feels good when you know you can skate with good teams.  I think it’s just that consistency over 60 minutes that will be the difference maker.  But we felt good.  We know we can play with them, we just can’t beat ourselves.”

News Conference: @OmahaHKY vs Notre Dame Game 2 pic.twitter.com/t4VuBeKD0k

— Omaha Video (@OmahaVID) October 21, 2018

Blackhawks prospect spotlight: Why Freddy Olofsson isn’t freaking out over his ‘make-or-break’ season

Ian Mitchell – Defenseman – University of Denver – 1G, 3A, +4

After a solid start to the season getting wins against Air Force and Alabama-Huntsville, the Denver Pioneers were looking to get more points in the NCHC standings against the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.  Friday night the Pios won 4-1, but Saturday the Nanooks tied the Pioneers in a game where Denver had to fight back from a 3-0 deficit after taking two major penalties.

Defenseman Ian Mitchell is starting to heat up earning three assists this past weekend.  He set up defenseman Les Lancaster with a perfect pass that led to a one-timer that tied the game Saturday night.

Somebody call the bomb squad #PioneerTogether pic.twitter.com/ue1an30hUI

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) October 21, 2018

The Pioneers are off next week but will host the Western Michigan Broncos the following weekend.

Powers Points: Blackhawks prospects encouraged by Henri Jokiharju’s early success

Beau Starrett – Forward – Cornell University

Cornell hasn’t started their regular season, but they are looking pretty good in the preseason.  Beau Starrett had a beautiful goal against Guelph Sunday when he buried a perfect wrist shot on a 2-on-1 rush.

The Big Red begin their season next weekend when they host the Michigan State Spartans.

WATCH HIGHLIGHTS from @CUBigRedHockey's 7-0 win over Guelph! #YellCornell pic.twitter.com/W825JD6CuR

— Cornell Video (@CornellVideo) October 21, 2018

The post Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Campus Report: Oct 19-21 appeared first on The Rink.

This week was highlighted by University of Nebraska-Omaha’s Fredrik Olofsson earning five assists in two games and 2018 draft pick Mikael Hakkarainen leaving Providence College to return to the USHL.

Thanks again for reading and as always we appreciate your feedback!

Evan Barratt – Forward – Penn State University

Entering year two of his college hockey career, the Nittany Lions have a lot of hope in Blackhawks prospect Evan Barratt to help lift the program.  As a freshman in college hockey, there is some getting used to as far as pace which Barratt became much more comfortable with towards the end of last season.  He has the opportunity to be a serious difference-maker, especially on the powerplay for Penn State this season.

https://twitter.com/PatrickBurns_/status/1050898254379053056

In his first two games against Clarkson, Barratt had just one assist but generated good opportunities.  His work ethic and commitment to driving to the net will most likely reward him in production this season.  The Nittany Lions are now 2-0 and will play Niagara at home next weekend.

"At the end of the day we know collectively as a team what we want to achieve, so each day we come to the rink we need to work toward that goal," – sophomore forward @BarrattEvan #WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/mkRqsYA003

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) September 25, 2018

Fredrik Olofsson – Forward – University of Nebraska-Omaha

Olofsson opted to return to UNO for this senior season in 2018-19 and will get another year of experience at the center position.  He is playing in between junior forwards Tristan Keck and Zach Jordan who both netted goals in double digits last season.  Olofsson was also named an alternate captain for the Mavericks this year.

Over the weekend, Olofsson had a strong performance in the Mavericks series against Union College despite the team’s 0-1-1 result.  On Friday night, Olofsson had two assists and was 3-for-12 at the faceoff circle.  Saturday, he had three assists and went 3-for-7 at the dot.  The Mavericks host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish next weekend in Omaha.

Josh Ess – Defenseman – University of Wisconsin

Josh ess and the Wisconsin Badgers started their season with a bang sweeping the Boston College Eagles this weekend.  Ess is playing on the third pairing with freshman Ty Emberson, a 2018 3rd round selection of the Arizona Coyotes.  Ess has proven to be reliable for the Badgers who are looking for a bounce-back season.  The Badgers defense features Florida Panthers prospect Tyler Inamoto and 2018 Rangers 1st round pick K’Andre Miller.  The Badgers travel to the east coast next weekend to play Clarkson and St. Lawrence.

#BadgerOfTheDay: Josh Ess, So., D, Lakeville, MN, 2g, 2a, 4pts, shared team lead at plus-10 as a frosh, 2017-18 Dr. Joseph Coyne/Joe Pavelski Most Consistent award, 2017 Chicago Blackhawks draft pick. pic.twitter.com/srBnrahGDj

— Tony Granato (@TonyGranato) August 27, 2018

Parker Foo – Forward – Union College

Senior center Brett Supinski, Union's best playmaker, back in the lineup after missing the season opener with an injury. No sign of Parker Foo, who coach Rick Bennett said has been ill.

— Mike MacAdam (@Mike_MacAdam) October 12, 2018

Ryan Shea – Defenseman – Northeastern University

The Northeastern Huskies lost a lot of talent with Blackhawks prospect Dylan Sikura and Hobey Baker winner Adam Gaudette leaving for the pros, but they’re still looking to be competitive in Hockey East.  Ryan Shea is starting the season paired on the second line with captain Eric Williams.  Shea was selected to be an alternate captain for the Huskies this season.

Mikael Hakkarainen – Forward – Providence College

It has been reported that Blackhawks 2018 5th round draft pick Mikael Hakkarainen is leaving Providence College and returning to the USHL to play for the Muskegon Lumberjacks.  Hakkarainen said that he didn’t enjoy managing classes and hockey, leaving college hockey after just one game.  It’s interesting to note that Blackhawks defenseman Jake Ryczek also left the Providence program last season after a handful of games to return to the QMJHL.

Chicago Blackhawks prospect Mikael Hakkarainen (a freshman) leaves Providence per @MarkDivver – https://t.co/iwLkjQnGdj

— Mike McMahon (@MikeMcMahonCHN) October 10, 2018

Ian Mitchell – Defenseman – University of Denver

Mitchell has a lot on his plate this season at Denver but he has embraced the opportunity.  With seniors Tarik Hammond and Adam Plant graduating to the pros, Mitchell is heading into his sophomore season with a lot of responsibility on the back end.  His teammates selected him as an alternate captain for the Pioneers.

This past weekend, Mitchell and the Pioneers beat Air Force then shut out the University of Alabama-Huntsville for their homecoming game on Saturday.  Mitchell had a nice powerplay goal Friday, sniping Air Force goaltender Billy Christopolous from the top of the circle.  The Pioneers host the University of Alaska-Fairbanks next weekend.

.@IanMitch15 with an absolute snipe on the PP. Pios up 2-0 almost halfway through the 1st against Air Force. pic.twitter.com/3tyYESBy4S

— LetsGoDU (@LetsGoDU) October 13, 2018

Jake Wise – Forward – Boston University

The Boston University Terriers had a difficult weekend getting swept by the Minnesota-State Mavericks.  In his first two college hockey games, Jake Wise didn’t register any points, but he is playing on BU’s top line with Bobo Carpenter and Buffalo Sabres prospect Max Willman.  It’s safe to say that there will be plenty more opportunities for him to score this season.  The Terriers host the US Under-18 Team and travel to Merrimack next weekend.

Honorable Mentions – Jake Massie & Liam Coughlin – Vermont

Last weekend, Vermont went on the road to Michigan and beat the top-ranked Wolverines.  On the year, Coughlin has two assists and Massie has one.  The two upper-classmen look to lead the Catamounts to a better season in Hockey East.  Vermont doesn’t play for two weeks when they travel to New Hampshire and Brown.

The post Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Campus Report: Oct 13-14 appeared first on The Rink.

One of the more common misconceptions of, not just hockey, but sports organizations in general, is that “our team’s prospects are more valuable than the other organization’s prospects, thus we cannot trade them away.”  As a result, just the contemplation of trading “player x” for “player z” spins the casual masses into a mouth foaming frenzy.  This fallacy has lulled fans into an inflated sense of loyalty and value.

This exaggerated sense of “hypervaluation” is not just limited to current players. The irrationality extends to players not even drafted into the respective organizations yet. Draft picks.

Not all is doom and gloom, though. Even just ten years ago, the casual fan knew little about prospects in the system of their favorite team. There was very little video to see, and it was hard to find any credible information on a player not immediately in the team’s zeitgeist. Today, there are several websites you could pull stats from, and YouTube has made it very easy to pull highlights of just about any player you want to learn about. All wonderful things.

The problem is that the casual fan (and even sometimes the serious fan) often times fails to weigh all the evidence properly. This leads to an inflated sense of value.

This leads me to Blackhawks fans. I give them credit, they are trying to become more familiar with the depths of the prospect pool. That should be commended and applauded. The desire to learn is not bad.

The unintended consequence is that fans (and even the team) become far too attached to players that are, quite frankly, more likely to flop than succeed. For every Alex Debrincat, there is a Bill Sweatt or Ludvig Rensfeldt. For every Brandon Saad, there is a Kyle Beach or Mark McNeill (or three). Simple reasoning will tell you that, more often than not, players will fail register as significant pro players and, even more likely, not even reach the NHL.

There are very few prospects that will actually pan out or make you look back on a trade and regret dealing a player away. Look around the league. How many former Blackhawks prospects can you realistically regret dealing? Not established NHL players like Artemi Panarin, Teuvo Teravainen or even Dustin Byfuglien.

Philip Danault?
Stephen Johns?
Tyler Motte?

All nice players, but more supporting cast than the next wave of dominating NHL players. Granted, they would be nice to still have, but they do not automatically put the Stanley Cup back on United Center ice.

My point being, if the Blackhawks had given up on Dylan Olsen (1st round, 28th overall) in 2010 or traded the second round pick (36th overall) in 2011 that became Adam Clendening, to bring in a depth player that could have filled an immediate need, would the complexion of the franchise have been forever tarnished?

Absolutely not!

You might have a case if the players are drafted in the top 15 slots. Generational game breaking players are most often drafted in those positions. Otherwise, you can acquire depth players through trades or free agency.

One might might say, “Jeff, the Blackhawks could have had ‘x,y,x’ player if they didn’t trade this pick away.” Certainly a valid point. What picks have the Blackhawks traded away that turned out to be accomplished NHL players? Have any?

These are just the first, second or third round picks that the team has traded away since 2010.

Brock Nelson? (2010, 1st round, 30th overall)
Xavier Ouellet? (2011, 2nd round, 48th overall)
Zach Sanford? (2013, 2nd round, 61st overall)
JC Lipon? (2013, 3rd round, 91st overall)
Nikolay Goldobin? (2014, 1st round, 27th overall, turned into Nick Schmaltz)
Justin Kirkland (2014, 3rd round, 62nd overall)
Nick Merkley? (2015, 1st round, 30th overall)
Jeremy Bracco? (2015, 2nd round, 61st overall)
German Rubtsov? (2016, 1st round, 22nd overall)
Wade Allison? (2016, 2nd round, 52nd overall)
Jake Oettinger? (2017, 1st round, 26th overall, turned into Henri Jokiharju)
Keith Petruzzelli? (2017, 3rd round, 88th overall)

Brock Nelson is a nice depth center (playing top minutes on a depleted Islanders team) and the two picks they acquired in that deal were busts (Rensfeldt and Kent Simpson), but is this a deal that set back the Blackhawks?

I would argue, not a chance.

The moral of this story is that the next time you read or hear about a potential trade, or a trade actually happens involving some third round prospect (or second round draft pick, for that matter), take a breath, open your mind and break it down logically.

The Blackhawks are more likely to improve by trading for a known NHL quantity than the “hopes and dreams” of some kid who might just only be the next Akim Aliu.

The post Are Prospects and Draft Picks Overvalued? appeared first on The Rink.

If you take a look at every team in the Central Division, you’ll notice that they’re all very strong at the center position.  Whether it’s going up against Mark Scheifele in Winnipeg, Ryan Johansen in Nashville, or Eric Staal in Minnesota, it’s always a battle for the puck.  And over the years, the Blackhawks haven’t been able to find depth beyond star Jonathan Toews.  Nick Schmaltz showed a lot of potential last season, but he’s still growing and has yet to be locked up long term.

So who could be next?

One prospect that has been in the Blackhawks system for a few years has been Beau Starrett of Cornell University.  Drafted in the third round in 2014, Starrett is going into his senior season playing for the Big Red.

Throughout his college hockey career, Starrett has never produced more than 14 points, but his towering figure brings other elements to the game that the Blackhawks should be intrigued by.  The most important being his faceoff numbers.

During his senior season, Starrett took 469 draws and won almost 54% of them on Cornell’s top line.  He also can skate pretty well.  At the last couple prospect camps, Starrett had quick feet and did a great job moving the puck up to his wings on the breakout.

Starrett’s obvious physical talent is his size at 6’5 222lbs.  He doesn’t necessarily throw his weight around, but his board-play and ability to fight for positioning with his body are both attributes the Blackhawks need desperately on their roster.  Starrett also has a nose for the net.  He’s often found lurking around the goal-mouth cleaning up rebounds or setting screens for his shooters.

A similar player who has had moderate success in the NHL is Jimmy Hayes who weighs in at 6’5 215lbs.  Hayes played for the Blackhawks for a few years and produced because of his ability to get to the dirty areas.  Starrett could do the same.

Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville loves the try hard, effort guys so there are other ways to win him over besides being a player like Patrick Kane.  Because Starrett is already a great faceoff man he’s already ahead of the curve, but playing great defense and being responsible in your own end is important.  The biggest problem you see with young players is their ego.  They over-think a play, try to get cute, or just don’t make the simply play.  Hockey IQ is just as important as skill on the Hawks.

We also have to take into consideration that NHL teams lose their rights to NCAA players in the fall following their senior seasons if they cannot reach an agreement.  Let’s hope Starrett has a great season and inks his future with the Hawks by season’s end.

The post Blackhawks’ Prospect Beau Starrett Faces Pivotal Senior Year at Cornell appeared first on The Rink.

Once the NCAA season officially kicks off this fall, we will get back to posting weekly roundups on our blog and on twitter recapping production and progress from all the Hawks’ NCAA players.  But right now, we wanted to rank the top five players at the collegiate level.  There is a good mix of lower and upperclassmen playing in several conferences of college hockey this year so it should be a blast.

Let’s get started.

Chicago Blackhawks’ Top Five NCAA Prospects

5.  Jake Wise – Forward, Boston University

I didn’t plan on having Wise crack this list, but his prospect camp performance and upside made it a tough decision.  Drafted this year in the third round, Wise is coming off a couple seasons playing in the US National Development program.  He will be attending Boston University this fall, joining a hockey program that has been dominant in years past.

Wise’s numbers show he’s a play-making center and he put that on display this summer at prospect camp.  His speed and hands were the topic of conversation over the summer earning him a reputation of potentially being the Blackhawks’ “steal of the draft.”  Wise will be spending his weekends playing tough opponents such as the Northeastern Huskies and the Boston College Eagles, but hopefully fellow Blackhawks prospect and junior at BU Chad Krys can help him ease into the transition.  Wise will also be surrounded by a great forward group featuring Bobo Carpenter, Shane Bowers, and Patrick Harper.

4.  Fredrik Olofsson – Forward, University of Nebraska-Omaha

Although Olofsson’s numbers don’t blow you out of the water, he was one of the most polished players that I got to see play last year.  Qualities like speed and size stick out immediately to the naked eye of a spectator, but hockey sense is blaring to those who watch a lot of hockey.  Olofsson showed a lot of maturity and poise last season, and could be on the verge of a breakout season.

The Broomfield Colorado-native could have signed pro but decided to go back to college for his senior year.  The Mavericks will be much improved from last season when they went 17-17-2, and they could turn the tide on other powerhouses in the NCHC like Minnesota-Duluth and the University of Denver.  Now that he is more familiar playing the center position, this season is huge for Olofsson to prove he’s worthy of a pro contract, and the Hawks could really use a player like Freddy.

3.  Evan Barratt – Forward, Penn State University

Evan Barratt may be one of the most exciting Blackhawks prospects to watch this season.  Adding 18 points in 32 games, Barratt had a solid season for a freshman and really started to thrive in the Nittany Lion’s system towards the end of the season.  His frame and size resemble a former Blackhawk that show an intriguing comparison;  Dave Bolland.  Bolland was an absolute pain in the rear to play against but he also had great skill.  Not to mention his goals were as scrappy as they come.  If Barratt can continue to score and be scrappy, he may find his niche to get his ticket to Chicago someday.

Penn State and their run-and-gun style of play should take a huge step this season and Barratt could be at the forefront of that.  The Big Ten is set to be a difficult conference again this fall, but don’t look past what kind of noise Penn State could make.  If Barratt can find his was past the 30-35 point mark with some extra ice time this season, he could really show some serious positive strides.

2.  Chad Krys – Defenseman, Boston University

The is no doubt defenseman Chad Krys has skill, but the question is where he fits into the Blackhawks future plans on the blue line.  In a system that was once dried up of defensive prospects, it now may rank in the top ten NHL-wide.  Krys has the competition of several prospects at the AHL level above him, and top draft picks below him in the junior ranks.  Of course all he will say is that he needs to focus on himself, but we all know his season will have to do the talking for him.

