The news for letting Peeters’ rights expire comes with far less surprise than letting Gravel go. Peeters was a third-round pick by the Blackhawks in 2016, but fizzled out of the USHL after little more than one season, returning to Europe and playing last season with Guildford in the EIHL in the U.K.

Halifax Mooseheads goaltender Alexis Gravel stands in the net. (Photograph courtesy of the Halifax Mooseheads)

As for Gravel, the former 2018 sixth-round pick by Chicago had a successful career in the QMJHL with the Halifax Mooseheads over the past four years. He appeared in 178 games for the Mooseheads, with a career 3.29 GAA and a .898 save percentage. His best season came two years ago during the 2018-19 campaign, leading the Mooseheads to the QMJHL President’s Cup Final and the CHL Memorial Cup Final, being named to the Memorial Cup tournament’s All-Star team and being named the Memorial Cup tournament’s Most Outstanding Goaltender.

Coming off injury this season, Gravel had a down year from his 2018-19 season, but his body of work still felt promising for the 20-year old to get a shot within the Blackhawks organization. Less than two weeks ago, Gravel posted on a photo on his social media wearing a Blackhawks hat.

First fish of the summer pic.twitter.com/LemOs8NH2g

— Alexis Gravel (@alexis_grave1) May 10, 2020

Now, according to the report, both Gravel and Peeters will see their draft rights expire with Chicago on June 1, making them free agents.

The Blackhawks are left with goaltenders Corey Crawford and Malcolm Subban at the NHL level, with both having contracts expiring this summer. At the AHL level, Collin Delia, Matt Tomkins, and Kevin Lankinen all played with the Rockford IceHogs this past season and all are on the books for 2020-21, with Delia and Lankinen having contracts through the 2021-22 season.

Chicago still holds the rights to Russian goaltender Ivan Nalimov, who signed a PTO with the IceHogs late this past season, but never played in a game, and to 2019 sixth-round draft pick Dominic Basse, who played last season in the USHL with the Youngstown Phantoms and is expected to play in the USHL again next season before heading to Colorado College.

It is probable that the Blackhawks will draft another goaltender in this year’s Entry Draft, potentially with their first-round pick as Russian goaltender Yaroslav Askarov is projected to be available when Chicago is on the clock. Granted, draft position is still not locked in yet, but as it currently stands Askarov will likely be available around picks eight, nine, and ten in the first round.

The post Report: Blackhawks not expected to sign goaltenders Gravel, Peeters appeared first on The Rink.

With the Chicago Blackhawks likely picking toward the back end of the top 10 in this year’s NHL Entry Draft, I would like to unpack why the organization needs—yes, needs—to draft Russian goaltending phenom Yaroslav Askarov.

The current situation

It is no surprise there will soon be a changing of the guard in net for the Blackhawks. Longtime goaltender Corey Crawford is quickly approaching the end of his esteemed career, with likely just another year or two left in his tank, at most. Crawford’s recent injury struggles are well documented, and the netminder could be one collision away from being finished between the pipes.

Additionally, the Blackhawks balked at the opportunity to secure the long-term outlook of the position, trading away Robin Lehner at the trade deadline rather than locking him up to a contract extension.

With Crawford’s playing days likely coming to an end in the near future, the organization will need to answer the question of who will serve as the next Blackhawk great in the crease.

In addition to Crawford, backup goaltender Malcolm Subban is set to be a free agent this offseason. Subban, acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights in the Lehner deal, is 26 years old and will be a restricted free agent. The 2012 Boston first-round pick has struggled to establish himself as a legitimate NHL option, not seeing regular playing time until the 2017–18 season, playing 22 games for Vegas with a 2.68 goals against average (GAA) and a .910 save percentage.

However, since then, Subban’s numbers have steadily dropped off, posting a 3.18 GAA and a .890 save percentage in 20 appearances for the Golden Knights this season before coming to Chicago, where he saw just 70 seconds of action on March 3 against Anaheim while Crawford was momentarily pulled from the game. Though the Blackhawks could choose to bring back Subban, he likely does not factor into the team’s long-term plans between the pipes, as his limited usage while in Chicago seems to indicate, meaning the organization needs to either acquire or develop its next big-time netminder.

The Blackhawks’ history of drafting goaltenders

Of course, some could point to the Blackhawks’ failure to draft and develop quality goaltending talent as a reason to pass on Askarov. Since selecting Crawford (and Mike Brodeur) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Chicago has picked 12 goaltenders. Those 12 netminders have combined to make just one appearance in the NHL, as Kent Simpson played just 20 minutes in a 7–3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 14, 2013, allowing two goals on seven shots faced.

However, on the contrary, of those 12 goaltenders, only three were selected in the first three rounds of a draft, with Simpson being the only second-round selectee (the last of three second-round picks that year) and none being chosen in the first round. The overwhelming majority of those 12 goaltenders could be described as the Blackhawks taking a flier to see if they might become something down the road, an unlikely proposition regardless of position as the draft progresses.

All this to say, the Blackhawks have not invested a high-end draft pick in a goaltender since Crawford, as he was the last netminder selected with one of Chicago’s first three picks in a draft.

Another important thing to note is the quality of player a team would ideally be looking for with a top-10 pick. As The Rink’s own John Jaeckel has pointed out previously, with a top-10 pick, a team should likely be hoping it can acquire a No. 1 center, a No. 1 defenseman or a No. 1 goaltender, or at worst, a future first-line winger capable of producing at a high-end level. Of course, by being at the bottom of the top 10, the likelihood of getting a No. 1 center or defenseman is not as high as it would be with a lottery pick, despite this year’s draft class widely being considered to be fairly deep. The other “No. 1” category? Bingo.