The Blackhawks want to see more physicality and ability to retrieve pucks and exit cleanly from Krys.  It’s no secret he can skate better than most that he’s on the ice with, but this season will be a focus on his ability to keep pucks out of the net.  The next year or two will most likely have a few prospects on the move to make roster spots and Krys will have to do his best to show he’s worth the wait.

1.  Ian Mitchell – Defenseman, The University of Denver

Defenseman Ian Mitchell is becoming one of the most decorated Blackhawks prospects when it comes to his hockey resume.  Last season, he was one of the nation’s top defenseman and made the all-freshman team for the NCHC conference.  The Denver Pioneers were just one win away from another Frozen Four appearance but they fell to the Ohio State Buckeyes.  Mitchell finished the season with two goals and 28 assists.

This summer, Mitchell has been training hard for the 2018-19 season and his work is showing.  He impressed at Blackhawks prospect camp this summer and then played in the World Juniors showcase for Team Canada in Kamloops British Columbia alongside 2018 1st round pick Nicolas Beadin.  There is a very strong possibility Mitchell could sign with the Blackhawks after his sophomore season, but it’s safe to say his development is right on track.

The post Ranking the Chicago Blackhawks’ Top Five NCAA Prospects appeared first on The Rink.

The fans were treated to a scrimmage with the first full-ice five-on-five action of the week, a full period of four-on-four play, three-on-three overtime, and eventually a shootout. The scrimmage ended with the red team taking the win on shootout goals by Mackenzie Entwistle and free agent Princeton forward Ryan Kuffner (pictured above).

Don’t forget to listen to Thursday night’s Rinkcast to hear us talk more about what we saw.

Photo by Jeff Osborn/The-Rink

Below are some observations Eric Andrews and I made during today’s sessions:

• Alexandre Fortin wrapped up his week as the clear cut best forward on the ice, exuding confidence and polish throughout the session.
• As mentioned above, Ryan Kuffner had himself a nice scrimmage, scoring in the second period and then icing the win with one of the only two shootout goals.
• Tim Soderlund was not nearly as noticeable as he was last summer, but he flies with the puck and is fearless.  That said, the coaching staff had him playing right wing instead of center.  He looked to have really nice chemistry with Mathias From, who also had a very solid camp.
• Freddy Olofsson, Liam Coughlin and free agent Connor Moynihan had the best chances in the first period and it is no surprise that they were also three of the bigger players on the ice.
• Speaking of bigger players, Josiah Slavin certainly didn’t look like a late round draft pick this week.  He seemed to be everywhere.
• We saw a lot of Adam Boqvist, but he was much more interested in the offensive side of the rink than his own.  During a couple of plays, he insisted on making one too many fancy moves and turned the puck over both in his own zone and at the far blue line..  To anyone with delusions of this kid playing for the Blackhawks at 17/18 years old, just reel your hopes back in right now.  He did have a really nice assist on Olofsson’s goal in the second period.
• Henri Jokiharju spent a good deal of time on the ice and continued to get a nice push, especially on the power play.  The coaching staff was clearly comfortable with having him on the ice in all situations.
• Similarly, Chad Krys was out on the ice in the same situations.  His anticipation was very noticeable.
• Beau Starrett was one of the few centers to stand out.  His big frame and long strides allowed him to blow around defencemen on a couple of occasions.
• Niklas Nordgren did not skate because of a lower body injury, Jacob Nilsson took an early flight back to Sweden, and Blake Hillman just sat out.
• Jack Ramsey made his return to the ice and was awarded the camp trophy for his team’s win.
• Free agent Kyle Maksimovich had a goal and was around the puck all day.
• As far as the goalies go, Alexis Gravel and Mathew Robeson held the teams scoreless in the first period.  Wouter Peeters had much more favorable results in his period of play than he was the previous four days, but was still unimpressive overall.  Free agent from St. Francis Xavier University and USports Goaltender of the Year Chase Marchand (cousin of Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand) played the third period, the overtime and the shootout without allowing a single goal.

Check out over 120 photos from the week at the Rink’s Official Facebook page:

The post Blackhawks Prospect Camp: Day 5 appeared first on The Rink.

All to be taken with a grain of salt, of course.

As the years have gone on the chance of that next Alexandre Fortin or Collin Delia type player getting signed out of camp is rare, since the Blackhawks have gone to a more prospect intensive format rather than inviting and showcasing a large number of free agents.

Camp is split up into two groups, and the players are put though various on ice drills which eventually leads to the yearly Friday scrimmage.

There were a few observations Eric Andrews and I noticed after the first day:

• Adam Boqvist and Henri Jokiharju are clearly the belles of the ball and rightfully so. They are the most talented defensemen on the entire camp. That said, they are still young and not without flaws. The future is bright for these two kids.
• After Boqvist and Jokiharju, defenseman Ian Mitchell continues to impress. He could turn out to be the absolute steal of the 2017 draft.
• Following a down season last year in Rockford, Alexandre Fortin seems to have regained his wheels. That can only be good for the Icehogs.
• Niklas Nordgren looks smaller on the ice than I had anticipated (big surprise, right?) and got pushed around quite a bit in the contact drills.
• The newest Blackhawks prospect, MacKenzie Entwistle, is a big lumbering kid. I am interested to see if he can be a power forward at the pro level.
• Defenseman Roope Laavainen has some decent size but his foot speed is still in need of help.
• Clearly, Dennis Gilbert and Blake Hillman are trying to use their size to catch the eye of the Blackhawks staff.
• Mathias From has that Phillip Danault look and feel to him. He is listed at 6’1″ but looks taller this year. We could seem him jump to that next level as a legit prospect this year.
• As far as goalies go, Wouter Peeters is an absolute enigma. I still have not seen anything that makes him stand out as a prospect. This summer both Alexis Gravel and free agent invitee Linden Marshall are more noticeable, while Collin Delia out shined him the last two summers. Marshall is my under the radar goalie prospect, so far, this year. Remember that name, because he is likely going to show up somewhere, someday.
• Regarding the few free agents in camp, Kyle Maksimovich is a smaller forward with an edge but the Blackhawks have a bunch of those. Connor Moynihan, on the other hand, has some nice size that could come in useful. It seem strange saying that 209 lbs looks small but he could fill out his frame with another 15-20 lbs.

Check out some photos from day 1, right here:

The post Blackhawks Prospect Camp: Day 1 appeared first on The Rink.

2017-18 was a successful season for the Chicago Blackhawks prospects in college hockey, and hopefully that trend doesn’t stop any time soon.  It will be tough with defensemen Blake Hillman and Dennis Gilbert signing pro contracts after their junior-year seasons, as well as forward Dylan Sikura graduating from Northeastern and signing with the Blackhawks.  But reinforcements are on the way.

At the 2018 NHL Draft, the Blackhawks selected three players who have committed to NCAA programs.  Third round selection Jake Wise will play for Boston University, fifth-rouder Mikael Hakkarainen will play for Providence, and seventh-round pick Josiah Slavin will suit up for the Colorado College Tigers after next season.

Wise is attending one of the most prestigious college hockey programs in the country in Boston University.  Although David Quinn has moved on taking a job with the New York Rangers, his development won’t miss a beat under Albie O’Connell.

Hakkarainen will also be in Hockey East, a very tough division in college hockey.  Providence is a young team where Hakkarainen will get some great experience under head coach Nate Leaman.  He could’ve played with fellow Blackhawks prospect Jake Ryczek, but he ended up leaving school to play for the Halifax Mooseheads.

Slavin will return to the Lincoln Stars of the USHL for another season to develop before he heads to Colorado Springs to play for Colorado of the NCHC.  He will be playing under head coach Mike Haviland, a former Blackhawks assistant coach.

Blackhawks prospects remaining in college hockey for next season are the following players:

• Evan Barratt, Penn State
• Liam Coughlin, Vermont
• Josh Ess, Wisconsin
• Parker Foo, Union College
• Chad Krys, Boston University
• Jake Massie, Vermont
• Ian Mitchell, University of Denver
• Fredrik Olofsson, University of Omaha-Nebraska
• Jack Ramsey, University of Minnesota
• Ryan Shea, Northeastern University
• Beau Starrett, Cornell University

Here are some details and video on the new Blackhawks headed to the NCAA, as well as links to their player profiles by our own Eric Andrews.

Jake Wise – C – Freshman at Boston University – 2018 3rd Rd. Pick

North Andover, MA – 5’10 – 189lbs – Shoots Left – U.S. National Under-18 Team (USHL)

2017-18 stats:  38GP, 11G, 32A, 6PIM, +5

Draft Pick Profile:  Jake Wise

Mikael Hakkarainen – C – Freshman at Providence – 2018 5th Rd. Pick

Helsinki, Finland – 6’0 – 183lbs – Shoots Left – Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)

2017-18 stats:  36GP, 15G, 31A, 16PIM, +7

Draft Pick Profile:  Mikael Hakkarainen

Josiah Slavin – LW – Colorado College (2019) – 2018 7th Rd. Pick

Erie, CO – 6’2 – 182lbs – Shoots Left – Lincoln Stars (USHL)

2017-18 stats:  60GP, 23G, 19A, 30PIM, +27

Draft Pick Profile:  Josiah Slavin

The post Blackhawks Prospects Wise, Hakkarainen, Slavin Will Play College Hockey appeared first on The Rink.

The last decade of Blackhawks hockey has created a crazed culture that has fans itching for more.  We’re now seeing that demand throughout the state.  There has been talk of adding a Division I hockey program in the state of Illinois for a while since there currently are none.  It poses an opportunity for one school to take advantage of hundreds of talented players that leave every year by letting them play close to home.

Back in March of this year, the University of Illinois hired a firm to do a feasibility study that showed that hockey would thrive in Champaign.  Just a couple hours south on I-57, kids from the north shore or south suburbs could be home having dinner with their parents over the weekend if they wanted.

This would create a competitive option for players who currently look at schools within close proximity such as the University of Wisconsin, Michigan State, Michigan, Western Michigan, and Notre Dame.

Ice hockey would “flourish” at the University of Illinois, study shows.

AD Josh Whitman said if they move forward, a hockey program would take “2 to 3 years to get off the ground.”https://t.co/aCVEhkkz43 via @sryantribune pic.twitter.com/0RvXLtiM6Y

— ChicagoSports (@ChicagoSports) March 10, 2018

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Earlier this year, The-Rink caught up with Kevin Fitzgerald from Hinsdale who now plays in the NCHC division for St. Cloud State.  Here’s what he had to say about the possibility of a program at the University of Illinois:

“I mean, yeah.  I know Nick Fabbrini really well, he’s the head coach at the University of Illinois.  He spoke to me about “feasibility reports” of adding a D1 team and it looks like it may be in the works.  It would be good for Chicago kids.  There a lot of hockey in Chicago and a lot of good players.  I feel like giving them a place to go would be really awesome.  I’ve known Nick for a while, he’s a good coach that loves the game.  I think that would be a good spot for kids.”

A report from the Sports Business Journal came out Thursday saying that athletic director Josh Whitman hopes to “green light” the men’s Division I hockey program by the end of the year.  Whitman had this to say about the program:

“I’m increasingly confident in what this could [look] like and our chances of making this a reality. There does seem to be growing interest.” Whitman said that a program “would likely take two to three years to start after green-lighting, but hockey would give Illinois another potential revenue-generating program.”

As far as the Blackhawks, Josh Whitman visited with John McDonough and Stan Bowman in March seeking advice during the feasibility study.  This would be a clear opportunity for the organizations to create a relationship that would be mutually beneficial.

The Blackhawks have been hosting several college hockey games at the United Center including the Frozen Four last year that featured three Big Ten schools.  Similar to Northwestern playing at Wrigley Field, the Blackhawks could host the Fighting Illini annually at the United Center.

There will also be an opportunity for scouting.  A lot of teams tend to draft players in their own backyard because it’s easiest to catch games with short travel.  This could create a pipeline of young players who could potentially get to play for their hometown team.  The Hawks love drafting the local kid i.e. Ryan Hartman and Vinnie Hinostroza.

Even though this project is a few years away, this could be the start of a program that becomes hugely popular.

The post University of Illinois Division I Hockey Becomes a Reality appeared first on The Rink.

It was a pretty fun year following the NCAA prospects throughout the 2017-18 season.  I got to meet a lot of them and can say that the Blackhawks have a knack for drafting high character young men.  Now one year removed from the 2017 prospect camp, I’m excited to see what these kids can do together and what they’ve improved on over the past year.

I think the key with all of these guys is that there is opportunity for everybody.  Each player is one year older now, and whether they’re moving on to the pros or getting more responsibility in college, their games have evolved.

Thanks everybody for following along with my updates and we will have more for you including a Draft recap of all the new college committed players that come into the Hawks system.

Updates on Blackhawks NCAA Prospects

Evan Barratt – C – Freshman at Penn State University – ‘17 3rd Rd Pick 

Bristol, PA – 6’0″ – 187lbs – Shoots Left – U.S. National Development Team (USHL), @BarrattEvan

Stats:  32GP, 11G, 7A

Barratt had a slow start getting used to college hockey production wise, but he really finished the season strong.  The Nittany Lions won five games in a row towards the end of the season including four-consecutive home games against the University of Minnesota which Barratt played a big role in.  In the Frozen Four tournament, the Nittany Lions had a tough draw with the University of Denver, but there is no doubt they be back soon.

Barratt showed a lot of promise on special teams scoring six powerplay goals this season.  With a year of college hockey under his belt, Barratt seems to be on the right track especially playing in Penn State’s high-octane offense.  The Daily Collegian believes Barratt can take over as the face of Penn State Men’s Hockey.

Final Grade:  B

Liam Coughlin – C – Junior at University of Vermont – ’14 5th Rd Pick (EDM)

South Boston, MA – 6’2″ – 201lbs – Shoots Left – Vernon Vipers (USHL), @Liam_Coughlin7

Stats:  34GP, 6G, 10A

Liam Coughlin showed a lot of maturity this season, even though Vermont had a down year.  As a player that had previously produced around 12 points, Coughlin seemed to make every one of his 16 points count this season.  Although his first half was quiet, he scored 11 of his 16 points in his final 13 games including a hat-trick against UMass-Lowell.

Coughlin will return to Vermont for his senior season, but hopefully not before he attends Blackhawks prosepct camp.  His size is intriguing along with flashes of playmaking ability.  It will be interesting what he brings this year in front of the ‘Hawks front office team.

Final Grade:  B-

Josh Ess – RD – Freshman at the University of Wisconsin – ’17 7th Rd Pick

Lakeville, MN – 5’11” – 188lbs – Shoots Left – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL), @JoshuaEss

Current Stats:  33GP, 2G, 2A

If you just look at Ess’ point production from this past year, you would probably assume he didn’t have a good season.  But if you look closer and consider a couple of other external factors, the Lakeville Minnesota product had a positive freshman year at Wisconsin.  The Frozen Four consisted of four BigTen schools in Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Michigan.  These were all teams Ess went up against regularly, yet he still maintained a plus/minus of +10.

Ess’ only had 34 shots on goal this season, but that’s characteristic of many freshman who chose to defer to older teammates to earn their respect.  Ess will enter his sophomore season with more responsibility and experience, and his defensive unit will get a huge boost from freshman K’Andre Miller from the US Development program.  Ess should play a bigger role next season and beyond.

Final Grade:  B-

Parker Foo – LW – Freshman at Union College – ’17 5th Rd Pick

Edmonton, Alberta – 6’1″ – 190lbs – Shoots Left – Brooks Bandits (AJHL), @pfoo22

Current Stats:  33GP, 1G, 5A

The ECAC was no cakewalk this year to play in with Clarkson, Cornell, and Harvard, but Union hung in there and finished 2nd in the standings.  Parker Foo surprisingly only scored one goal, but there have to be more coming in his second year at Union.  Foo’s minutes were limited yet he still managed to put almost 60 shots on net his season.  He will have to add more aggressiveness and confidence to his repertoire, along with his already great speed.

Final Grade:  C

Dennis Gilbert – LD – Junior at the University of Notre Dame – ’15 3rd Rd Pick

Williamsville, NY – 6’2″ – 200lbs – Shoots Left – Chicago Steel (USHL), @Dennis_Gilbert8

Current Stats:  39GP, 4G, 6A

Gilbert had another great season on the back-end with Notre Dame.  After going to the Frozen Four in 2017, the Fighting Irish were thought to take a big step back with the loss of Anders Bjork and Cal Petersen, but they did the opposite.  They were one of the nations top teams all year with a great defense.

At 6’2 200lbs., Gilbert may be just what the Blackhawks need.  He plays a safe, but physical game.  Defensemen don’t need to be flashy, they just need to be plugged in and soak up valuable minutes without being heard.  Gilbert could be this and more.

Final Grade:  A

Blake Hillman – LD – Junior at the University of Denver – ’16 6th Rd Pick

Elk River, MN – 6’1″ – 182lbs – Shoots Left – Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL), @Blake_Hillman8

Current Stats:  41GP, 3G, 9A

We got to see a little of what defenseman Blake Hillman has to offer when he spent the final two weeks with the Blackhawks.  He played in four NHL games and had one goal that was an absolute bomb set up by Nick Schmaltz on the rush.

What I know about Hillman is that he has the tools to get a great defenseman, and hopefully he can get some quality experience in the pros to enhance those skills.  He has great hands and can skate very well.  One thing that he had trouble with in college was his shot selection and situational awareness.  Some may call it “gripping the stick too hard,” but he really wanted to consistently make plays for the Pioneers.  He can be a high risk/high reward type player, but I believe IceHogs head coach Jeremy Colliton can get a lot out of this kid and hopefully get him to the next level.

Final Grade:  B+

Chad Krys – LD – Sophomore at Boston University – ’16 2nd Rd Pick

Ridgefield, CT – 6’0″ – 185lbs – Shoots Left – US National Development Team (USHL)

Current Stats:  36GP, 7G, 20A

Chad Krys has the skills and ability to be a serious game-changer at the pro level, considering he’s already doing it in college.  Krys had five multi-point games this season, and it’s unlikely to not see his name on the Boston Terriers’ score sheet.  Krys will return for his junior year at BU and will be a leader for the Terriers.  As he continues to develop mentally and physically, this is a player Blackhawks’ fans should keep their eye on.  There are a lot of defensive prospects in the system, but very few players the Hawks need more to work out than Krys.

Final Grade:  A

Jake Massie – LD – Freshman at the University of Vermont – ’15 6th Rd Pick (CAR)

Saint-Lazare, Quebec – 6’2″ – 177lbs – Shoots Left – Omaha Lancers, @JakeMassie3

Current Stats:  2936, 2G, 5A

Jake Massie had a similar freshman year as Josh Ess did at Wisconsin.  His point production wasn’t much, but Massie had much less help on offense in a very tough Hockey East Conference.  Vermont had a hard time scoring and ended up losing 20 games last season.  Despite the poor season for Vermont, Massie finished the season with a plus/minus of -2 while he gained a lot of experience in his first year of college hockey.  Let’s see how he responds in his sophomore season.

Final Grade:  C+

Ian Mitchell – RD – Freshman at the University of Denver – ’17 2nd Rd Pick

Calahoo, Alberta – 5’11” – 173lbs – Shoots Right – Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL), @IanMitch15

Current Stats:  41GP, 2G, 28A

Could a young hockey player ask to be put in a better situation than what Ian Mitchell fell into at Denver?  He played his first year of college hockey under the 2017 coach of the year, in front of the goalie of the year, and with an already established defensive unit.  Yet Mitchell still excelled in his own way.  Going into the season, Mitchell was known for his offensive game, but vowed to focus more on defense and whatever he was asked to do by head coach Jim Montgomery.

Mitchell was given the keys to a Cadillac of a powerplay at Denver featuring now-NHL players Troy Terry, Dylan Gambrell, and Henrik Borgstrom.  He thrived quarterbacking and facilitating from the point, and also became much more aggressive in the second half of the season.  Mitchell will be leaned on heavily next season with the loss of Blake Hillman and Tariq Hammond, but his character matches that of a vocal leader.  His development and confidence took a huge leap this season under Montgomery.

Final Grade:  A

Fredrik Olofsson –  C – Junior at University of Nebraska-Omaha – ’14 4th Rd Pick

Broomfield, Colorado – 6’2″ – 204lbs – Shoots Right – Chicago Steel (USHL), @FreddyOlofsson

Current Stats:  33GP, 6G, 14A

Olofsson had a good start to the year, but didn’t have any points in his final five games.  It’s possible he was dealing with an injury or it was just tough matchups with Minnesota-Duluth and North Dakota.  As a player that switched over from wing to center this season, Olofsson handled the added responsibility well.  He distributed the puck fluidly, looked stronger on his skates, and grew his two-way game.  He also won a lot of puck battles in the corners for Omaha.  Returning for his senior season, Olofsson should show a lot of progress on the ice and as a leader.

Final Grade:  B-

Jack Ramsey – RW – Junior at the University of Minnesota – ’11 7th Rd Pick

Chanhassen, MN – 6’3″ – 201lbs – Shoots Right – Penticton Vees (BCHL), @Ramsey_16

Current Stats:  38GP, 4G, 6A

Ramsey is a player that if he plays his cards right, he can make his way to Chicago.  Some people write him off because of his point production, but the Blackhawks need this kind of player.  Chicago has often been criticized for being a perimeter team and for not having enough players willing to get their hands dirty.  Ramsey is this guy.

At 6’3 200 pounds, Ramsey can throw his weight around if he wants.  And with former St. Cloud State Huskies head coach Bob Motzko coaching the Gophers next season, Ramsey will hopefully embrace his physical style.  Ramsey is due for a big season next year.

Final Grade:  C

Ryan Shea – LD – Sophomore at Northeastern University – ’15 4th Rd Pick

Milton, MA – 6’1″ – 180lbs – Shoots Left – Youngstown Phantoms (USHL), @RyanShea2

Current Stats:  38GP, 1G, 16A

Ryan Shea is also due for a big test next season.  With some big scorers like Adam Gaudette and Dylan Sikura leaving for the NHL, Shea will have a lot more responsibility as an upper-classman.  He has so far proven he is a durable and reliable defenseman who can set up his team mates well.  But in a Blackhawks system that’s full of budding defensemen, he may want to take his time like Sikura did to develop in college and come out when he’s 100% ready.

Final Grade:  B-

Dylan Sikura – LW – Senior at Northeastern University – ’14 6th Rd Pick

Aurora, Ontario – 6’0″ – 166lbs – Shoots Left – Aurora Tigers (OJHL), @Dsikky11

Current Stats:  35GP, 22G, 32A 

Sikura had a Hobey Baker-like season, even though his linemate Adam Gaudette came home with the hardware.  It was clear that he excelled in every area of the college game and that he is ready for a new challenge.  Blackhawks fans could finally breathe knowing he signed his entry-level contract and hopefully that’s not the last contract he signs in Chicago.

In five games playing with the Blackhawks, we saw that he could definitely keep up with the pace.  He even collected three points in those five games.  But like any other college kid, he’ll need to put on some weight this summer and come into training camp aggressive.  There are a lot of young players with their eyes on spots in Chicago, especially guys who have done their time in Rockford.  But Mr. DeBrincat showed us that making the team as a rookie isn’t impossible.

Final Grade:  A

Beau Starrett – C – Junior at Cornell University – 2014 3rd Rd Pick

Bellingham, MA – 6’5′ – 222lbs – Shoots Left – South Shore Kings (USPHL), @Beau_Dangles

Current Stats:  32GP, 3G, 7A

Starrett will return to Cornell for his senior season, but he has to come out of it with an identity.  Because of his size, he’s assumed to play big but I’m not sure that’s his style right now.  His point production in college has been low, even though I remember him skating and passing pretty well for a big guy.  I’m not sure why he isn’t having success when the Big Red is, but something has to change.  The Blackhawks used a 2nd round pick on Graham Knott and a 3rd on Starrett but the returns have been limited.

The post Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Prospects: Final Grades appeared first on The Rink.

The Blackhawks continue to bolster their roster depth with the additions of Northeastern forward Dylan Sikura and Denver defenseman Blake Hillman.  Both players signed two-year entry-level contracts and will most likely see time in the final games of the Blackhawks season.  We have already seen top prospect and newcomer Victor Ejdsell called up to the Blackhawks and have noticed good things so far.  This theme of testing young players at the pro level is new for the Blackhawks, but needed to happen eventually.

Dennis Gilbert

Sikura and Hillman are great additions to the team, but could there be more?  The answer is most likely yes.  One player that comes to mind is Notre Dame’s Dennis Gilbert.  Gilbert is a defensive defenseman for the Fighting Irish who has been a very durable player in his three years in South Bend.  He has played between 37 and 40 games each year for the Irish and has always had a positive plus/minus.

FINAL!
2-1 Notre Dame defeats Providence and advances to the #FrozenFour !
Back-to-back appearances for the Irish #Blackhawks prospect Dennis Gilbert will also make his 2nd appearance in the National Semi-finals#NCAAHockey #CawlidgeHawkey

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) March 25, 2018

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Notre Dame is currently in the Frozen Four and depending on their success, Gilbert may or may not suit up for the Blackhawks this season.  He could also return for his senior season if he feels like he could use more development.  But at this point, his success and experience at the collegiate level would suggest that he is ready for the pros.

Fredrik Olofsson

It was recently reported by Scott Powers of The Athletic that Olofsson will not be turning pro and will return to the University of Nebraska-Omaha for his senior season.  He would’ve been a great addition to the Blackhawks system, but his development at Omaha will also be beneficial.  He recently changed over from wing to center so it’s possible he felt he could use another year to adjust.

Honorable Mentions

A couple of other names that you can throw out there are Cornell’s Beau Starrett, Minnesota’s Jack Ramsey, and even possibly Boston University’s Chad Krys.  But I anticipate all these players return to their collegiate teams next season.  Gilbert is the only prospect I believe is on the bubble when it comes to signing.

This upcoming draft will be very important when it comes to the prospect pool.  With two picks in the first round and a shot at a top three pick, the Blackhawks could really make up some lost ground when it comes to prospects.  Yes they have a couple nice pieces from last year’s draft but those guys aren’t nearly ready for the NHL.  Adding a Dahlin, Svechnikov, or Tkachuk could catapult the Hawks into a faster rebuild than many anticipate.  But even if they select 7th overall as they are currently projected, that player will hopefully impact the team in the near future.

The post Chicago Blackhawks: Could More College Prospects Be Added to the Mix? appeared first on The Rink.

Terms have not been disclosed but there is a cap on entry level contracts, and his is expected to be the maximum.

The maximum salary for an entry level contract is $925,000 plus an allotment of performance bonuses which could end up being being as much as the Artemi Panarin cap hit and subsequent bonuses in 2016, if the criteria are met.

Sikura finished his season 3rd in the NCAA in scoring with 22G-32A-54P.  He also finished with 14 power play goals, which is something the Blackhawks are in desperate need of.

Sikura has been listed as a center but might project better as a wing in the bigger faster NHL.

The post REPORT: Blackhawks Sign Prospect Dylan Sikura appeared first on The Rink.

Ian Mitchell and Blake Hillman attempt to defend Denver University’s 2017 National Championship, but have a tough test ahead. The Blackhawks prospects trying to unseat Hillman, Mitchell, and the rest of the Pioneers squad are Chad Krys of Boston University (Hockey East Champions), Ryan Shea and Dylan Sikura of Northeastern University, Dennis Gilbert of the University of Notre Dame (Big Ten Champions), Beau Starrett of Cornell University, and Evan Barratt of Penn State University.

Eight Blackhawks Prospects Vying For NCAA Championship

The Frozen Four tournament begins on March 23 with the Regional semi-finals on March 23 and 24 and the Regional finals on March 24 and 25. The Regional final winners advance to the NCAA Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minnesota on April 5 with the National Championship taking place on April 7 at the Xcel Energy Center.

WEST REGION

No Blackhawks representation in the West Region, which has top-overall seed St. Cloud State take on Air Force and Minnesota-Duluth squaring off against Minnesota State.

EAST REGION

In the East Region, #2 overall seed Notre Dame takes on Michigan Tech, while Providence faces Clarkson. Big Ten champions Notre Dame and Dennis Gilbert look to advance to back-to-back Frozen Four’s after falling to eventual National Champion Denver last year in Chicago. This year marks Notre Dame’s 10th NCAA Tournament appearance as they look for their fourth Frozen Four.

NORTHEAST REGION

Things get really interesting in the tournament’s Northeast Region as Beau Starrett and #3 overall seed Cornell take on Chad Krys and Boston University in the Regional semi-final. Also, in the Midwest Region is the University of Michigan taking on Ryan Shea and Dylan Sikura of Northeastern University.

For Starrett and Cornell, this is the 21st NCAA Tournament appearance in school history and their first back-to-back appearances since 2009 and 2010. Cornell has eight Frozen Four appearances in school history, but has not made the National Semi-Finals since 2003.

As for Krys and the Boston Terriers, this is the 36th NCAA Tournament appearance in school history and their fourth trip in a row. Last season, Boston fell an overtime goal short of the Frozen Four as they lost to eventual National Runner-Up Minnesota-Duluth. Boston is attempting to reach their 23rd Frozen Four, with their last appearance coming in 2015.

Northeastern will be looking for their second Frozen Four appearance in school history with their sixth bid in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies have never won an NCAA Hockey National Championship with their only Frozen Four appearance coming in 1982. A lot of Blackhawks eyes will be on Northeastern as Sikura has become one of the most sought-after NCAA players over the last two seasons. Chicago drafted Sikura in the sixth round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

MIDWEST REGION

Finally in the Midwest Region, the winner of #4 overall seed Ohio State and Princeton will face the winner of Evan Barratt and Penn State University versus defending National Champions Blake Hillman, Ian Mitchell, and the Denver Pioneers.

For Penn State, a program that joined the NCAA in the 2012-13 season, this marks the second NCAA tournament appearance in back-to-back years. Last season ended for the Nittany Lions at the hands of Denver University in the Regional Final. No doubt that Penn State will be looking for revenge, but it won’t be easy against a stacked Pioneers squad. Denver is making it’s 29th NCAA Tournament appearance and have made the tournament 11 years in a row dating back to the 2008 tournament. A powerhouse in NCAA hockey over the last decade and change, Denver has 16 Frozen Four appearances program history with back-to-back appearances in 2016 and 2017, winning their 8th National Championship last year in Chicago, defeating Minnesota-Duluth.

Another team that a lot of the Blackhawks community will be paying attention to as Pioneers freshman defenseman Ian Mitchell has garnered a lot of praise as a top-end defensive prospect. The Blackhawks drafted Mitchell in the second round of last year’s NHL Entry Draft and was named to the NCHC Conference All-Tournament team as Denver defeated St. Cloud State.

How To Watch

Here is the full TV Schedule for the NCAA Frozen Four Tournament from USCHO.com:

East Regional

At Webster Bank Arena, Bridgeport, Conn., March 23-24

• Friday: Notre Dame vs. Michigan Tech, 3 p.m., ESPN2

• Friday: Providence vs. Clarkson, 6:30 p.m., ESPNU

• Saturday: Friday winners, 6 p.m., ESPNU

West Regional

At Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls, S.D., March 23-24

• Friday: St. Cloud State vs. Air Force, 4 p.m., ESPNU

• Friday: Minnesota State vs. Minnesota Duluth, 7:30 p.m., ESPN3

• Saturday: Friday winners, 9 p.m., ESPN2

Northeast Regional

At DCU Center, Worcester, Mass., March 24-25

• Saturday: Cornell vs. Boston University, 1 p.m., ESPNews

• Saturday: Michigan vs. Northeastern, 4:30 p.m., ESPNews

• Sunday: Saturday winners, 4 p.m., ESPN2

Midwest Regional

At PPL Center, Allentown, Pa., March 24-25

• Saturday: Ohio State vs. Princeton, 3:30 p.m., ESPNU

• Saturday: Denver vs. Penn State, 7 p.m., ESPN3

• Sunday: Saturday winners, 6:30 p.m., ESPNU

Frozen Four

At Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minn., April 5-7

• Thursday, April 5: West Regional winner vs. Midwest Regional winner, 6 or 9:30 p.m., ESPN2; Northeast Regional winner vs. East Regional winner, 6 or 9:30 p.m., ESPN2

• Saturday, April 7: Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2

The post Eight Blackhawks Prospects Earn Bids To NCAA Frozen Four Tournament appeared first on The Rink.

In the NHL, players always fear the team that barely makes it in because they are “playing with house money.”  There isn’t a more fun position to be in than going out there and playing some fun hockey knowing you aren’t supposed to be there.  We saw the LA Kings run the table when the did this, and even as recent as the Nashville Predators.  Although we can’t see it, momentum is something all hockey players feel out there on the ice.

As March Madness is upon us in college sports, one Big Ten hockey club has found some magic recently.  Two weeks ago, Penn State hosted the University of Minnesota, a storied college hockey program, in their last series of the regular season .  If they won, they would have the right to host Minnesota again the next week to start the Big Ten Tournament.  And that’s exactly what happened.  Penn State beat the University of Minnesota four straight games at home scoring a minimum of five goals each game.  And boy was the atmosphere electric.

Check out the highlights from Saturday night’s 6-5 victory over Minnesota as we sweep the Gophers to advance to next Saturday’s Big Ten Tournament Semifinals at No. 1 Notre Dame!! #WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/aNgsVt9LbM

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) March 4, 2018

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In those four games, Blackhawks prospect Evan Barratt had five points with four goals and an assist.  Below is a video of a goal where he gets a clean shot on net and follows it up with a nice backhand rebound goal.