Additionally, many would argue the best draft strategy is to select the best player available, and if that player fills a need, even better. The draft is a valuable tool to restock the cupboards and develop the next great wave of talent for an organization. A team should be selecting players that improve its situation, whatever that may look like, regardless of position, timeline or nationality.

However, with the tandem Chicago was icing in net prior to the stoppage of play pretty clearly not being the long-term answer between the pipes, a thorough analysis of other goaltenders within the organization is warranted before potentially using a first-round pick on a netminder.

In the system

The Blackhawks currently have three goaltenders under contract for next season in Collin Delia, Kevin Lankinen and Matt Tomkins, who split time with the Rockford IceHogs this season. While Delia and Lankinen could prove to be serviceable backups at the NHL level, neither is likely to develop into a legitimate top-end starting goaltender. Tomkins likely does not have much of a future in the NHL, at least not in Chicago, as he is rather comfortably the third-best option of that trio.

Two goaltenders currently hold a minor-league contract or a professional tryout agreement (PTO), as 24-year-old Tom Aubrun was signed out of Norwich University earlier this month while 2014 sixth-round pick Ivan Nalimov signed a PTO with the IceHogs in March just prior to the stoppage of play.

Though Aubrun, a native of Chamonix, France, has boasted impressive numbers thus far in his career, he is likely a wild card at this point, having spent the last four seasons playing at the NCAA DIII level for the Cadets. Aubrun took over the starting job as a junior in 2018–19, posting a 1.70 GAA and .929 save percentage in 28 games before dominating all season long as a senior with a GAA of 0.77 and a save percentage of .967 in 27 outings, highlighted by a remarkable nine-game shutout streak prior to the remainder of the team’s season being canceled.

While Aubrun’s gaudy numbers do warrant attention, he will need to prove himself at a higher level of play before being considered to be a legitimate NHL option down the road. Aubrun will likely spend the 2020–21 season with the Indy Fuel of the ECHL.

Nalimov has been an interesting case since being selected by the Blackhawks in 2014. The Russian has bounced around in his native land, playing for seven teams since the start of the 2016–17 season with mixed results. Though Nalimov does have raw talent, he appears to be a headcase, which likely does not bode well for a chance at NHL stardom, especially at this stage of his career.

Unsigned prospects

Chicago owns the rights to three additional goaltenders on its reserve list, as Dominic Basse, Alexis Gravel and Wouter Peeters all stand without a contract in hand.

After struggling in his first season in North America in the USHL during the 2017–18 season, Peeters has since spent the majority of his time back in Europe, where he will likely remain for the rest of his career. The native of Belgium appears to be nothing more than a failed use of a third-round pick in 2016.

Like Aubrun, Basse is very much an unknown wild card at this point in time. Though possessing raw ability, the 2019 sixth-rounder is also an unproven commodity. Basse will head to Colorado College next season.

At this time, Gravel is likely the goaltender within the Blackhawks’ system with the highest ceiling, having displayed his ability well over the last four seasons with the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL. Though Gravel may have the potential to become a starting goaltender at the NHL level, that is far from a guarantee. Chicago will need to make up its mind on Gravel in the near future, as the organization will lose his rights on June 1 if he is not signed prior to then.

To summarize, while any one of the netminders currently within the organization could theoretically develop into a serviceable NHL option—after all, anything can happen, as some might claim—the likelihood any of them will become elite, Stanley Cup-worthy talents is extremely slim.

Other avenues for finding the goalie of the future

Of course, the Blackhawks could opt to sign a high-end free agent goaltender. But, by passing on bringing back Lehner, that route likely is not in the cards given the team did not want to spend the required money to do so after the big Swede fell into their lap last summer.

Chicago could also attempt to trade for a goaltender of the future, as it seemed they might have in March when rumors swirled of Russian prospect Ilya Sorokin’s rights heading to the Blackhawks. However, the price to acquire a young goaltender of that calibre in a trade would be high, and the organization has not successfully swung a deal for a goalie of the future since acquiring Jocelyn Thibault in 1998.

So, where does that leave the Blackhawks in terms of finding a long-term answer in the cage? How are the majority of elite goaltenders acquired? The NHL Entry Draft. Cue Askarov.

Why Askarov?

Askarov is widely considered to be the best goaltending prospect since Carey Price in 2005. What does that indicate? Askarov is viewed as a generational type of netminder. His draft stock is higher than other touted goaltenders over the last 15 years, including Andrei Vasilevskiy, Ilya Samsonov and Spencer Knight. In fact, since Price and Tuukka Rask were selected in 2005, just 13 goaltenders have been chosen in the first round, seven of which have been since 2010.

Over the last decade, more and more teams have seemingly decided drafting a goaltender in the first round may not be worth their pick. This philosophy is evidenced by the somewhat drastic change in the number of netminders selected in the first round in the last two decades, as 22 goaltenders were selected in the first round between 2000 and 2009 compared to just seven from 2010 to 2019.

Some may also be leery of the “Russian factor,” as Askarov could theoretically never come over to play in North America. However, in recent years, the likes of Vasilevskiy, Samsonov and Igor Shesterkin have decreased that concern by showing high-end Russian goaltenders can very well make and follow through with the commitment.

Despite all this, Askarov has been considered a slam-dunk first-round pick for this year, with many proclaiming him worthy of a top-10 selection. Again, this is because of Askarov’s obvious talent and his potential to legitimately become a franchise-altering goaltender and annual Vezina Trophy candidate.

Askarov has been nothing short of sensational in nearly every stop of his young career. He has dominated in international tournaments against his age group over the past three seasons and has only come back down to earth in an average showing at the 2020 World Junior Championships, where he posted a 2.71 GAA and a .877 save percentage in five appearances. But, Askarov still had an impressive 2019–20 campaign otherwise, highlighted by a gold medal in the Gretzky Hlinka Cup and a strong showing in his first-ever KHL game for SKA St. Petersburg, a 23-save performance in a 4–2 win.

The stars align

As noted earlier, with nothing of substantial quality looming in the netminder pipeline, now is the time for the Blackhawks to break the trend and finally invest a quality draft pick in a goaltender. By filling that hole, the organization can entirely focus on other gaps in the system, knowing arguably the biggest vacancy is taken care of. And, with the best goaltending prospect in the last 15 years potentially being on the board when General Manager Stan Bowman announces Chicago’s newest draftee, the timing could not be any better.

The post Why the Chicago Blackhawks need to draft Yaroslav Askarov appeared first on The Rink.

I get the utmost pleasure of bringing you coverage and updates of the Blackhawks’ prospects in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) all season long! Last year was a busy year in the CHL, as the likes of Adam Boqvist, Nicholas Beaudin, Philipp Kurashev, and Mikael Hakkarainen were all tearing up either the CHL or USHL. However, all of those players have graduated to the AHL and you can find further coverage on them with Mario. Now, the cupboard is bare in the CHL with only three current prospects across the three leagues—the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Western Hockey League (WHL) and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)—that make up the CHL, with a potential fourth, which we will get to.

This article is designed to give you an understanding of what to expect from each of the Blackhawks’ CHL prospects so you are prepared to follow along with our coverage all season!

Michal Teply

The Blackhawks’ first fourth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft (105th overall) was originally drafted out of the Czech Republic back in June.

Michal Teply skates toward the net looking to make a play for HC Bílí Tygři Liberec in the Czech Republic. (Photograph courtesy of Jiri Princ / Billi Tygri Liberec)

Teply is a big winger, standing 6-foot-3 inches and weighing 187 pounds, with a good shot. He has the potential to become a good scoring wing that provides excellent depth for the Blackhawks. However, he will certainly have to work on his skating. During the Blackhawks’ prospect camp scrimmage this past summer, Teply was sprung on a breakaway only to stop his feet and ultimately get caught from behind by the third overall selection in 2019, Kirby Dach. Teply was never a very strong skater, but that play seemed to reinforce that notion.

Aside from his skating, the most notable growth Teply will need is adjusting to North American ice. After being a mainstay on Czech national teams growing up, he has only ever really played on the much wider European ice. If he hopes to have a successful NHL career, the biggest adjustment in order to accomplish that goal will be transitioning successfully to the smaller, faster North American ice.

Teply was drafted twice this past summer, also being selected in the WHL Import Draft, where he was taken fourth overall by the Winnipeg Ice. Through nine games with the Ice as of Oct. 15, Teply currently leads the team in goals (four) and points (eight), while being tied for second in assists with four. The young Czech winger has, so far, lived up to the hype of his import draft slot.

Teply’s progression during this season in the WHL will be telling of his potential pro future. The WHL is known as a tough league, rarely having 100-point scorers that are not veterans of the league. I am not saying Teply will put up 100 points, but if he can average a point per game or better, that will be beneficial for his development and future outlook within the Blackhawks’ organization.

Cole Moberg

The seventh-round pick from the Prince George Cougars in the WHL could be poised to become the gem of Stan Bowman’s 2019 draft class. The defenseman has excellent size for his age (6-foot-3, 198 pounds) and possesses good skating ability along with a cannon of a shot from the point.

Cole Moberg celebrates a goal against the Vancouver Giants. (Photograph courtesy of the Vancouver Giants / Rik Fedyck Photography)

Moberg is coming off a 40-point campaign in the WHL last season, playing in 61 games. The right-handed defenseman also tallied 13 goals and had five power play points during the campaign. The Blackhawks snatched him up in the seventh round, which could make Moberg a gem in their most recent draft class.

Fellow The-Rink writer Juliana Nikac and I both really like Moberg, as heard on one of our latest episodes of The Rinkcast. I compared Moberg to Jason Garrison, before age caught up to the defenseman. He possessed an excellent shot from the point, similar to Moberg, although I believe Moberg will ultimately be a better skater than Garrison.

In only four games as of Canadian Thanksgiving, Moberg has registered one goal and one assist for the Cougars. Moberg currently sits in ninth for team scoring despite playing half as many games as his teammates. 

Keep an eye on Moberg this season in Prince George. He could really surprise a lot of people and be an excellent second or third-pairing defenseman for the Blackhawks down the road.

Alexis Gravel

Goaltender Alexis Gravel is coming off an incredible season with the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL. After being selected in the sixth round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Gravel posted a 33-win season for the Mooseheads and another 14 playoff wins, leading the Mooseheads to a QMJHL championship appearance. 

Alexis Gravel skates for the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL. (Photograph courtesy of Shawn Davidson / QMJHL)

Gravel has impressed a lot of people given where he was drafted. After his excellent season last year and a solid showing at prospect camp, Gravel returned to Halifax looking to pick up where he left off.