Evan Barratt. Again. That’s Barratt’s second of the game, third of the weekend and fourth in the past four games against Minnesota. PSU leads 6-5. pic.twitter.com/FLG00A5A0j

— Patrick Burns (@PatrickBurns_) March 4, 2018

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Barratt also got under the skin of some of the Gopher players, most notably New York Rangers prospect Ryan Lindgren.  Barratt used the crowd’s energy to lay out some punishing hits as well.

Here it is folks: Evan Barratt making the crybaby face at Ryan Lindgren during last night’s game. pic.twitter.com/tUqrhcmxCI

— Patrick Burns (@PatrickBurns_) February 25, 2018

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This Saturday, Barratt and the Nittany Lions travel South Bend to take on the No. 1 Fighting Irish.  This game is one of the best matchups in college hockey with the winner advancing to the championship game against the winner of No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Michigan. The game will be shown on ESPNU at 5:30 Eastern Time.

Penn State is known for putting a ton of shots on net while Notre Dame gives up a good amount in front of their goaltender Cale Morris.  As described by Brad Schlossman from the Grand Forks Herald on the College Hockey Today Podcast, this could be a bad matchup for Notre Dame despite their successful season.

Evan Barratt will be matching up with fellow Blackhawks prospect Dennis Gilbert who may be defending Barratt on a shift or two.  This one-game semifinal should make for a great Big Ten showdown, especially for Blackhawks fans.

The post Chicago Blackhawks’ Evan Barratt and Penn State Can Pull Upset at Notre Dame appeared first on The Rink.

The National Collegiate Hockey Conference released its All-Rookie team for the 2017-18 season this afternoon which included Chicago Blackhawks prospect Ian Mitchell.  Mitchell was drafted in the second round of last year’s draft and has been playing his freshman year in college hockey with the Denver Pioneers.  Here’s what the NCHC had to say about Mitchell:

“Also on the All-Rookie Team blue line is Mitchell, who racked up 16 points, including 14 assists, in 24 conference games. Ten of his 14 helpers came on the power play, while the Chicago Blackhawks draft pick blocked 36 shots, fired 40 shots on goal and ended with a +8 plus/minus.”

Your 2017-18 #NCHCHockey All-Rookie Team

: https://t.co/WwfVsotKzf pic.twitter.com/7sAFG6c4ta

— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) March 6, 2018

In 34 games played, Mitchell has two goals and 20 assists, 10 coming on the power play.  He has been a big part of the first unit with top prospects Henrik Borgstrom, Dylan Gambrell, and Troy Terry.  Mitchell replaced senior Will Butcher who won the Hobey Baker Award last season and now plays with the New Jersey Devils.

The Pioneers begin the NCHC playoffs this weekend as they take on the Colorado College Tigers in a best of three series at Magness Arena.  The Pioneers are ranked No. 4 in the USCHO poll.

The post Chicago Blackhawks Prospect Ian Mitchell Named to NCHC All-Rookie Team appeared first on The Rink.

For the first time in a while, the Chicago Blackhawks were sellers at the trade deadline.  They sent forward Ryan Hartman to the Nashville Predators and received a 2018 1st and 4th round pick as well as Swedish prospect Victor Ejdsell.  After a disappointing season, the Blackhawks realize that age has suddenly caught up with them and that they need to get back to building their team through the draft.

The 2018 NHL draft is considered to be very deep with good prospects including generational defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.  It’s possible the Hawks could land a lottery pick to select him, Russian winger Andrei Svechnikov, or Czech winger Filip Zadia.  But if the season ended today, the Hawks would be selecting 8th and 29th overall, probably putting them out of reach of the top three players mentioned and Boston University’s Brady Tkachuk.

There are however a few college hockey or college hockey-bound players Blackhawks fans should be aware of.  Let’s take a look and preview some of the names you should be familiar with.

Photo courtesy of The Athletic.com

Quinn Hughes – LD – 5’9 170lbs – Michigan

The Blackhawks drafted two defenseman last year in the 1st and 2nd rounds of the 2017 draft when they took Henri Jokiharju and Ian Mitchell, but you can never have enough defenseen.  Quinn Hughes is an Orlando Florida native that played his junior hockey with the US National Development Team under 17 & 18 teams.  He currently plays for the University of Michigan Wolverines.

Hughes is a smaller defenseman at 5’9 but his strengths in skating and vision make up for his size.  He has the ability to create his own rush and make space for forwards to cut to the net.  In his highlights, you see flashes of Duncan Keith in his own end.  By that I mean that he is patient with the puck and finds openings in the opposing defense to weave through on the rush.  This is a player that is very active on the back-end and could help on the power play unit where the Blackhawks are ranked near the bottom of the league.

Hughes is projected to be drafted around pick six so the Blackhawks would be fortune if he fell to them at eight.  Although this player isn’t intimidating in his own end, he is the kind of puck-moving defensemen the Blackhawks coaching staff dreams about having.

Oliver Wahlstrom – C/RW – 6’1 200lbs – Harvard

Similar to how Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin or ‘D-Boss’ would like to not be known anymore for his famous YouTube videos he made as a kid, Oliver Wahlstrom is going through something similar.  As a kid, Wahlstrom became internet-famous when he performed a trick-shot at a Boston Bruins game when he was 9 years old.  Since then, he has become one of the best US-born prospects in the country.

Wahlsrom is playing for the US development program and currently has 17 goals and 11 assists in 17 games.  He is described as a pure goal-scorer that is extremely strong on his skates.  His ability to find seams from anywhere on the ice and score creatively makes him a player anybody would want on their team.  Wahlstrom has committed to play for Harvard University next season.

K’Andre Miller – LD – 6’3 195lbs – Wisconsin

Miller is the kind of defenseman the Blackhawks don’t have too much of.  He’s a big, physical defenseman who can skate very well.  Miller switched from forward to defense a couple seasons ago but has adjusted well.  He isn’t known for his offense but he can put a lot of power behind one-timer shots from the point.  He currently has four goals and nine assists with the US Development team and has committed to the University of Wisconsin for next season.

To be brutally honest, this has the St. Louis Blues or Nashville Predators pick all over it, but maybe he could fit into the Blackhawks system.  If he can form his game into something similar to Brent Seabrook’s, he could find a niche.  Especially if he’s responsible in his own end.  In an article from USAhockey.com, Miller talks about how he loves playing defense because of how he can start and get into rushes.  He would get a lot of those opportunities in this system in Chicago.

Mattias Samuelsson – LD – 6’3 205lbs – Western Michigan

Samuelsson is another big defenseman not known for his scoring but for his defensive responsibility.  He is committed to Western Michigan University that is in the NCHC, one of the most competitive conferences in college hockey.  Samuelsson has the potential to be a top four NHL player but could use improvement with his skating.  This season he has two goals and six assists in 14 games with the US Developement program.

In his stats this year, you notice a positive +/- of 12 but a large number of penalty minutes with 48.  The Blackhawks get frustrated with young players who commit penalties that make their team short-handed, but if Samuelsson can walk the line between playing hard and foolish, he’d make a great addition to the Hawks prospect pool.

Thanks for checking out our early draft preview.  The-Rink.com will have plenty more analysis on the Draft as it gets closer.

The post Early Chicago Blackhawks Draft Preview: 1st Round NCAA Impact Players appeared first on The Rink.

As the Blackhawks continue to add more youth to their roster, defenseman Chad Krys will be an important prospect to watch

The Blackhawks have been pretty happy recently with their 2016 2nd round draft selection Alex DeBrincat.  As a rookie, DeBrincat is tied with Patrick Kane for the team lead in goals with 22.  DeBrincat had great numbers in juniors, but nobody saw the undersized forward having this much of an impact in his rookie season.

But DeBrincat wasn’t the only selection the Blackhawks made in the 2016 Draft.  Selected 45 overall, defenseman Chad Krys has been having himself a fine sophomore season at Boston University.  Krys has already surpassed the 11 points he scored last year and has 22 on the year so far with six goals and 16 assists.

Krys will be an important prospect to watch this summer and beyond considering how active prospects have been this year.  In the past, several players at the AHL level never got a chance at the pro level but that seems to be changing.  There have been a lot of transactions between the Indy Fuel, Rockford Ice Hogs, and the Chicago Blackhawks to keep prospects moving and more importantly developing.  Krys will be completing his second year with Boston University and could sign pro this summer.

The-Rink got a chance to talk to Matt Dresens who covers the team with  The BU Hockey Blog.  Dresens spoke on Krys’ sophomore season, his character, and his overall development.

Interview with Matt Dresens of The BU Hockey Blog

Chad Krys is having a solid sophomore season so far with 22 points in 28 games.  How would you assess his second season with the Terriers?

He looks far more confident than he did a year a go. He knows when to assert himself on the rush, but also has the poise and wherewithal to get back when he needs to.  On the power play, a lot of the set up goes through him at the point.  Again, he just seems to be much more confident in his game this year.

What makes Krys a special player and what kind of development have you seen from him in 2018?

His ability to generate offense off the rush and push the pace. Quinn has talked alone about “playing with a pace” this year, and he has been at the forefront of that all year. The two-goal game against Providence early in the season said all you need to know in regards to his skill set. He scored on a give an go with Patrick Harper. Moments later, Krys once again intercepted a pass and this time did all the work himself, streaking through the bottom of the slot, left to right, before pushing a backhand past Hawkey’s reach at the 8:55 mark.

Chad Krys’ goal vs. Providence college for @TerrierHockey pic.twitter.com/nHGQdxKR2Q

— BU Athletics (@BUAthletics) November 6, 2017

Krys recently missed a few games from an injury.  How serious was it and how much was he missed by BU?

It was an upper-body injury suffered at ASU. It kept him out a few games, but BU didn’t lose a game when we was out. They have a ton of talent on the back end, but I think where his absence was most felt was on the power play.

@TerrierHockey Chad Krys is out tonight after suffering an upper body injury in last night’s game! We are all wishing him a speedy recovery! pic.twitter.com/3mcosqEgqQ

— Ice Time Hockey SW (@icetimesw) January 28, 2018

Do you think Krys could sign pro next season?

Could I see it happening?  Yes.  Will he? I don’t think so.  I think the model for college kids, especially on defense, is to stay for three years. I just look at guys BU has had in recent years and they usually stay for three. Kevin Shattenkirk is the best example. Could he have gone after his sophomore year?  Absolutely, but I think that extra year really helped this development. In addition, the Blackhawks don’t look like they are going to make the playoffs, so I don’t really see the rush from their standpoint. Yes, Charlie McAvoy made the jump and performed better than anyone expected with Boston in the playoffs, but the Bruins had an immediate need for a guy like Charlie. I just don’t see it with Chad. I really do think he comes back next year, and will probably wear the ‘A’ on his sweater.

What kind of reputation has Krys earned for himself with his team, the University, and the fans?

From all accounts, he’s a great kid. I’m not in the locker room every day though, so I really can’t say anymore. From a fans perspective, he’s a fun player to watch night in and night out.

You can read Matt’s blog at here and can follow him on Twitter at @TheBUHockeyBlog

The post Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Prospect Report: Chad Krys appeared first on The Rink.

Dylan Sikura continues to shine, helping Northeastern win their first Bean Pot since 1988

As the college hockey season wraps up, teams are ramping up their momentum heading into playoff time.  One of the Blackhawks top prospects, Dylan Sikura, has been dominant all season and hasn’t slowed down.  With two assists in the championship game of the Beat Pot in Boston last week, Sikura helped his Northeastern Huskies win the tournament for the first time since 1988.  The tournament has been extremely competitive the last several years considering the top-end talent that plays college hockey in the Boston area.

As Blackhawks fans watch their team wither away this season, there will be a lot more attention drawn to the prospect pool and that starts with Sikura.  Will he sign a John Hayden type deal or will he walk on the Blackhawks?  We’re all hoping for the former but as his achievements continue to pile on this season, his decision is becoming less obvious.

This weekend has a great slate of college hockey games featured by a few special matchups featuring Blackhawks prospects.  Starting in the Big Ten, Michigan visits Notre Dame in a series that should be entertaining.  The Irish have been one of the best teams this year and probably the biggest surprise.  This series will feature Blackhawks prospect Dennis Gilbert and potential 2018 1st round pick Quinn Hughes of the Wolverines.

Moving to the ECAC, Boston University visits the University of Connecticut.  Chad Krys is finally getting back into the lineup after an injury kept him out a few weeks.  He did participate in the Bean Pot Tournament.  Northeastern is at Vermont where Dylan Sikura and Ryan Shea will line up against Liam Coughlin of Vermont who has been red hot of late.

And lastly, the NCHC features two matchups that should be interesting.  The first is Denver at Colorado College which I will be covering.  This is the last two games between the two rivals this season and the winner of the series will win the Gold Pan Trophy.  The teams tied both games in their first series.  The last series to keep an eye on is North Dakota at Omaha.  There is a lot of firepower in the series including forward Blackhawks prospect Fredrik Olofsson.

As the end of the Blackhawks season approaches, I will be putting out more draft previews of NCAA prospects so stay tuned.

I hope everybody has a great weekend!

Updates on Blackhawks NCAA Prospects

Evan Barratt – C – Freshman at Penn State University – ‘17 3rd Rd Pick 

Bristol, PA – 6’0″ – 187lbs – Shoots Left – U.S. National Development Team (USHL), @BarrattEvan

Current Stats:  24GP, 7G, 6A

Next Opponent:  @ Michigan State

We all we got. We all we need. #FlyEagleFly

— Evan Barratt (@BarrattEvan) February 4, 2018

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Liam Coughlin – C – Junior at University of Vermont – ’14 5th Rd Pick (EDM)

South Boston, MA – 6’2″ – 201lbs – Shoots Left – Vernon Vipers (USHL), @Liam_Coughlin7

Current Stats:  27GP, 6G, 7A

Next Opponent:  Northeastern

Josh Ess – RD – Freshman at the University of Wisconsin – ’17 7th Rd Pick

Lakeville, MN – 5’11” – 188lbs – Shoots Left – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL), @JoshuaEss

Current Stats:  33GP, 2G, 2A

Next Opponent:  Bye Week

Parker Foo – LW – Freshman at Union College – ’17 5th Rd Pick

Edmonton, Alberta – 6’1″ – 190lbs – Shoots Left – Brooks Bandits (AJHL), @pfoo22

Current Stats:  29GP, 1G, 4A

Next Opponent:  @ Quinnipiac, @ Princeton

Dennis Gilbert – LD – Junior at the University of Notre Dame – ’15 3rd Rd Pick

Williamsville, NY – 6’2″ – 200lbs – Shoots Left – Chicago Steel (USHL), @Dennis_Gilbert8

Current Stats:  29GP, 3G, 5A

Next Opponent:  Michigan, @ Michigan

Blake Hillman – LD – Junior at the University of Denver – ’16 6th Rd Pick

Elk River, MN – 6’1″ – 182lbs – Shoots Left – Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL), @Blake_Hillman8

Current Stats:  28GP, 2G, 6A

Next Opponent:  @ Colorado College, Colorado College

Chad Krys – LD – Sophomore at Boston University – ’16 2nd Rd Pick

Ridgefield, CT – 6’0″ – 185lbs – Shoots Left – US National Development Team (USHL)

Current Stats:  26GP, 5G, 15A

Next Opponent:  @ Connecticut, @ Merrimack

Interviewed Blackhawks prospect Chad Krys this afternoon for an upcoming story. He said he’ll return to game action tonight after missing recent games with a shoulder injury.

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) February 9, 2018

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Jake Massie – LD – Freshman at the University of Vermont – ’15 6th Rd Pick (CAR)

Saint-Lazare, Quebec – 6’2″ – 177lbs – Shoots Left – Omaha Lancers, @JakeMassie3

Current Stats:  29GP, 1G, 5A

Next Opponent: Northeastern

Ian Mitchell – RD – Freshman at the University of Denver – ’17 2nd Rd Pick

Calahoo, Alberta – 5’11” – 173lbs – Shoots Right – Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL), @IanMitch15

Current Stats:  28GP, 2G, 20A

Next Opponent:  @ Colorado College, Colorado College

Fredrik Olofsson –  C – Junior at University of Nebraska-Omaha – ’14 4th Rd Pick

Broomfield, Colorado – 6’2″ – 204lbs – Shoots Right – Chicago Steel (USHL), @FreddyOlofsson

Current Stats:  28GP, 6G, 14A

Next Opponent:  North Dakota

Jack Ramsey – RW – Junior at the University of Minnesota – ’11 7th Rd Pick

Chanhassen, MN – 6’3″ – 201lbs – Shoots Right – Penticton Vees (BCHL), @Ramsey_16

Current Stats:  32GP, 3G, 6A

Next Opponent:  Ohio State

Ryan Shea – LD – Sophomore at Northeastern University – ’15 4th Rd Pick

Milton, MA – 6’1″ – 180lbs – Shoots Left – Youngstown Phantoms (USHL), @RyanShea2

Current Stats:  30GP, 1G, 12A

Next Opponent:  @ Vermont

Dylan Sikura – LW – Senior at Northeastern University – ’14 6th Rd Pick

Aurora, Ontario – 6’0″ – 166lbs – Shoots Left – Aurora Tigers (OJHL), @Dsikky11

Current Stats:  27GP, 14G, 27A 

Next Opponent:  Vermont

Dylan Sikura sets up Northeastern’s second goal in the Beanpot final pic.twitter.com/CecPTA0KoY

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) February 13, 2018

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Beau Starrett – C – Junior at Cornell University – 2014 3rd Rd Pick

Bellingham, MA – 6’5′ – 222lbs – Shoots Left – South Shore Kings (USPHL), @Beau_Dangles

Current Stats:  24GP, 1G, 6A

Next Opponent:  Brown, Yale

The post Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Prospects Weekend Roundup: Feb 16-17 appeared first on The Rink.