However, the season did not begin as planned. After two games, Gravel gave up eight goals in just over four periods of play during the Mooseheads’ games on Sept. 20 and 21. After sitting for a few weeks, Gravel started back-to-back games during the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, picking up two wins and only yielding a total of three goals. The second game was the most impressive for Gravel, as he stopped 49 of 50 shots on goal and picked up the big win to make it five straight wins for Halifax.

Gravel is a big goalie, standing at 6-foot-3 inches and 219 pounds. The young netminder has certainly shown promise in Halifax and the potential to be a part of the Blackhawks’ future plans as one of their two goalies. On the low end, he seems like he could be an AHL regular who can spot start as needed. On the high end, conservatively, he could be a backup goalie in the NHL.

Keep an eye on Gravel this season as he looks to replicate, and possibly improve on, his impressive run last year in the QMJHL.

Kirby Dach

Kirby Dach is most certainly the wildcard of the entire group being previewed. Yes, he is technically still with the Blackhawks, as he is on a rehab stint in Rockford as of Canadian Thanksgiving. However, once Dach gets his nine-game tryout, if the Blackhawks deem he is not ready for the NHL, he would return to the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL where he would likely “bum slay” the competition. 

Kirby Dach skates with the Saskatoon Blades. (Photograph courtesy of Marissa Baecker / Getty Images)

Dach has excellent size, and if able to quickly adjust to the NHL game, could make an impact on the Blackhawks’ roster this season. However, it is likely that he will return to the Blades, at which time, there will be a nice feature on the young center and what to watch for this season.

For now, all fans will be monitoring the situation with Dach, wondering whether he will stick in the NHL all year or return to the WHL and fine tune his game to be an impact piece on the Blackhawks’ roster next season.

Follow The-Rink on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for prospect coverage all season! And, follow me everywhere, too (@rnldluce). See you out on The-Rink.

The post CHL: Get to know the Blackhawks’ CHL prospects appeared first on The Rink.

Blackhawks assign Gravel; heads back to Halifax Mooseheads

An intriguing prospect in net for Chicago, Gravel played well throughout the summer and impressed during prospect camp and the Traverse City rookie tournament. In two appearances for the Blackhawks rookies in Traverse City, Gravel won both games and posted a .915 save percentage in those two contests.

Halifax Mooseheads goaltender Alexis Gravel stands in the net. (Photograph courtesy of the Halifax Mooseheads)

While Gravel did not see action during any of the Blackhawks’ preseason games, he will return to the Mooseheads as the No. 1 option in net and has an opportunity to be in the mix for Team Canada at this year’s World Junior Championships. Gravel is entering his fourth season with Halifax and is coming off his best season in juniors in 2018–19. Last season, Gravel backstopped the Mooseheads to the best record in the QMJHL Eastern Conference and led them to the QMJHL Finals and the Memorial Cup Final as the tournament hosts. Gravel posted career highs in save percentage (.913) and goals against average (2.49) with Halifax last season.

The post Blackhawks cut Alexis Gravel from training camp roster 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 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

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Blackhawks development camp: Day two takeaways

Day two opened with the highlight group of Team A taking the ice first. Alexis Gravel, a 2018 sixth round pick for the Blackhawks was in net for Team A after missing yesterday’s session. Gravel had a breakout season last year with the Halifax Mooseheads in the QMJHL, helping the Mooseheads to an appearance in the QMJHL Finals and the Memorial Cup Final, which was held in Halifax. Gravel is the most senior of the goalies in camp this week as far as Blackhawks development camp appearances with two. He will return to Halifax this season for what looks to be his final year of junior hockey.

Deliberate side to side movement as well as returning upright from low saves. Good drill to get the hips and legs warm. https://t.co/bGuzcDI4FG

— Puckin Hostile (@PuckinHostile.bsky.social) (@PuckinHostile) July 16, 2019

Off the ice, the Blackhawks made a long-anticipated trade during the first session, trading Artem Anisimov to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Zack Smith. The move is not a huge upgrade on paper as far as production and usage goes, but will save the Blackhawks $1.3 million in cap space for the next two seasons.

“He’s a versatile player,” said Blackhawks General Manager Stan Bowman on acquiring Smith. “He’s played wing and center, which we like. He plays with an edge. He has some years in the past where he has scored a lot. The thing we like about him is his versatility.”

Bowman added that he believes that Smith brings a competitiveness and edge that the Blackhawks lacked last season. Smith has played 612 NHL games in his career, all with the Senators.

Getting back to the action on the ice at development camp, missing from Team A’s workout was Jake Wise, who skated in a non-contact sweater the day prior. Instead, Wise skated with Team B for day two. Forwards Kirby Dach, Philipp Kurashev and Alexander Nylander were again standouts during the session. Dach showed more of his agile skating ability for a player of his frame, which is a promising sign early on in his development. Kurashev and Nylander’s speed and accuracy with the puck were on display for the second day in a row, as was Brandon Hagel’s. The depth of the forward group in the prospect system was lacking heading into this summer, and so far, through the draft, trades and offseason development, looks to have become one of the strengths of the farm system for Chicago.

A skating and shooting drill#Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/sFUPulNgKg

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) July 16, 2019

Defensemen Nicolas Beaudin, Adam Boqvist and Alex Vlasic again were focal points of the early session. Vlasic’s ability to skate well for his size, much like with Dach, was on display and should bode well for a player who hopes to be on the trajectory of a pre-2016 Brent Seabrook type of player. Chad Krys put on a decent shooting display that get a number of “oohs” and “aahs” from the crowd at the Fifth Third Ice Arena as well.