Every couple weeks or so this article is posted with the intent of informing fans about the Chicago Blackhawks prospects who are playing college hockey.  I also post a weekend recap on Twitter every week showing which players scored points.  But this week, almost every prospect we cover for this report spread awareness about mental health using the #BellLetsTalk hashtag.

This movement spread awareness around the world for a day and raised money for programs that help those struggling with mental issues.  It’s so important that we all take a step back sometimes and embrace important issues like these and dedicate time to make people know they have resources to find help.

One of the biggest promoters of #BellLetsTalk is Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock.

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach, Mike Babcock, defines ‘the measure of a man’ in support of #BellLetsTalk Day tomorrow.

Join the conversation. pic.twitter.com/77t9KjyRRW

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 30, 2018

Thanks to you, Bell will donate $6,919,199.75 to help support mental health initiatives: https://t.co/qga03vwHUI #BellLetsTalk

— Bell Let’s Talk (@Bell_LetsTalk) February 1, 2018

Thanks again for reading and enjoy the latest updates on your Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Prospects!

Updates on Blackhawks NCAA Prospects

Freshman Evan Barratt is given an opportunity alongside Chase Berger and Andrew Sturtz. His line with Alex Limoges and Lima Folkes has been tremendous this evening.

— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) January 27, 2018

Last year Penn State led the nation in faceoff percentage. Right now Nate Sucese and freshman Evan Barratt are leading the team.

— Penn State CommRadio (@PSUCommRadio) January 16, 2018

Evan Barratt – C – Freshman at Penn State University – ‘17 3rd Rd Pick 

Bristol, PA – 6’0″ – 187lbs – Shoots Left – U.S. National Development Team (USHL), @BarrattEvan

Current Stats:  22GP, 7G, 6A

Next Opponent:  Notre Dame

Liam Coughlin – C – Junior at University of Vermont – ’14 5th Rd Pick (EDM)

South Boston, MA – 6’2″ – 201lbs – Shoots Left – Vernon Vipers (USHL), @Liam_Coughlin7

Current Stats:  23GP, 5G, 3A

Next Opponent:  Providence

Coughlin had a breakout weekend two weeks again against UMass-Lowell where he scored four goals in two games, including a hat trick in Friday’s game.  He was the Hockey-East Player of the Week.

Josh Ess ties it at 2 midway through the 3rd period. This is a big weekend for Wisconsin. Nice crowd in Madison #CawlidgeHawkey pic.twitter.com/2aBZmuVjqC

— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) January 27, 2018

Josh Ess – RD – Freshman at the University of Wisconsin – ’17 7th Rd Pick

Lakeville, MN – 5’11” – 188lbs – Shoots Left – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL), @JoshuaEss

Current Stats:  29GP, 2G, 2A

Next Opponent:  @ Michigan

Parker Foo – LW – Freshman at Union College – ’17 5th Rd Pick

Edmonton, Alberta – 6’1″ – 190lbs – Shoots Left – Brooks Bandits (AJHL), @pfoo22

Current Stats:  27GP, 1G, 4A

Next Opponent:  @ Cornell, @ Colgate

Congrats to junior defenseman Dennis Gilbert, who is skating in his 100th career game! pic.twitter.com/tnIRaH7DEF

— Notre Dame Hockey (@NDHockey) January 21, 2018

Dennis Gilbert – LD – Junior at the University of Notre Dame – ’15 3rd Rd Pick

Williamsville, NY – 6’2″ – 200lbs – Shoots Left – Chicago Steel (USHL), @Dennis_Gilbert8

Current Stats:  25GP, 3G, 4A

Next Opponent:  @ Penn State

Today’s Birthdays ?

Michael Davies
Blake Hillman

Wayne Gretzky pic.twitter.com/aNcLYlgVWG

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) January 26, 2018

Blake Hillman – LD – Junior at the University of Denver – ’16 6th Rd Pick

Elk River, MN – 6’1″ – 182lbs – Shoots Left – Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL), @Blake_Hillman8

Current Stats:  26GP, 2G, 6A

Next Opponent:  Minnesota-Duluth

@TerrierHockey Chad Krys is out tonight after suffering an upper body injury in last night’s game! We are all wishing him a speedy recovery! pic.twitter.com/3mcosqEgqQ

— Ice Time Hockey SW (@icetimesw) January 28, 2018

Chad Krys – LD – Sophomore at Boston University – ’16 2nd Rd Pick

Ridgefield, CT – 6’0″ – 185lbs – Shoots Left – US National Development Team (USHL)

Current Stats:  24GP, 5G, 14A

Next Opponent:  @Umass, Harvard(Mon)

WATCH: Jake Massie wires a slap shot over the glove of Tyler Wall for his first collegiate goal! #VCats pic.twitter.com/Xw5Qm9fwp0

— UVM Men’s Hockey (@UVMmhockey) January 20, 2018

Jake Massie – LD – Freshman at the University of Vermont – ’15 6th Rd Pick (CAR)

Saint-Lazare, Quebec – 6’2″ – 177lbs – Shoots Left – Omaha Lancers, @JakeMassie3

Current Stats:  25GP, 1G, 5A

Next Opponent:  Providence

If you want to see 2 of the best young defensemen in @NCAAIceHockey check out Scott Perunovich of @UMDMensHockey & Ian Mitchell of @DU_Hockey Friday night at 9EST on @CBSSportsNet @TheNCHC
?????

— ben holden (@benholdenpxp) January 30, 2018

Ian Mitchell – RD – Freshman at the University of Denver – ’17 2nd Rd Pick

Calahoo, Alberta – 5’11” – 173lbs – Shoots Right – Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL), @IanMitch15

Current Stats:  26GP, 2G, 19A

Next Opponent:  Minnesota-Duluth

Fredrik Olofsson –  C – Junior at University of Nebraska-Omaha – ’14 4th Rd Pick

Broomfield, Colorado – 6’2″ – 204lbs – Shoots Right – Chicago Steel (USHL), @FreddyOlofsson

Current Stats:  26GP, 6G, 12A

Next Opponent:  @ St. Cloud State

Jack Ramsey – RW – Junior at the University of Minnesota – ’11 7th Rd Pick

Chanhassen, MN – 6’3″ – 201lbs – Shoots Right – Penticton Vees (BCHL), @Ramsey_16

Current Stats:  30GP, 2G, 6A

Next Opponent:  Off Week

Ryan Shea – LD – Sophomore at Northeastern University – ’15 4th Rd Pick

Milton, Ma – 6’1″ – 180lbs – Shoots Left – Youngstown Phantoms (USHL), @RyanShea2

Current Stats:  26GP, 1G, 11A

Next Opponent:  New Hampshire, Boston College

Head into the weekend by casting your daily vote for our Hobey candidates at https://t.co/sNekppX1V1! | #GoNU

• #Canucks prospect Adam Gaudette
• #Blackhawks prospect Dylan Sikura pic.twitter.com/dO8Ab7Kfe8

— Northeastern MHKY (@GoNUmhockey) January 26, 2018

Dylan Sikura – LW – Senior at Northeastern University – ’14 6th Rd Pick

Aurora, Ontario – 6’0″ – 166lbs – Shoots Left – Aurora Tigers (OJHL), @Dsikky11

Current Stats:  23GP, 13G, 22A 

Next Opponent:  New Hampshire, Boston College

Beau Starrett – C – Junior at Cornell University – 2014 3rd Rd Pick

Bellingham, MA – 6’5′ – 222lbs – Shoots Left – South Shore Kings (USPHL), @Beau_Dangles

Current Stats:  20GP, 1G, 5A

Next Opponent:  Union, Rensselaer

The post Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Prospects Help Raise $7M For #BellLetsTalk appeared first on The Rink.

I spent the last two nights watching the two games in North Dakota between Notre Dame and Denver U.

The Denver club might be more than the champ in their league: they could take the College Final Four.

DU played tight on the check of the ND defense, leaving no time; they are ranked #1 defensively in college hockey.

They are led by soon to be US Olympian RhC Troy Terry, who I wanted the Hawks to pick and the Ducks plucked in the 5th rd in 2015.

But the reason I watched was because of the two Blackhawk prospect defenders, who are the top pairing for Denver, LD Blake Hillman and RD Ian Mitchell.

I hadn’t seen either very much, so I wanted to get an impression. It was clearly made. Denver won game one in overtime and it was rough game, so when they came back to play last night, it wasn’t a surprise that there was some bad feeling from the game the night before.

Hillman is a load who plays physical, is active and makes his way down low and also to mid attack zone because he wasn’t afraid to shoot the puck. He also saw some time as LhRD when needed.

Mitchell, a 5’11” 173 pound freshman, is still not dramatically strong against the men he is playing against, but he is solid in his end and checks all the boxes of the new pro game attacker with quick feet, stick mobility and strong offensive instincts.

In the second game he was the guy who took the puck in his end and got down so his team could gain possession, and Kohen Olischefski  could get the shot to score the first goal.

Blake Hillman was very aggressive like he wanted to make his presence known and further frustrate the ND attackers. Both played as the Denver one d-man on the PP.

Mitchell scored the game winning goal in 2^nd overtime in the second game.

The post Wiz scouts Blackhawks Prospects Ian Mitchell and Blake Hillman appeared first on The Rink.

The-Rink.com caught up with Blackhawks prospect Fredrik Olofsson this weekend when his Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks took on the Denver Pioneers

DENVER–  Although it wasn’t the most impressive performance by the Omaha Mavericks this weekend against the Denver Pioneers, forward Fredrik Olofsson still showed the promise of a smart two-way forward.  Before the Denver series, the Chicago Blackhawks prospect tallied five goals and twelve assists in 22 games as a junior at Omaha.  In his last eight games, Olofsson has been a point-per-game player.

Nice feed by @FreddyOlofsson but the play gets broken up #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/Zm92jcnzGN

— Aaron Goldschmidt (@lateinthegoldie) January 20, 2018

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A 4th round pick of the ‘Hawks in 2014, Olofsson has played his college hockey in the NCHC which is considered one of the toughest divisions in college hockey.  In 91 career games he has 24 goals and 34 assists.

.@FreddyOlofsson with some nice moves down low and creates a chance for @OmahaHKY #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/d7AA7F5jBT

— Aaron Goldschmidt (@lateinthegoldie) January 20, 2018

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In the series this weekend against Denver, you can tell that Olofsson has refined his game to be much more poised.  He uses his 6-2 frame to protect the puck well, especially below the goal line.  His skating up the middle of the ice shows his great speed, vision, and a knack for making the smart play.  Now that he plays a lot more of the center position, Olofsson has a lot more ice to cover and defensive responsibility.  A positive is that his passing looked pretty good in this series that created some good chances for the Mavericks.

Here is our interview with Fredrik on his series against Denver and his progress so far this year.

#Blackhawks prospect @FreddyOlofsson on a tough series against @DU_Hockey and his progress this season. Just pretend I didn’t hold my phone upside-down ?‍ pic.twitter.com/YJD6COAy8B

— Aaron Goldschmidt (@lateinthegoldie) January 21, 2018

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You can follow Fredrik on Twitter at @FreddyOlofsson

The post Blackhawks Prospect Report: Fredrik Olofsson appeared first on The Rink.

For the last decade or so, the Chicago Blackhawks have been cup chasing.  The Stanley Cup “window” has been wide open for the star-studded Hawks, but this season depth and age has finally caught with them.

Sitting in last place in the Central Division and with Corey Crawford’s health a major concern, there is a serious possibility that Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman cuts his losses and sells some expiring contracts at the trade deadline.  This is following last season where the ‘Hawks were bounced from the playoffs in the first round for the second consecutive season and deemed “unacceptable” by Bowman.

So how does this affect the Blackhawks farm system?  Hopefully it continues to grow because the cupboard has been bare the last few season.  With Alex DeBrincat making the Blackhawks out of camp and the possibility of Dylan Sikura joining the team later this season, the ‘Hawks still need more top end talent to fill out their prospect pool.

The Blackhawks currently don’t have their 2nd and 4th round picks in this years draft because of previous trades so Bowman may want to get back into those rounds with deadline trades.  And if the Blackhawks put Corey Crawford on LTIR, they will have significant cap space to help a team out by taking on a bad contract for the rest of the year.  It’s a scary thought to think the Blackhawks are using a method that bottom-feeders like the Coyotes or Hurricanes have used in the past, but if it means moving up in the draft then so be it.

With hard decisions to make this next month, Blackhawks fans will soon know their fate and it’s leaning towards the harsh reality of having better luck next year.  I think Chicago fans know by now to “trust the process.”

Updates on Blackhawks NCAA Prospects

Evan Barratt — who was in the penalty box on the OSU PPG — responds on the PP just minutes later, making it 3-1 Penn State. pic.twitter.com/AmtDt8HZ97

— Patrick Burns (@PatrickBurns_) January 13, 2018

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Evan Barratt – C – Freshman at Penn State University – ‘17 3rd Rd Pick

Bristol, PA – 6’0″ – 187lbs – Shoots Left – U.S. National Development Team (USHL)

Current Stats:  18GP, 7G, 5A

Next Opponent:  @ Michigan

Barratt is coming off a three-point game against Ohio State last Saturday and is finding his stride after a slow start to the season.  Penn State plays a tough opponent when they travel to Michigan this weekend which should make for an exciting series.

WATCH: Christian Evers wires a wrist shot past Ryan Wischow to bring the #VCats within a goal! Assists from Liam Coughlin and Jarrid Privitera pic.twitter.com/WIkhq2oQP6

— UVM Men’s Hockey (@UVMmhockey) January 14, 2018

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Liam Coughlin – C – Junior at University of Vermont – ’14 5th Rd Pick (EDM)

South Boston, MA – 6’2″ – 201lbs – Shoots Left – Vernon Vipers (USHL)

Current Stats:  19GP, 1G, 3A

Next Opponent:  UMass-Lowell

Josh Ess – RD – Freshman at the University of Wisconsin – ’17 7th Rd Pick

Lakeville, MN – 5’11” – 188lbs – Shoots Left – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)

Current Stats:  21GP, 1G,2A

Next Opponent:  @ Notre Dame

Parker Foo – LW – Freshman at Union College – ’17 5th Rd Pick

Edmonton, Alberta – 6’1″ – 190lbs – Shoots Left – Brooks Bandits (AJHL)

Current Stats:  24GP, 1G, 3A

Next Opponent:  @ Yale / Brown

Dennis Gilbert – LD – Junior at the University of Notre Dame – ’15 3rd Rd Pick

Williamsville, NY – 6’2″ – 200lbs – Shoots Left – Chicago Steel (USHL)

Current Stats:  21GP, 3G, 4A

Next Opponent:  @ Wisconsin

The Bauer #NCHCHockey Defenseman of the Week for week 12:@DU_Hockey Jr. Blake Hillman #DU1NATION?‍?

Career-high-tying 3? in 4-3 loss Fri. | Also career-high 7 SOG and +3 Fri. | 5 SOG, 2 blocks & helped PK go 3-3 in win Sat.

?: https://t.co/QdKub9dx5G pic.twitter.com/o8pFsLYkjI

— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) January 9, 2018

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Blake Hillman – LD – Junior at the University of Denver – ’16 6th Rd Pick

Elk River, MN – 6’1″ – 182lbs – Shoots Left – Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)

Current Stats:  22GP, 2G, 6A

Next Opponent:  Nebraska-Omaha

In their last series against Miami University, Hillman tallied three assists in one game and was a plus four.  Hillman said he wanted to be more offensively productive this season, but wanted to focus on defense to help him generate those chances.  With just eight points in 22 games, Hillman and the Pioneers will start to become more aggressive in the second half.

Chad Krys – LD – Sophomore at Boston University – ’16 2nd Rd Pick

Ridgefield, CT – 6’0″ – 185lbs – Shoots Left – US National Development Team (USHL)

Current Stats:  22GP, 5G, 14A

Next Opponent:  @ Merrimack, Merrimack

Krys is having an outstanding season with 19 points in 22 games.  This weekend Boston University takes on Merrimack in a home-and-home so look for Krys to continue producing.  It should be interesting to see if he’s physically ready to go pro at the end of his sophomore season but it could be a possibility.