Alex Vlasic blueline drill#Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/klTvYzyWpS

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) July 16, 2019

Following the first session, Ian Mitchell met with Blackhawks media and was again asked about his plans as it pertained to playing for Denver University this year. He reiterated his intentions to return to school for his junior season and then sign with the Blackhawks once the Pioneers’ season is finished.

Ian Mitchell after Day 2 of development camp reiterates his intentions to return to Denver for his Junior season and sign with the #Blackhawks following the conclusion of his #NCAA year

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) July 16, 2019

Beaudin and Vlasic also spoke with the media following day two of camp. Both spoke on their abilities to get by the initial jitters of coming into camp for the first time. Beaudin, in his second development camp, says he feels that his game has progressed from being an offensive-style defenseman to a more complete, two-way player on the blueline. He added that his best strength is his skating, but that he can always work on being quicker.

Speaking of skating, Vlasic spoke about his abilities to play at the top-tier pace. For a 6-foot-6 defenseman in an ever-quickening game, he knows that his skating is going to be something he will always have to work on. Vlasic also stated that he plans on heading to Boston University for at least two years and then will figure out his direction from there.

Daily one-on-one: Josiah Slavin

Following the conclusion of day two of Blackhawks development camp, we were able to catch up with Blackhawks prospect Josiah Slavin. A seventh round pick for Chicago in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Slavin is headed for Colorado College this fall after completing three seasons in the USHL with the Lincoln Stars and Chicago Steel.

On the difference between his first camp last year and being prepared for his second camp:

“It’s a different mindset this year compared to last year. I’m mentally prepared for it this time, so it feels good to be out skating with the guys again.”

Is the biggest difference from last year just knowing what to expect?

“Yeah, last year I had no idea what to expect going into it. I knew it was going to be hard but I didn’t know how hard it would be. So, going into camp and knowing what to expect makes it more enjoyable and easier to just have fun out there.”

On going through a trade last year from Lincoln to “Chicago”:

“I came downtown once, visited the area and did some shopping, but Geneva is not really Chicago. It’s a little bit away; it’s quite different. But, being in Chicago was awesome and being with the Steel trying to win the Clark Cup was a great experience.”

Slavin and Olson (red) vs Ess and Saarela (white) #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/B11dooQgjJ

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) July 16, 2019

On being named captain in Lincoln and maturing as a player:

“At the junior level, you are just beginning to develop your leadership skills and develop as a leader. So being named captain was awesome and I definitely grew a lot as a player and as a person. It was challenging at times, but it also had its perks.”

On moving on to Colorado College next season:

“I’m just going to try to go out and do my thing and work hard. I know it’s going to be harder than the USHL. It’s a big jump, but I’m going to do what I can and control what I can and work hard.”

Older brother Jaccob Slavin (Carolina) also played for the Steel and attended Colorado College, what advice has he given you through your career?

“He’s been through it all. He’s been giving me pointers here and there and helping me focus on the right things, making sure I’m doing the right things off the ice.”

On the Blackhawks’ expectations for him in camp:

“They’re always giving us direction and pointers about what we are doing out there: What we’re doing well, what we need to work on. So, it’s always good to have them there to help us throughout camp.”

On what he is specifically working on to improve this summer:

“I’m not the prettiest skater, so I always need to work on that. You can never have too perfect of a stride, so just focusing on that. I have speed, but I just need to keep working on the prettiness of it.”

More tomorrow on The-Rink!

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Gravel, Ryczek and Mooseheads fall to Huskies in Memorial Cup Final

In a familiar finale, the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies again got the better of the Halifax Mooseheads with a championship on the line. As the host city for the 2019 Memorial Cup, Halifax rode the home-ice advantage through the round-robin portion to a 2–1–0 record and a tiebreaker advantage to advance directly to the Memorial Cup Final.

After coming up on the wrong end of the tie-breaker, the Huskies had to get through the OHL champion Guelph Storm in the semifinal to get to the Memorial Cup Final. After dispatching the Storm, the Huskies advanced to face the Mooseheads in a rematch of the QMJHL Finals, where the Huskies came out on top with a 4–2 series win.

Halifax Mooseheads goaltender Alexis Gravel. (Photograph courtesy of Vincent Ethier/CHL Images)

In the Memorial Cup Final, the Mooseheads jumped out to a 2–0 lead just over five minutes into the second period after goals from Samuel Asselin in the first period and Raphael Lavoie in the second. Chicago Blackhawks prospect Jake Ryczek tallied a primary assist on the game’s opening goal for his second point of the tournament. Midway through the middle frame, the Huskies broke through and tallied two goals of their own to tie the game heading into the third period at 2–2.

Halifax Mooseheads defenseman Jake Ryczek skates on to the ice. (Photograph courtesy of the Halifax Mooseheads)

In the third period, the Huskies scored two goals two minutes apart to take a 4–2 lead with just under 15 minutes to play in regulation. Rouyn-Noranda refused to take their foot off the gas with a two-goal cushion, continuing to pressure the Mooseheads and out-shooting the host city 11–9 in the third period and 25–15 between the second and third periods combined. Halifax pulled Gravel with just over three minutes to play but could not find any late-game magic.

Congrats to the @HuskiesRn who have won the #MemorialCup with a 4-2 victory over your Mooseheads. Thank you for being with us on an incredible run Moose Country. You truly are the best fans in Canada and you proved it again this week. #GoMooseGo pic.twitter.com/C684YGH51y

— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) May 27, 2019

The Huskies triumphed for the first time since the creation of the team in 1996 in their second-ever trip to the Memorial Cup. For Halifax, they remain a one-time Memorial Cup champion (2013) in three trips to the tournament. Ryczek finished the tournament with a goal and an assist in four games played, while Gravel finished with a 2–2–0 record, a 2.78 goals against average and a .918 save percentage in the tournament.