One change in UVM lineup, D Jake Massey (day-to-day) injured; Fr D Brian Kelly inn; otherwise same as in Friday’s 2-2 tie@UVMmhockey @UMassHockey@bfp_news #HEA

— Ted Ryan (@TedRyanVT) January 13, 2018

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Jake Massie – LD – Freshman at the University of Vermont – ’15 6th Rd Pick (CAR)

Saint-Lazare, Quebec – 6’2″ – 177lbs – Shoots Left – Omaha Lancers

Current Stats:  21GP, 3A

Next Opponent:  UMass-Lowell

? Happy Birthday, @IanMitch15 ? pic.twitter.com/wet6eii9NH

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) January 18, 2018

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Ian Mitchell – RD – Freshman at the University of Denver – ’17 2nd Rd Pick

Calahoo, Alberta – 5’11” – 173lbs – Shoots Right – Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL)

Current Stats:  22GP, 1G, 14A

Next Opponent: Nebraska-Omaha

Fredrik Olofsson –  C – Junior at University of Nebraska-Omaha – ’14 4th Rd Pick

Broomfield, Colorado – 6’2″ – 204lbs – Shoots Right – Chicago Steel (USHL)

Current Stats:  22GP, 5G, 12A

Next Opponent:  Denver

Olofsson and the Omaha Mavericks travel to Denver to take on the No. 5 Pioneers this weekend.  Here is a review of the series, and also a great story of Olofsson by Pucks and Recreation.

Pretty sure Ramsey copied this from Cowboy Dwayne from D2: The Mighty Ducks.

Either way it counts! #Gophers pic.twitter.com/9rAIj0mhZt

— Minnesota M Hockey (@GopherHockey) January 18, 2018

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Jack Ramsey – RW – Junior at the University of Minnesota – ’11 7th Rd Pick

Chanhassen, MN – 6’3″ – 201lbs – Shoots Right – Penticton Vees (BCHL)

Current Stats:  26GP, 1G, 5A

Next Opponent:  @ Michigan State

Ryan Shea – LD – Sophomore at Northeastern University – ’15 4th Rd Pick

Milton, Ma – 6’1″ – 180lbs – Shoots Left – Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)

Current Stats:  22GP, 1G, 10A

Next Opponent:  @ UMass, UMass

.@GoNUmhockey forwards Adam Gaudette & Dylan Sikura nominated for prestigious @HobeyBakerAward. #GoNU https://t.co/12WDH7JPrj

— Northeastern U. (@Northeastern) January 17, 2018

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Dylan Sikura – LW – Senior at Northeastern University – ’14 6th Rd Pick

Aurora, Ontario – 6’0″ – 166lbs – Shoots Left – Aurora Tigers (OJHL)

Current Stats:  19GP, 12G, 18A 

Next Opponent:  @ UMass, UMass

Sikura continues his tear in NCAA hockey scoring 8 points in his last 4 games.  Blackhawks shouldn’t assume he is going to come in and save the team, but there sure is a lot to be excited about.

Beau Starrett – C – Junior at Cornell University – 2014 3rd Rd Pick

Bellingham, MA – 6’5′ – 222lbs – Shoots Left – South Shore Kings (USPHL)

Current Stats:  16GP, 1G, 5A

Next Opponent:  Colgate, @ Colgate

The post Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Prospects Weekend Roundup: Jan 19-20 appeared first on The Rink.

As the first half of the college hockey season comes to a close, Blackhawks prospects in the NCAA are finishing up strong.  Northeastern University forward Dylan Sikura had a four-point performance last week and he continues to shine as one of the ‘Hawks top prospects.  On the blue line, Notre Dame’s Dennis Gilbert got on the scoresheet with a couple goals, while Boston University’s Chad Krys continues to be a point machine for the Terriers.

There has been a lot of debate recently about the Blackhawks and what they will do at this year’s trade deadline.  GM Stan Bowman will most likely stand pat and make it seem like Dylan Sikura is his big trade deadline acquisition, but that’s not guaranteed.  It seems like Sikura has interest in signing with the Blackhawks, but should he be a finalist or win the Hobey Baker Award there might be a possibility he hits the free agency market.

But let’s assume he signs with Chicago.  The question becomes where does he fit in?  He’s a small winger at 165 pounds and probably can’t play a bottom six role effectively in the NHL.  He has great vision and playmaking skill which has enabled him to finish well, but it’s debatable if that can translate to the NHL level.

From what I saw at prospect camp over the summer, Sikura’s hockey IQ is through the roof and he can simply make plays.  Other players were raving about his skill level and enjoyed playing with him.  Some players just have a knack for playing hockey despite any physical attributes that may discount their abilities, much like Alex DeBrincat’s situation.

It sure will be interesting to see where Sikura ends up and if he gets some NHL ice time.  Whether the Blackhawks decide to keep the playoff window open or continue on with the youth movement, hopefully Dylan Sikura is a 100% a part of it going forward.

Updates on Blackhawks NCAA Prospects

Evan Barratt – C – Freshman at Penn State University – ‘17 3rd Rd Pick

Bristol, PA – 6’0″ – 187lbs – Shoots Left – U.S. National Development Team (USHL)

Current Stats:  14GP, 4G, 4A

Next Opponent:  Wisconsin 1/5-1/6

Liam Coughlin – C – Junior at University of Vermont – ’14 5th Rd Pick (EDM)

South Boston, MA – 6’2″ – 201lbs – Shoots Left – Vernon Vipers (USHL)

Current Stats:  14GP, 1G, 1A

Next Opponent:  St. Lawrence 12/29, Harvard 12/30

Josh Ess – RD – Freshman at the University of Wisconsin – ’17 7th Rd Pick

Lakeville, MN – 5’11” – 188lbs – Shoots Left – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)

Current Stats:  21GP, 1G,1A

Next Opponent:  @ Penn State 1/5-1/6

Parker Foo – LW – Freshman at Union College – ’17 5th Rd Pick

Edmonton, Alberta – 6’1″ – 190lbs – Shoots Left – Brooks Bandits (AJHL)

Current Stats:  18GP, 1G, 1A

Next Opponent:  @ University of Nebraska-Omaha 12/29-12/30

Dennis Gilbert w/ the shorty!

Irish take a 2-1 lead after Gilbert goes high blocker on Hayton for his 2nd of the year pic.twitter.com/jF4vEnpEPp

— Notre Dame Hockey (@NDHockey) December 10, 2017

Dennis Gilbert – LD – Junior at the University of Notre Dame – ’15 3rd Rd Pick

Williamsville, NY – 6’2″ – 200lbs – Shoots Left – Chicago Steel (USHL)

Current Stats:  19GP, 3G, 4A

Next Opponent:  @ Michigan 1/5, Michigan 1/7

Gilbert scored two goals and an assist last weekend contributing to Notre Dame’s 13th win in a row.  They are the hottest team in college hockey and don’t show any signs of slowing down.

Blake Hillman – LD – Junior at the University of Denver – ’16 6th Rd Pick

Elk River, MN – 6’1″ – 182lbs – Shoots Left – Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)

Current Stats:  16GP, 2G, 1A

Next Opponent:  Dartmouth

Chad Krys – LD – Sophomore at Boston University – ’16 2nd Rd Pick

Ridgefield, CT – 6’0″ – 185lbs – Shoots Left – US National Development Team (USHL)

Current Stats:  19GP, 5G, 13A

Next Opponent:  US U18 Development Team 1/5, Maine 1/6

Krys had another good weekend scoring a goal and three assists.  He did block a shot during the UMass-Lowell series which sounded like it was painful but returned to finish the game.

Chad Krys has to be helped off the ice on one leg… and returns to the game and SCORES two minute later.

— 86to97to13 (@86to97to13) December 10, 2017

Jake Massie – LD – Freshman at the University of Vermont – ’15 6th Rd Pick (CAR)

Saint-Lazare, Quebec – 6’2″ – 177lbs – Shoots Left – Omaha Lancers

Current Stats:  17GP, 3A

Next Opponent:  St. Lawrence 12/29, Harvard 12/30

Blackhawks prospect Ian Mitchell is tied for 25th among college defensemen with 12 points. He scored his first college goal last night. He has one goal and 11 assists in 15 games as a freshman at Denver.

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) December 9, 2017

Ian Mitchell – RD – Freshman at the University of Denver – ’17 2nd Rd Pick

Calahoo, Alberta – 5’11” – 173lbs – Shoots Right – Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL)

Current Stats:  16GP, 1G, 11A

Next Opponent:  Dartmouth

Mitchell scored his first NCAA goal last weekend against Colorado College on a nice wrap-around.  Denver faces a 2-7-1 Dartmouth team that hasn’t won a game on the road yet this season.  Mitchell will have plenty more offensive zone opportunities to continue producing from the point.

Fredrik Olofsson –  C – Junior at University of Nebraska-Omaha – ’14 4th Rd Pick

Broomfield, CO – 6’2″ – 204lbs – Shoots R – Chicago Steel (USHL)

Current Stats:  16GP, 2G, 10A

Next Opponent:  Union 12/29-12/30

Jack Ramsey – RW – Junior at the University of Minnesota – ’11 7th Rd Pick

Chanhassen, MN – 6’3″ – 201lbs – Shoots Right – Penticton Vees (BCHL)

Current Stats:  20GP, 1G, 2A

Next Opponent:  @ Army 12/29-12/30

WATCH: Jake Ryczek blasts home his first career goal. Freshman Bailey Conger also tallies his first career point on the play. pic.twitter.com/uKpOPIrnl0

— PC Men’s Hockey (@FriarsHockey) December 9, 2017

Jake Ryczek – LD – Freshman at Providence College – ’16 7th Rd Pick

Ludlow, MA – 5’10 – 179lbs – Shoots Right – Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)

Current Stats:  5GP, 1G

Next Opponent: Arizona State 12/29

After being out several games battling mono, Ryczek finally scored his first NCAA goal with Providence last Friday.  Hopefully he’s back to 100% and will have a strong 2nd half of the season.

Ryan Shea – LD – Sophomore at Northeastern University – ’15 4th Rd Pick

Milton, MA – 6’1″ – 180lbs – Shoots Left – Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)

Current Stats:  16GP, 1G, 9A

Next Opponent:  @ Merrimack 12/16

Also a 4 point game for Dylan Sikura (CHI) vs. BC. Sikura now has 22 points in 14 NCAA games this season. @ByScottPowers

— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) December 10, 2017

Dylan Sikura – LW – Senior at Northeastern University – ’14 6th Rd Pick

Aurora, Ontario – 6’0″ – 166lbs – Shoots Left – Aurora Tigers (OJHL)

Current Stats:  14GP, 9G, 13A 

Next Opponent: Merrimack, @ Merrimack 12/16

Sikura had a four point night last week against Boston College scoring two goals and two assists.  The line of Sikura, Gaudette, and Stevens has been one of the best in college hockey.  With a weak Hockey East this year, Northeastern could end up at the top of the Conference by season’s end.

Beau Starrett – C – Junior at Cornell University – 2014 3rd Rd Pick

Bellingham, MA – 6’5′ – 222lbs – Shoots Left – South Shore Kings (USPHL)

Current Stats:  11GP, 1G, 5A

Next Opponent:  Canisus 12/30

The post Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Prospects Weekend Roundup: Dec 15-16 appeared first on The Rink.

It wasn’t clear how Notre Dame would return this season after their defeat in the Frozen Four in 2017 and losing captains Cal Petersen and Anders Bjork to the NHL.  But 20 games into the season, the Fighting Irish are back.

Lead by captain Jake Evans and standout defenseman Jordan Gross, the Irish have strung together 13 straight wins including a sweep of the Wisconsin Badgers this past weekend.  Their record of 16-3-1 should put them in the top three ranked teams in college hockey in the USCHO poll come Monday.

One of the strong qualities of the Irish is their defense which includes Blackhawks prospect Dennis Gilbert.  Selected 91st overall in the 3rd round by the Blackhawks in 2015, Gilbert has spent the last two seasons in South Bend.

At 6’2 220lbs., Gilbert is a stay-at-home defenseman known for his physicality and defense, a kind of player the Blackhawks don’t have a lot of.  On the year Gilbert has three goals, four assists, and is a +14.  Three of his points came this weekend against Wisconsin.

? Dennis Gilbert’s shorthanded snipe! pic.twitter.com/ddxvz18KC6

— Notre Dame Hockey (@NDHockey) December 10, 2017

Gilbert is currently in his junior year at Notre Dame and could sign pro with the Blackhawks after this season depending on his development and readiness.  The ‘Hawks and IceHogs have a lot of young defenseman competing for spots in the NHL, but many are smaller and of the puck-moving style.  Even Henri Jokiharju and Ian Mitchell who were drafted in 2017 are more offensively minded defenseman.  Should he end up on the Blackhawks someday, he may have big shoes to fill is he choses to continue wearing the #4, previously worn by fan-favorite Niklas Hjalmarsson.

Whether Gilbert decides to stay at Notre Dame for his senior year or sign an entry-level contract with the Blackhawks, he’s getting some valuable experience at the college level competing against top programs like the University of Minnesota and the University of Denver.  Should his Fighting Irish make it back to the Frozen Four this year, he’ll do his best to make sure the results are different this time.

Gilbert and the Fighting Irish will be taking on the Wisconsin Badgers on January 21st at the United Center if you wanted to see him play in person.  You can buy tickets here.

You can also follow Dennis on Twitter at @Dennis_Gilbert8

The post Blackhawks Prospect Dennis Gilbert Excelling With Red-Hot Fighting Irish appeared first on The Rink.

Blackhawks Prospect Evan Barratt broke out with a couple of big games against Arizona State

It’s been interesting following the Blackhawks college prospects to say the least.  There are the obvious top players and the late-round picks, but it seems like different players take turns having great weeks.  Dylan Sikura started the season off hot and recently came down to earth while freshman Evan Barratt only recently found his scoring touch.

With the World Juniors tournament approaching, several of the Chicago Blackhawks in college hockey and other leagues will be participating putting prospects on full display.  With the NHL not sending players to the Olympics anymore, I imagine the World Juniors will be the next best thing.

Lastly, I hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving!  Enjoy the latest updates to your Chicago Blackhawks NCAA prospects.

Updates on Blackhawks NCAA Prospects

ICYMI: It was a weekend of firsts in the desert as Penn State earned it’s first sweep of the season and @sternschein21, @BarrattEvan, @brettmurrayy & @DerianHamilton all registered their first career goals! #WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/9HTXVGJMAg

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) November 19, 2017

Evan Barratt – Penn State University – 2017 3rd Round Pick

Current Stats:  11GP, 4G, 2A

Next Opponent:  @ Ohio State

Barratt broke out the last two weekends scoring four goals in four games, three of which came on the powerplay.  He had a pair of goals against both Arizona State and Michigan State.  The video below shows Barratt’s great backhand rebound-goal against ASU that contributed to a 7-0 win.

Here’s a look at the Evan Barratt goal to give the Lions the 1-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/ImXwI6zN9U

— Black Shoe Diaries (@BSDtweet) November 18, 2017

Liam Coughlin – University of Vermont – 2014 5th Round Pick (EDM)

Current Stats:  12GP, 1G

Next Opponent:  @ Maine

Wisconsin up 2-0 after 1. Defenseman Josh Ess (CHI) scored his first collegiate goal, while Max Zimmer (CAR) has the other. These two teams can get up and go.

— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) November 18, 2017

Josh Ess – University of Wisconsin – 2017 7th Round Pick

Current Stats:  17GP, 1G,1A

Next Opponent:  @ Minnesota

Parker Foo – Union College – 2017 5th Round Pick

Current Stats:  15GP, 1G, 1A

Next Opponent:  Brown, Yale 

JUST ANNOUNCED: The @NDHockey vs. @BadgerMHockey game skates into Chicago on January 21, 2018!

?ON SALE: 11/17 (10 AM)
?INFO: https://t.co/poAEaqwQlD pic.twitter.com/CzHRwSB3iU

— United Center (@UnitedCenter) November 13, 2017

Dennis Gilbert – University of Notre Dame – 2015 3rd Round Pick

Current Stats:  15GP, 1G, 3A 

Next Opponent:  @ Michigan State

Gilbert’s Fighting Irish may be the hottest team in college hockey right now.  Winners of nine in a row, the Irish have earned themselves the #4 overall ranking in the USCHO poll.  It was also announced the Fighting Irish will return to the United Center January 21st to play the University of Wisconsin.

Blake Hillman – University of Denver – 2016 6th Round Pick

Current Stats:  12GP, 2G, 1A 

Next Opponent:  University of Minnesota-Duluth

Chad Krys’ goal vs. Cornell 11-25 pic.twitter.com/DFISBK8afB

— BU Athletics (@BUAthletics) November 27, 2017

Chad Krys – Boston University – 2016 2nd Round Pick

Current Stats:  15GP, 3G, 10A

Next Opponent:  @ Boston College, Boston College

Krys is on an absolute tear the last few games.  He has a goal and four assists in his last two games and is third on the team in scoring with 13 points.  At almost a point-per-game rate, Krys is showing a lot of offensive upside.

Jake Massie – University of Vermont – 2015 6th Round Pick (CAR)

Current Stats:  14GP, 2A

Next Opponent:  @ Maine

.@IanMitch15 with ANOTHER powerplay assist on the @troyterry1997 goal. @DU_Hockey up 3-1 w/ 11min to go in the 3rd on @UNDmhockey #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/M84lZHylJx

— Aaron Goldschmidt (@lateinthegoldie) November 19, 2017

Ian Mitchell – University of Denver – 2017 2nd Round Pick

Current Stats:  12GP, 11A

Next Opponent:  University of Minnesota-Duluth

Mitchell is currently on a seven game point-streak scoring nine points during that time.  He’s playing on the best powerplay unit in college hockey at Denver who convert over 30% of their opportunities.  Mitchell is definitely making the best of his situation playing with top players at Denver and learning a lot from it.

- Zach Jordan (1 G, 1 A)
- Fredrik Olofsson (0 G, 2 A)
- Evan Weninger (Stopped 25 of 26 shots)

— Omaha Hockey (@OmahaHKY) November 26, 2017

Fredrik Olofsson – University of Nebraska-Omaha – 2014 4th Round Pick

Current Stats:  12GP, 2G, 7A

Next Opponent:  St. Cloud State

Olofsson continues to have a good season and has scored four points in the last four games.  Nebraska-Omaha has a tough test this weekend when they host #2 St. Cloud State.

Wrapping things up this week, @Ramsey_16 and the #Gophers are back on the 3M Arena at Mariucci ice Friday just after 7pm. pic.twitter.com/ox8oD5zwJT

— Minnesota M Hockey (@GopherHockey) November 29, 2017

Jack Ramsey – University of Minnesota – 2011 7th Round Pick

Current Stats:  16GP, 1G, 2A

Next Opponent:  Wisconsin

Word is @FriarsHockey freshman Jake Ryczek (mononucleosis) not on trip to Belfast

— Mark Divver (@MarkDivver) November 20, 2017

Jake Ryczek – Providence College – 2016 7th Round Pick

Current Stats:  2GP, 0P

Next Opponent: @ New Hampshire

Ryan Shea – Northeastern University – 2015 4th Round Pick

Current Stats:  13GP, 1G, 8A

Next Opponent:  Merrimack, @ Merrimack

Dylan Sikura – Northeastern University – 2014 6th Round Pick

Current Stats:  11GP, 7G, 9A 

Next Opponent: Merrimack, @ Merrimack

Take a look at @Beau_Dangles‘ first goal of the year to get his team on the board first at MSG. pic.twitter.com/p53EXgXpvt

— Cornell Sun Sports (@DailySunSports) November 26, 2017

Beau Starrett – Cornell University – 2014 3rd Round Pick

Current Stats:  9GP, 1G, 5A

Next Opponent:  @ Miami

READ NEXT:  ICEHOGS LOOK FOR BOUNCE BACK WEEKEND

The post Chicago Blackhawks’ NCAA Prospects Roundup: Dec 1-2 appeared first on The Rink.

The North Dakota Fighting Hawks came back from a 0-3 deficit and defeated the University of Denver Pioneers 5-4 Friday night

DENVER, CO– On Friday night at Magness Arena in Denver, it was hard to tell who was the home team because both Denver and North Dakota’s fans were so loud.  Such is life when the No. 3 college hockey team takes on the No. 1.  Much like Denver’s battle with St. Cloud State last weekend, the start to this series lived up to the hype.

Denver jumped ahead 2-0 after the first period with goals from Jake Durflinger and Jarid Lukosevicius, then they scored a short handed goal by Logan O’Connor to make it 3-0 in the second period.  The Pioneers were playing well defensively against a pesky North Dakota forward group.  But before the end of the second, Tanner Jalliet let in a couple of goals to Zach Yon and Joel Janatuinen and suddenly North Dakota was back in it.

? Bullseye!

Colton Poolman goes bardown to tie the game and complete a 3-goal comeback for @UNDmhockey at @DU_Hockey. #NCHCHockey pic.twitter.com/BH9hp18XGv

— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) November 18, 2017

A few minutes into the third period, the Pioneers got caught in a bad change and defenseman Colton Poolman made them pay with a great wrist shot past Tanner Jalliet.  Christian Wolanin scored shortly after giving the Hawks the lead.  Troy Terry tied the game up for the Pioneers halfway through the third, but Johnny Simonson scored the go-ahead goal for North Dakota in the final minutes of the game to knock off the No. 1 ranked Denver Pioneers.

The-Rink caught up with North Dakota netminder and Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Peter Thome after the game.

Interview with the University of North Dakota’s Peter Thome

It sure felt like No. 3 vs No. 1 out there, didn’t it?

Yeah, you could just tell it was a heavyweight bout.  They came out swinging.  I thought we did a pretty good job of weathering the storm with just two goals after they came out with 21 shots in the first period.  Even in the second when they went up 3-0 I think there was no panic from us.  The boys really rallied and we just fought.  It was an ugly road-win against the best team in the nation, but we’ll take it.

What did your team tell you after being down 2-0 in the first period?

We were obviously not happy in the locker room, but we don’t panic.  We’ve been a group that teams can’t seem to put down all year.  Even when we’re behind we’re level-headed and just playing our game.  Eventually bounces come and we get back in the game.  So there’s really no panic in our locker room, even when we’re down two or three goals like tonight.

What’s made you so successful playing in Cam Johnson‘s absence, and what have you learned from him?

First things first, the team has been great in front of me.  They’ve done a really good job of limiting grade-A chances in front and clearing rebounds.  And Cam’s been great.  I texted him yesterday because I thought the lighting (at Magness Arena) was a little weird.  I asked him if he ever had any trouble with it.  He texted me back saying, “yeah it is a little weird, but you won’t notice it during the game.”  That’s just one example of stuff he’s been doing for me.  He’s been great even in practice.  If I get beat on a play, he would come over and tell me things he notices.  Obviously he’s a guy that when he speaks, you listen because he’s such a great goalie.

Any reason why North Dakota is a slow-starting team?

I don’t know if I have an answer for you.  Obviously we’re playing urgent hockey in the third, but like I said before it’s urgent but we’re not panicking.  We’re not gripping the stick too hard or thinking we have to score.  We trust our abilities because we’ve got a team that’s got some unbelievable players.  No matter what the score is, we will find a way to come back.

What’s the game plan for tomorrow?

Come out strong.  Hopefully this time we can try to get a lead and go from there.

The post North Dakota Netminder Peter Thome Will Take An ‘Ugly Road Win’ vs No. 1 Denver appeared first on The Rink.

Chad Krys, Ryan Shea, and Beau Starrett shine in recent college hockey games

If the Chicago Blackhawks want to legitimately compete for another Stanley Cup in the near future, they’ll have to get a hand from some of their young talent in their farm system.  Drafting the right players is one thing, but developing them is another.  The Blackhawks believe in the College Hockey system and hopefully it pays dividends soon.

A big factor in how the Blackhawks develop their players involves the Alex DeBrincat strategy.  In the past, coach Joel Quenneville has been very reluctant to play young players, and rarely rookies.  But this season, 19-year-old Alex DeBrincat made the team out of camp and has stayed at the NHL level.  The Blackhawks have recently been in a funk and one of the few bright spots has been DeBrincat’s productivity despite playing on lower lines.

If the Blackhawks continue to develop younger players at the NHL level, it may mean more ice time later in the year potentially for Dylan Sikura and others set to move on from the college level.  It’s a shame that Teuvo Teravainen had to ride the bus to and from Rockford when he didn’t really belong there, but it’s good the Blackhawks are finally realizing top six players need top six minutes and not have to “do their time” as 3rd line grinders.

Updates on Blackhawks NCAA Prospects

Meet @PennStateMHKY‘s next star forward: Pennsylvania’s own, Evan Barratt https://t.co/KEtMaaJFlZ pic.twitter.com/P82ThMtBXO

— The Daily Collegian (@DailyCollegian) November 9, 2017

Evan Barratt – Penn State University – 2017 3rd Round Pick

Current Stats:  7GP, 2A

Next Opponent:  @ Arizona State

After a couple close losses at Notre Dame, Barratt and the Nittany Lions look to rebound against a struggling Arizona State team this weekend.  Barratt has yet to find the back of the net, but this might be his best opportunity yet.  According to a recent article from The Daily Colliegan, Penn State and head coach Guy Gadowsky are very high on Barratt who consider him one of the team’s top prospects.

Liam Coughlin – University of Vermont – 2014 5th Round Pick (EDM)

Current Stats:  9GP, 1G

Next Opponent:  @ Northeastern

Badgers men’s hockey: Cooperative development for defensemen Peter Tischke, Josh Ess https://t.co/akSiOyy2As pic.twitter.com/nvXMHy41mh

— Wis. State Journal (@WiStateJournal) October 17, 2017

Josh Ess – University of Wisconsin – 2017 7th Round Pick

Current Stats:  13GP, 1A

Next Opponent:  Michigan

Photo Courtesy of ECACHockey.com

Parker Foo – Union College – 2017 5th Round Pick

Current Stats:  13GP, 1G, 1A

Next Opponent: University of North Dakota 11/24-25

Photo Courtesy of InsideHockey.com

Dennis Gilbert – University of Notre Dame – 2015 3rd Round Pick

Current Stats:  11GP, 1G, 2A 

Next Opponent:  @ Rensselaer

Photo Courtesy of USCHO.com

Blake Hillman – University of Denver – 2016 6th Round Pick

Current Stats:  10GP, 2G, 1A 

Next Opponent:  University of North Dakota

Chad Krys’ goal vs. Providence college for @TerrierHockey pic.twitter.com/nHGQdxKR2Q

— BU Athletics (@BUAthletics) November 6, 2017

Chad Krys – Boston University – 2016 2nd Round Pick

Current Stats:  12GP, 2G, 6A

Next Opponent:  @ Maine

It’s been a couple weeks since Krys single-handedly put away Providence, but he has since added another helper to his stats last weekend versus the University of New Hampshire.  This weekend Boston University is on the road playing the University of Maine, a team that is just 3-5 on the season.

Jake Massie – University of Vermont – 2015 6th Round Pick (CAR)

Current Stats:  11GP, 2A

Next Opponent:  @ Northeastern

Ian Mitchell leads NCAA freshmen with 7 power play points #DU1NATION pic.twitter.com/hXtbiSSeTt

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) November 12, 2017

Ian Mitchell – University of Denver – 2017 2nd Round Pick

Current Stats:  10GP, 8A

Next Opponent:  University of North Dakota

Mitchell has had a great start to the season with eight assists, seven of them coming on the powerplay.  For being just a freshman, he has embraced his role as powerplay QB and is known to be very communicative with his teammates.  With senior defenseman Adam Plant out of the lineup this weekend against North Dakota, a lot of responsibility will fall to Mitchell and fellow Blackhawks prospect Blake Hillman.

Photo Courtesy of PucksAndRecreation.com

Fredrik Olofsson – University of Nebraska-Omaha – 2014 4th Round Pick

Current Stats:  8GP, 1G, 4A

Next Opponent:  @ Western Michigan

Photo Courtesy of The Star Tribune

Jack Ramsey – University of Minnesota – 2011 7th Round Pick

Current Stats:  12GP, 1G, 2A

Next Opponent:  Harvard

Jake Ryczek – Providence College – 2016 7th Round Pick

Current Stats:  2GP, 0P

Next Opponent: Merrimack

#HE: Northeastern LHD Ryan Shea (CHI 4th/2015) is an absolute stud. He always offered pure offensive skill but his reads and game below the circles are excellent. Only a sophomore but he looks NHL ready to me.

— Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) November 11, 2017

Photo Courtesy of The Boston Globe

Ryan Shea – Northeastern University – 2015 4th Round Pick

Current Stats:  10GP, 8A

Next Opponent:  Vermont, Boston College

Shea was an absolute monster for Northeastern in the series against Boston University.  He tallied three assists then and added another last week in the game against UMass-Lowell.  Shea didn’t make much noise during prospect camp but if he continues to produce close to a point-per-game pace, he’ll begin to turn some heads.

Photo Courtesy of The Huntington News

Dylan Sikura – Northeastern University – 2014 6th Round Pick

Current Stats:  8GP, 6G, 8A     
Next Opponent:  Vermont, Boston College

Sikura wasn’t in the Northeastern lineup last weekend because he was one of the college players selected for the Team Canada roster for the Olympics.  Last weekend was the Karjala Cup that was held in Finland that Sikura participated in.

Photo Courtesy of NBCSports.com

Beau Starrett – Cornell University – 2014 3rd Round Pick

Current Stats:  6GP, 5A
Next Opponent:  St. Lawrence, Clarkson, Niagra (Tuesday)

Starrett’s Big Red are rolling with a current record of 6-0.  Starrett’s game-tying assist against Harvard was huge and ultimately led to the Big Red’s biggest win of the season thus far.

READ NEXT:  BLACKHAWKS-RANGERS:  THE OTHER TEAM SHOWED UP

The post Chicago Blackhawks’ NCAA Prospects Roundup: Nov 16-17 appeared first on The Rink.

The road to professional hockey is unique to every young player.  Some have been on a track of attending the best amateur hockey schools all of their lives and others become late bloomers who develop somewhere along the line.  Regardless of who you are or where you came from, the road is difficult and taxing on these young men and their families.

Ian Mitchell is a defenseman for the University of Denver Pioneers and his road too is unique.  Ian is from Calahoo Alberta, population 197.  Hockey is in his blood.  His uncle, Roy Mitchell, was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1989 and played pro hockey for 12 seasons.  His father, Bill, also played and coached Ian and his brother Sean growing up in Calahoo.

As teenagers, some hockey players choose to leave home to pursue their careers in junior leagues across North America.  Mitchell was drafted to the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League and the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey league.  Ultimately, Mitchell decided to play his bantam hockey with the Spruce Grove Saints, just 30 minutes from his home in Calahoo.

Because of the opportunity to continue his education and play hockey for a prestigious program like the University of Denver, Mitchell decided to go the college route and hasn’t looked back.  With eight points in ten games, he’s thriving on the top-ranked college hockey team in the country.  And to top it off, he was drafted to the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2nd round of the 2017 NHL Draft.

Ian Mitchell leads NCAA freshmen with 7 power play points #DU1NATION pic.twitter.com/hXtbiSSeTt

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) November 12, 2017

The-Rink had the opportunity to speak with Ian’s father Bill to talk hockey, family, and also get the scouting report on Ian’s younger brother Sean.

Interview with Bill Mitchell

What’s it like being a hockey dad and watching your son Ian be so successful at a young age?

Bill Mitchell:  Because my brother and I grew up playing the game, it was just natural that my kids followed in our footsteps.  It’s pretty special in a sense that I’ve been able to teach them both skating.  I was their power-skating instructor for many years so I’ve taught them that.  It’s been fun following them through their whole process as they go.  

What’s it like being the coaches son, Sean?  More pressure or less pressure?

Sean Mitchell:  Maybe a bit of both.  If you do well you’re rewarded, but if you mess up you have to come to the bench and try not to make eye contact.  Just get in line (laughs).

Montgomery on Ian Mitchell:

“He’s a coaches dream. He’s prepared every day and he wants to get better. He has a great compete level”

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) October 26, 2017

What was it like coaching Ian?

Bill Mitchell:  Where we were in the little town of Calahoo, there’s about 200 people that live there.  I ended up going out there so we moved there. There weren’t a lot of coaches and the team had only 24 kids.  It was also hard having so much diversity on the team.  There were some kids that could hardly skate where Ian was and it was tough to get them progression.  A lot of kids nowadays are going to these specialty schools.  Families are paying a lot of money but I’m a firm believer in just getting on the ice and getting your skills developed.  When you’re young, get your feet, get your hands, and get your head up.  So yeah it’s paid off.  Both of these guys are pretty good at that, they’re smart players.  

Talk about how passionate hockey fans are in Spruce Grove.

Bill Mitchell:  Well that team in that area is a Junior-A team that has had a lot of success the last 15 years.  We support the team.  It’s quite a bit different than coming to a college game.  They’ll get maybe 800-900 fans max per game, but there’s a lot of different hockey there.  You can watch high-end Bantam, high-end Midget, Junior Tier-1, the University Golden Bears, and the Oilers.  There’s a lot of hockey to watch.  

What are your thoughts on the Edmonton Oilers and their recent slump?

It just hasn’t come together yet.  They’re having a tough time.  I think it’s going to start to show.  They won the last two games so hopefully it picks up.  That’s been our favorite team.

How did it feel the minute Ian was drafted and knowing the Mitchell name might be sewn on an original six jersey?

Well, it’s pretty exciting.  It’s funny because throughout the year, Darrell May (Blackhawks Scout) was always at Ian’s games.  He was always going to him after games and telling him, “You’re a Blackhawk.”  I had a pretty good feeling.  We knew he wasn’t going to be a first-rounder.  In all honestly, I think it was better to go below that because the eye isn’t on you all the time.  And it gives you an opportunity to develop.  But we were watching that number 57 spot and we thought OK.  But when the Blackhawks took Henri Jokiharju, we thought because he’s a right-handed puck-moving defenseman what are the chances they’re going to take Ian?  But when it happened it was pretty special.  Ian jumped sky high, he was so excited to go to that team. 

How hard was it for you watching Ian go off to college?