Both remain unsigned by the Blackhawks, but have time still under their draft rights to work out contracts within the organization. At 21 years old, Ryczek is eligible to play professionally at any time, but Gravel, who just turned 19 years old in March, will play at least one more season in the QMJHL before considering to move onto the professional ranks.

The post Gravel, Ryczek fall in Memorial Cup Final as Huskies top Mooseheads appeared first on The Rink.

The WHL champion Prince Albert Raiders went winless in the tournament, and are out,

While Rouyn-Noranda got the win in that game ending the round robin phase, Halifax benefited from the three-way tiebreaking format and advanced to the Memorial Cup final outright. Separately, Rouyn-Noranda advanced to the semi-final against the OHL champion Guelph Storm, which will determine the Mooseheads’ tournament final game opponent.

Entwistle, Ryczek, and Gravel advance in Memorial Cup

For the three Chicago Blackhawks prospects still alive in the tournament, this weekend’s action will be the cap to some impressive seasons in the Canadian Hockey League.

Friday night’s matchup between Guelph and Rouyn Noranda and for Chicago represents a chance for Blackhawks prospect Mackenzie Entwistle to finish something he started in last year’s Memorial Cup. Entwistle lost in the semi-final last season while playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs. He returned this season as a two-time OHL Champion and has three points through the round-robin portion of the tournament.

Entwistle tallied a goal and an assist in the first game of the tournament, a 5-2 Guelph win over Rouyn-Noranda. He was held off the scoresheet against Halifax in the second game of the tournament and then finished the round-robin with an assist in Guelph’s win over Prince Albert. Friday night’s puck drop for the semi-final takes place at 6 p.m. Central Time at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax.

Guelph Storm forward Mackenzie Entwistle (left) battles for a puck at the Memorial Cup. (Photo Courtesy of Vincent Ethier/CHL Images)

After falling to Rouyn-Noranda in the QMJHL Finals, the Halifax found themselves playing host for the Memorial Cup—riding the momentum of friendly crowds to wins in their first two contests of the tournament. Behind Blackhawks goalie prospect Alexis Gravel and defense prospect Jake Ryczek, the Mooseheads took care of Prince Albert and Guelp, locking themselves into the elimination round with just the rematch of the QMJHL Final ahead of them.

Jake Ryczek (center, 16) celebrates a goal with his Halifax Moosehead teammates at the Memorial Cup. (Photo Courtesy of Vincent Ethier/CHL Images)

While the Mooseheads were not able to top the Huskies in their rematch, a 4-3 loss, the result still guaranteed them a tie for first-place—from which the tiebreaker moved them directly to the Final. For Ryczek, 12 shots on goal rank him in a five-way tie for third most in the tournament and his goal against the Prince Albert in the opening game of the tournament helped propel Halifax to a commanding 4-1 win. In his last go-around with the Mooseheads this season, Ryczek has a chance to win his first-ever tournament championship in his junior career.

Halifax Mooseheads goaltender Alexis Gravel being honored as First-Star of the game after topping the Guelph Storm at the Memorial Cup. (Photo Courtesy of Vincent Ethier/CHL Images)

One of the most impressive aspects of the Mooseheads’ run to the Memorial Cup Final has been the play in net of Alexis Gravel. He made 56 saves on the first 59 shots he faced in the tournament, winning both games and being named first star in Game Two against Guelph. Gravel finished the round-robin games with a 2-1-0 record and leads the tournament with a 2.33 GAA and a .929 save-percentage as he and Halifax head to the Memorial Cup Final on Sunday.

The post Trio of Blackhawks prospects advance in Memorial Cup appeared first on The Rink.

Mackenzie Entwistle, Guelph advance to OHL Final

The Guelph Storm have had quite the ride on their way to winning the Wayne Gretzky Trophy as the OHL Western Conference champions. After sweeping the Kitchner Rangers in the first round, the Storm came up against the London Knights with Blackhawks defensive prospect Adam Boqvist. It looked as if the Knights were on their way to a second series sweep after taking a 3–0 series lead over the Storm. But after allowing the Knights to score seven goals in both Game 2 and Game 3, the Guelph defense held the high-powered Knights in check and came back to win four straight and advance to the Western Conference Finals against the Saginaw Spirit.

In the Western Conference Finals against Saginaw, the Storm again fell behind in the series, dropping to a 3–1 series deficit and again facing elimination. Again, the Storm’s defense came up big with their back against the wall, holding the Spirit to just three goals over the final three games of the series, and finishing another series comeback win. Guelph captured their third Wayne Gretzky Trophy in team history and advances to their sixth J. Ross Robertson Cup Final in team history. Guelph has won three OHL championships in 1998, 2004 and 2014.

Western Conference Champs #IamtheSTORM pic.twitter.com/wV0cwqxNcs

— Guelph Storm (@Storm_City) April 30, 2019

Entwistle has been one of the major factors for Guelph on their road to the OHL Final. Acquired from the Arizona Coyotes as a part of the Marian Hossa trade, Entwistle ranks fifth on the Storm in postseason scoring with 15 points in 18 games so far. Last season in the OHL playoffs with the Hamilton Bulldogs, Entwistle tallied 17 points in 21 games as the Bulldogs won the OHL championship.

The OHL Final begins on May 2 in Ottawa as the 67’s host the Storm.

Alexis Gravel, Jake Ryczek set for QMJHL Final with Halifax

Also making a memorable run to their Canadian league final are the Halifax Mooseheads, who are hosting the Memorial Cup this year. Led by Gravel in net, the Mooseheads topped the Quebec Remparts in seven games in the first round of the QMJHL playoffs and in doing so also knocked out fellow Blackhawks forward prospect Philipp Kurashev. Following the seven-game opening round matchup, the Mooseheads made quick work of the Moncton Wildcats, sweeping the second round and moving on to face another Blackhawks prospect in Nicolas Beaudin and the Drummondville Voltigeurs.

Jake Ryczek skates with the Halifax Mooseheads. (Photograph courtesy of Katie Whitty Photography)

In the QMJHL Semifinals, the Mooseheads dropped Game 1, but were able to string together three wins in a row to take a commanding 3–1 series lead heading into Game 5. Drummondville didn’t go quietly, taking a 6–2 win in Game Five to push the series to a Game 6, which would need overtime. Making 33 saves in the deciding game, Gravel was able to hold off the Voltigeur attack long enough to allow Xavier Parent to find the series-clinching goal early in the extra frame. Halifax moves on to their fourth President Trophy Final in team history to face the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, having won the QMJHL championship once in 2013.

President Cup Final here we come! pic.twitter.com/bwsy7ONOP0

— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) April 28, 2019

Two Chicago Blackhawks prospects reside on the Halifax roster, as Gravel has led the team in net and Ryczek has been a standout defensively. Yet to find the back of the net in the postseason, Ryczek ranks seventh on the Mooseheads in playoff scoring, and leads all defensemen with 11 points in 17 games played. In net for the Mooseheads, Gravel has been stellar on his way to multiple three-stars of the game awards and was named the QMJHL Player of the Week during the back half of the Semifinal series against Drummondville. In the postseason, Gravel holds a 12–4–0 record with a 2.52 goals against average and a .921 save percentage in 17 appearances.

Alexis Gravel has backstopped the Halifax Mooseheads en route to a spot in the QMJHL’s final playoff round.

While Ryczek’s standing with the Blackhawks organization is a gray area, given the depth of the prospect pool at the defensive position, Gravel has staked his flag firmly in the ground to be in the mix as a future netminder for the Blackhawks. Given the general unknown outlook of the goaltender position for Chicago beyond Corey Crawford, Gravel looks to be developing into a promising option.

The QMJHL Final begins on May 2 in Rouyn-Noranda as the Huskies hosts the Mooseheads.

The post Chicago Blackhawks prospects advance to CHL league finals appeared first on The Rink.

Team Canada’s camp opened with three Blackhawks prospects. Hamilton forward Mackenzie Entwistle, Drummondville defenseman Nicolas Beaudin and college defenseman Ian Mitchell all were selected to the original camp roster. Entwistle and Mitchell have both made Team Canada, but Beaudin was sent home during cuts.

Beaudin made quite the case of himself going into Team Canada’s camp, considering he has been incredible for Drummondville to this point. He has 25 points (5 goals, 20 assists) in 21 games for the Voltigeurs. Nonetheless, Beaudin will have some time off until the QMJHL resumes play on Friday, December 28th.

As for Entwistle, it’s safe to say the knee injury to London Knights forward Alex Formenton surely helped him make the team. However, Entwistle brings a versatile, big bodied forward to Team Canada to aid in their quest for World Junior gold. He has 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists) in 29 games for Hamilton. The young forward also brings on ice leadership as captain of his OHL club.

Other key prospects who will likely be representing their countries at the World Juniors, which begin December 26th, include Adam Boqvist (Sweden) and Philipp Kurashev (Switzerland). Both have been sensational for their junior clubs and deserve to be representing their respective home countries.

PROSPECT ROUNDUP:

Despite a quiet week due to the World Juniors camps, a few Blackhawks prospects excelled for their respective clubs. Noteworthy performances came via Jake Ryczek once again, Alexis Gravel and Josiah Slavin.

Ryczek came off his hottest streak of the season entering play last week and over the weekend. In three games against Cape Breton, Moncton and Charlottetown, all at home, Ryczek registered one goal and one assist. Ryczek now has 19 points in 30 games this season for the Halifax Mooseheads. Halifax, along with the rest of the CHL, will be off until December 28th. The Mooseheads will head to Charlottetown on that day to resume their season.

Gravel has been arguably the most important player thus far for the Mooseheads. Over the three games mentioned above, Gravel went 2-0-1 while shutting-out the Moncton Wildcats, stopping all 33 shots faced. In the win over Charlottetown, Gravel stopped 30 of 32 shots faced. The young goaltender has a season record of 18-6-1 with 2 shutouts. He owns a 2.55 GAA and a .918 save percentage. It’s safe to say Gravel is a big reason for the amount of success the Mooseheads have had this season.

What a save by Blackhawks prospect Alexis Gravel.https://t.co/Gx0khyDS4u#QMJHL #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/5zW8ZdP8FG

— Eliteprospects (@eliteprospects) December 13, 2018

Slavin has cooled a bit recently for the Lincoln Stars. For the season, Slavin has 20 points in 22 games. Over the past weekend of USHL action, Slavin recorded one goal and one assist in three games against Tri-City, Waterloo and Des Moines on December 13th, 14th and 15th, respectively. The USHL is now on the same break as the CHL, so teams will not return to action until December 28th. Slavin and the Stars will visit Tri-City at that time to resume their campaign.