Bill Mitchell:  We actually had a unique situation.  He was drafted by the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL so he went down there and checked it out.  But with his academic prowess with school, we thought we should wait and see what happens.  We got lucky because Spruce Grove is 20 minutes from our house.  It’s been tough on all of us as a family because we’re very tight, but it was better than him moving at 16 to go to Brandon.  We like to come down to Denver as much as we can, but it’s not cheap to fly. 

Lastly, give us the scouting report on Ian’s younger brother Sean Mitchell.

Bill Mitchell:  He’s a heads-up hockey player.  He skates very well.  He needs to get more bulk and strength but when it comes to play-making he’s very good.  You might see him down the road, he’s got to keep working at it.

You can follow Ian and Bill on Twitter at @IanMitch15 and @Bill_Mitchell10

The post College Hockey Worth the Wait for Blackhawks’ Ian Mitchell and Family appeared first on The Rink.

DENVER, CO– 56 penalty minutes is a statistic that is a pretty clear indicator as to what kind of game the No. 3 Denver Pioneers and No. 1 St. Cloud State Huskies had Saturday night.  After a very close game Friday won by Denver 4-2, Saturday night’s game quickly got out of hand.  The Pioneers scored three goals in the 2nd period and two more in the 3rd to knock off the top-ranked Huskies.

The game included several hard hits, major penalties, and a heated skirmish at the end of the game when emotions boiled over for the Huskies.  After going 7-0-0 to start the season, the Huskies weren’t ready to hand the top ranking back to Denver after just one week.  Messages were sent and there is clearly some unfinished business between the two division rivals.  The next time St. Cloud and Denver meet is in St. Cloud February 23rd and 24th.

Before the season started, Denver was picked by most to be a heavy favorite to repeat as National Champions.  However, last weekend the Pioneers were swept by the Western Michigan Broncos in an unexpected series loss.  Denver quickly got back on track with these wins against St. Cloud, but they aren’t in the clear just yet.  Next weekend, the Pioneers host the University of North Dakota who was ranked No. 2 overall in last weeks USCHO poll.

? Redirection ?

Dylan Gambrell makes it 4-1 @DU_Hockey on the power play. #NCHCHockey pic.twitter.com/HMzT3ILW3S

— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) November 12, 2017

After the game Saturday night, The-Rink caught up with Denver’s Dylan Gambrell, a San Jose Sharks prospect, who tallied a goal and an assist Saturday night.

Photo courtesy of NHL.com

Interview with Dylan Gambrell from the University of Denver

Talk about tonight’s win and what it means to beat top-ranked St. Cloud State a couple nights in a row.

Honestly it’s exciting when you have a chance to take on the #1 in your own building. I think we brought it yesterday and we improved tonight.  You can see that in the results.

Head coach Jim Montgomery talked on Friday about the Pioneer forwards needing to be more physical on the forecheck with St. Cloud.  How much did that contribute to tonight’s game plan?

I think it was huge.  When you take the body on Friday, it definitely takes a toll coming into Saturday.  We came out early and we we’re definitely more physical which led to our success this weekend.

We saw you use the spin-o-rama move on your breakaway.  When’s the last time you used that in a game?

(laughs) Uh… a long time.  I was trying to do something just to get to the net, but it almost worked out.

Adam Plant played a really strong game tonight.  Talk about his leadership role on the team, especially with captain Tariq Hammond out of the lineup. 

Adam’s great on the power-play, he’s really good at shooting through traffic, and is really good at finding the net.  Putting pucks on net clean is always useful for our team.

It got pretty heated at the end of the game.  What do you expect from St. Cloud State the next time Denver plays them?

They’re going to be ready, and we’re going to be ready for them.  They’re going to want to come back and get some redemption.  We have to be at our best because we know they’re going to bring theirs.  

What have you been working on this season as far as development that you and the Sharks talked about over the summer?

We talk a little bit, but development wise I’m just trying to do all the little things right.  Sharpen up my play in the offensive zone and neutral zone.  I want to do the little things right and just play hard.

NEXT:  ARE THE BLACKHAWKS THIS BAD?

The post NCAA: Dylan Gambrell Knows St. Cloud State Will Be Back For More After Sweep appeared first on The Rink.

When you’re a college hockey program in Minnesota, you generally don’t have to look too far to find your incoming freshman class.  The St. Cloud State Huskies are the top-ranked team in the country and the roster is full of elite NHL prospects and college players.  If you look up and down their lineup, most players hail from Minnesota, Canada, or Europe.  But not all.

Freshman Kevin Fitzgerald is from Hinsdale Illinois.  He played his AAA hockey with the Chicago Steel who he won the championship with in 2013.  Fitzgerald also played hockey at Hinsdale Central High School until he joined the North American Hockey League in 2014.  He played with the Topeka Roadrunners, Vermont Lumberjacks of the EHL, and most recently with the Aberdeen Wings.  Last year with the Wings, Fitzgerald was almost a point-per-game player.  In 60 games, Fitzgerald scored 22 goals and 37 assists.

This year, Fitzgerald is in his freshman year at St. Cloud State and his success at the NAHL level seems to be translating to the college game.  In seven games, Fitzgerald has two goals and three assists.  He currently plays on a line with Los Angeles Kings prospect Mikey Eyssimont and Montreal Candiens prospect Ryan Poehling.

#1 St. Cloud State men’s hockey drops 4-2 decision at #3 Denver https://t.co/xKWZoAYFhT

— SCSU HUSKIES (@SCSUHUSKIES) November 11, 2017

Friday night, the St. Cloud State Huskies fell to the University of Denver Pioneers 2-4 in a game featuring two of the country’s top college hockey teams.  The-Rink caught up with Fitzgerald after the game to talk about his experiences at college and his Illinois roots.

Photo courtesy of NAHL.com

Interview with Kevin Fitzgerald of the St. Cloud State Huskies

Talk about tonight’s game against the University of Denver and what adjustments you guys need to make for tomorrow night.

Denver is a good team obviously, but I feel like our start needs to be better.  We talked about it in the locker room.  We just have to come out with fire and make it hard for them.  We have to out-work them tomorrow.

What do you think has made the Huskies so successful this season considering this is just your first loss after going 7-0?

It’s definitely our leadership.  We’ve got guys showing new guys like myself, the freshmen, how to do things.  I also feel like our skill and our depth make us a threat when we work hard and create plays. 

How did you decide to play your college hockey at St. Cloud State and what has your experience been like so far?

First off, my experience has been unbelievable.  I knew it was going to be a great time when I committed here, but I could never imagine something like this.  The guys are incredible.  Everybody from the staff to the teachers.  St. Cloud State is a great place to be.  What attracted me to it was obviously their hockey program, it speaks for itself.  Also the tradition of the team having been so good for so long.  When I got the call from coach Motzko I was ecstatic.

Growing up in Illinois, you had success at the amateur level when you won a USHL championship with the Chicago Steel in 2013.  If a school like the University of Illinois or Northwestern University had a D1 hockey program, would you have considered it?  

I mean, yeah.  I know Nick Fabbrini really well, he’s the head coach at the University of Illinois.  He spoke to me about “feasibility reports” of adding a D1 team and it looks like it may be in the works.  It would be good for Chicago kids.  There a lot of hockey in Chicago and a lot of good players.  I feel like giving them a place to go would be really awesome.  I’ve known Nick for a while, he’s a good coach that loves the game.  I think that would be a good spot for kids.

Last question:  Bears/Packers on Sunday, who do you got?

C’mon, Bears.  Trubisky’s elite. 

NEXT:  SHAKE UP TIME FOR THE BLACKHAWKS?

The post NCAA: Away At College, Hinsdale-Native Kevin Fitzgerald Loving Every Minute of It appeared first on The Rink.

The Chicago Blackhawks’ College Hockey prospects are off to a great start this season led by Northeastern University’s Dylan Sikura

The Chicago Blackhawks have seen a lot of their stars come from the college hockey system including Duncan Keith (Michigan State), Jonathan Toews (North Dakota) and Patrick Sharp (Vermont).  But after the past two seasons of disappointing playoff losses, GM Stan Bowman has put a new focus on player development across the entire organization to help get their prospects ready for the pro level.

A fresh roster and new head coach Jeremy Colliton already has the Blackhawks AHL affiliate, The Rockford IceHogs, breathing new life.  And with the ‘Hawks struggling to find successors for their aging defenseman, Bowman used his first two picks in the 2017 NHL draft on defenseman.

Leading the pack of NCAA Blackhawks prospects are Northeastern University’s Dylan Sikura, Boston Universtiy’s Chad Krys, and University of Denver’s Ian Mitchell all who contribute to successful NCAA hockey programs.

Updates on Blackhawks NCAA Prospects

The learning curve has been short for freshmen Alex Limoges and Evan Barratt. https://t.co/NCVGMU2Jgj pic.twitter.com/UDboV0fs5M

— Onward State (@OnwardState) October 31, 2017

Evan Barratt – Penn State University – 2017 3rd Round Pick

Current Stats:  3GP, 1A

Next Opponent:  Mercyhurst

Barratt was held out of play for the first five games of the season with an upper-body injury.  Although his numbers aren’t impressive yet, reports are that he has been strong in the face-off circle and has established a solid 3rd line with freshman Alex Limoges and sophomore Liam Folkes.

Evan Barratt isn’t on the scoresheet but he’s been all over the place tonight through two periods.

— David Eckert (@davideckert98) October 28, 2017

Photo Courtesy of Brian Jenkins

Liam Coughlin – University of Vermont – 2014 5th Round Pick (EDM)

Current Stats:  6GP, 1G

Next Opponent:  @ University of Connecticut

Badgers men’s hockey: Cooperative development for defensemen Peter Tischke, Josh Ess https://t.co/akSiOyy2As pic.twitter.com/nvXMHy41mh

— Wis. State Journal (@WiStateJournal) October 17, 2017

Josh Ess – University of Wisconsin – 2017 7th Round Pick

Current Stats:  9GP, 1A

Next Opponent:  University of North Dakota

Photo Courtesy of ECACHockey.com

Parker Foo – Union College – 2017 5th Round Pick

Current Stats:  9GP, 1G, 1A

Next Opponent: @ St. Lawrence 11/3, @ Clarkson 11/4

Foo is in his freshman year at Union College and is trying to pave his own way without comparisons to his older brother and Union College standout Spencer Foo.  Parker showed a lot of speed and quickness over the summer at Blackhawks prospect camp and has high expectations at Union this year.  He has already earned praise from The Athletic’s Corey Pronman and ESPN’s John Buccigross.

Parker Foo is a real Fighter. He’s no Pretender. Times Like These you wonder if he would have liked to play with his brother.

— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) October 13, 2017

Photo Courtesy of InsideHockey.com

Dennis Gilbert – University of Notre Dame – 2015 3rd Round Pick

Current Stats:  7GP, 1G, 9 Blocked Shots

Next Opponent:  @ Ohio State

Gilbert is in for an intense series when his Fighting Irish(#10) take on the Buckeyes(#16) this weekend.  Gilbert is a former Chicago Steel product and played in the Frozen Four with Notre Dame last season.  He plays on a highly skilled defense led by senior Jordan Gross.

Photo Courtesy of USCHO.com

Blake Hillman – University of Denver – 2016 6th Round Pick

Current Stats:  6GP, 2G, 19 SOG 

Next Opponent:  Western Michigan University

In an interview with Hillman from Blackhawk Up earlier this year, Hillman said he wanted to focus on defense this year and hopefully the offense will come.  So far, the Denver Pioneers are unbeaten and Hillman is finding his stride.  Hillman had the primary assist in an overtime goal against the Lake Superior State Lakers last month and had a nice goal against the Boston College Eagles last weekend.

Quick trigger from Denver’s Blake Hillman off the faceoff, all Woll can do is shrug. 3-0, 3:47 left in the second. pic.twitter.com/ujZ5VrQnz8

— Bradley Smart (@bradleysmart15) October 29, 2017

Photo Courtesy of ConcordMonitor.com

Chad Krys – Boston University – 2016 2nd Round Pick

Current Stats:  8GP, 5A, 30 SOG

Next Opponent:  Providence 11/3, Northeastern 11/4

Krys was probably the most impressive defensive player at Blackhawks Prospect Camp this summer.  His ability to skate and create space for his forwards is impressive for only being a sophomore at BU.  He has been extremely aggressive with 30 shots on goal already.  In an article from the Daily Free Press, Krys described his offseason preparation and physicality as goals for the 2017-18 season.

“It’s something that Coach Quinn’s really emphasized for me everyday, to take responsibility defensively, and try and be as physical as I can and be as hard to play against as I can.”

Defending 101: Protect Your Goalie – by @jakemassie3 of @UVMmhockey at @Friendship_Four pic.twitter.com/aCafyLXnU5

— Chris Ritchie (@DeeChris7) November 28, 2016

Jake Massie – University of Vermont – 2015 6th Round Pick (CAR)

Current Stats:  7GP, 1A

Next Opponent:  @ University of Connecticut

Photo Courtesy of The Denver Post

Ian Mitchell – University of Denver – 2017 2nd Round Pick

Current Stats:  6GP, 4A

Next Opponent:  Western Michigan University

There probably isn’t a better place for Blackhawks 2017 2nd round pick Ian Mitchell to develop than on the #1 ranked Denver Pioneers under Jim Montgomery.  Although Michell has had his fair share of defensive lapses, he continues to get better in his own end.  Montgomery has trusted Mitchell with being the quarterback of the power-play where he has excelled in taking over for former Pioneer Will Butcher.

Denver’s Ian Mitchell scored his first goal of the season from long range. Eagles trail, 2-0. pic.twitter.com/LvqQO6bzKu

— Bradley Smart (@bradleysmart15) October 28, 2017

Photo Courtesy of PucksAndRecreation.com

Fredrik Olofsson – University of Nebraska-Omaha – 2014 4th Round Pick

Current Stats:  6GP, 1G, 4A

Next Opponent:  @ Colorado College 11/10-11/11

Entering his second season with the Mavericks, Olofsson is off to a great start with five points in six games.  The Mavs are currently 3-2-1.  Olofsson had a solid freshman year scoring 11 goals and 13 assists.

Photo Courtesy of The Star Tribune

Jack Ramsey – University of Minnesota – 2011 7th Round Pick

Current Stats:  8GP, 1G, 1A

Next Opponent:  Michigan State

Ramsey is a big kid at 6’3 185 pounds.  He played a scrappy game at prospect camp this summer and was rewarded for getting to the front of the net.  Although his stats have never been great, he plays a big leadership role on the Gophers.  Wish him a happy birthday on Twitter at @Ramsey_16

We find it hard to believe that @Ramsey_16 won’t have fun on his birthday! Have a great one, Jack! #Gophers pic.twitter.com/CMZw7332bF

— Minnesota M Hockey (@GopherHockey) November 2, 2017

Welcome to Friartown @jakeryczek1619 @FriarsHockey #gofriars #pcmih pic.twitter.com/gSJWBxhtBT

— Ken Jancef (@kenjancef) October 28, 2017

Jake Ryczek – Providence College – 2016 7th Round Pick

Current Stats:  2GP, 0P

Next Opponent: @ Boston University

Photo Courtesy of The Boston Globe

Ryan Shea – Northeastern University – 2015 4th Round Pick

Current Stats:  7GP, 5A

Next Opponent:  @ Boston University

This weekend the Huskies go to Boston to take on the Terriers.  Ryan Shea has had a strong start to the season with five assists.  He’s also a plus six and has nine blocked shots.  The Blackhawks should keep a close eye on Shea considering they need stay at home defenders like Shea who are reliable in their own zone.

Photo Courtesy of The Huntington News

Dylan Sikura – Northeastern University – 2014 6th Round Pick

Current Stats:  7GP, 6G, 8A, 41 SOG      

Next Opponent:  Boston University

Sikura was recently ranked the #1 forward in college hockey by College Hockey News.  He and line-mate Adam Gaudette have been scoring machines for the Huskies.  Sikura is also being considered by Team Canada as a potential player for their Olympic team.  The Huskies will take on the Boston Terriers on Friday as fellow Blackhawks prospect Chad Krys will try to slow Sikura down.

A 14-point October has earned Dylan Sikura @hockey_east Player of the Month honors!

Read: https://t.co/ExOMUXz2zO#GoNU | #RedBlackOnePack pic.twitter.com/HUOqmWPzE3

— Northeastern MHKY (@GoNUmhockey) November 1, 2017

Photo Courtesy of NBCSports.com

Beau Starrett – Cornell University – 2014 3rd Round Pick

Current Stats:  2GP, 1A

Next Opponent:  @ Quinnipiac 11/3, @ Princeton 11/4

Starrett is out this season to prove he can be the dominant force the Chicago Blackhawks saw when they drafted him in 2014.  AT 6’5 212 pounds, Starrett towered over other Blackhawks centers at prospect camp.  He can move pretty well up the ice for a big man too.  The Big Red are 2-0 and hopefully Starrett can produce more than the 14 points he scored last season.

Got a good shot of you taking draws pic.twitter.com/wMb8xuWKfF

— Blackhawk Up (@Blackhawk_Up) July 24, 2017

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