INJURY UPDATE:

Mikael Hakkarainen has not played for the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL since December 2nd. Rumors from those who closely follow the Lumberjacks say he has not played after taking a puck to the chin and has been held out for precautionary purposes. Look for the Finnish forward to hopefully return to action after the Christmas holiday break and continue his excellent campaign. The young Fin has 23 points (8 goals, 15 assists) in only 14 games to this point. It’s safe to say he has outplayed the USHL level.

Keep yourself in the loop during the World Juniors with The-Rink! Follow myself on Twitter @rnldluce, as well as @lateinthegoldie, for Blackhawks junior and college prospects highlights and information during the tournament.

The post Blackhawks Prospect Roundup: All is Quiet…Too Quiet appeared first on The Rink.

Surprise name of the week is Jake Ryczek. The Halifax Mooseheads defenseman registered six points over a three game stretch, after recording only two points in all of the month of November. Notable showings also came from Brandon Hagel, Adam Boqvist and Nicolas Beaudin.

JAKE RYCZEK – HALIFAX MOOSEHEADS – 2 GOALS, 4 ASSISTS

After the former 7th round pick’s average start for the Mooseheads, he became a stratch during the early games of December for Halifax. Most Blackhawks fans probably do not even know who Ryczek is, but he had the best three game stretch of his season over the weekend.

Ryczek began his strong weekend off against the Saint John Sea Dogs with one goal and one assist in a 10-2 win for Halifax. The next day against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, Ryczek registered one goal and two assists in a 6-0 win for the Mooseheads. The three point outing was by far the best game for Ryczek to this point during the campaign. To finish the weekend, Ryczek recorded one assist for his sixth point in a 2-1 win over the Charlottetown Islanders to complete the weekend sweep for the Mooseheads.

The guy we call Ryzer had our 3rd goal of the night #GoMooseGo pic.twitter.com/rE7hWcNdfi

— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) December 7, 2018

Ryczek was an important part of the Mooseheads’ success over the weekend. Three straight wins in three days helped bring Halifax within one point of the Maritimes division lead. If Ryczek continues to play this way, he could propel himself into a contract with the Blackhawks next season and some time down with the Rockford IceHogs. This won’t be an easy task for the 2016 7th round pick, as Rockford has a very crowded blue line. Not to mention the numerous talented defensemen on the way in Adam Boqvist, Ian Mitchell and Nicolas Beaudin. Keep an eye on Ryczek to see if he continues his hot streak going into this week’s games. 

BRANDON HAGEL – RED DEER REBELS – 3 GOALS, 2 ASSISTS

After an outstanding prior week for Hagel, the young winger registered another five points in only two games over the weekend. In the Rebels’ 4-3 shootout win over the Regina Pats, Hagel scored one goal. The goal opened the games scoring late in the first period.

The next night, Hagel had an outstanding night in the Rebels’ 6-2 victory over the Swift Current Broncos. He scored two goals and added two assists. The outing was Hagel’s third four-point outing of the season. The newest Blackhawks prospect now has 51 points in 29 games after Saturday’s action.

Hagel is carving himself a nice opportunity in the AHL next season with the Rockford IceHogs. If he can produce at the AHL level, he may get an audition at some point next year with the big club. It remains to be seen how well Hagel adapts to playing against men instead of boys (considering he is an over-ager in the WHL), he provides an exciting possibility for “what could be” in the future with the Blackhawks organization.

NICOLAS BEAUDIN – DRUMMONDVILLE VOLTIGEURS – 2 GOALS, 3 ASSISTS

In the three game stretch during the week, Beaudin continued his offensive dominance by registering two goals and three assists in three games. On December 5th and 7th against the Rimouski Océanic and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, respectively, Beaudin registered an assist in each game of the two game split for Drummondville. Despite the quiet two games, he stepped it up against Shawinigan on Sunday, December 9th.

In the commanding 11-1 win for the Voltigeurs, Beaudin scored two goals while also adding an assist. The young defenseman started the Voltigeurs’ scoring against the Shawinigan Cataractes. After being down 1-0 going into the second period, Beaudin scored to begin the second period, igniting a streak of eleven unanswered goals for the Voltigeurs to capture the victory.

Beaudin is continuing to prove he is an excellent talent on the blue line. He has no fear shooting the puck, as he registered seven shots on goal against Shawinigan. The 2018 first round pick is showing flashes of greatness, giving Blackhawks fans hope that the draft pick that was received for Chicago-native Ryan Hartman was put to good use. Beaudin looks to continue his better than point-per-game pace this week.

ADAM BOQVIST – LONDON KNIGHTS – 2 GOALS, 1 ASSIST

In two games over the past weekend, Boqvist continued his red-hot scoring streak, potting two goals and adding an assist. He has been fantastic in the last few weeks with London.

On Friday, December 7th, Boqvist scored his eight goal of the season in a big 8-1 Knights’ win over the Kingston Frontenacs. The next day, Boqvist would add his ninth goal of the campaign, which was the lone tally for London in a 5-1 loss to the Owen Sound Attack. The loss to the Sound ended a 15-game win streak for the Knights. 

Boqvist has been splendid over the last few weeks. Since November 22nd, the Knights defenseman has seven of his nine goals this season. It is safe to say that the young Swede is more comfortable on the North American ice sheet through nearly 25 games. Look for Boqvist to continue to be comfortable and produce at his better than point-per-game clip for the Knights. The Knights currently sit fourth in the CHL power rankings. With notable names Alex Formenton, Evan Bouchard and Boqvist, the Knights will likely make a strong run for the OHL title as well as the Memorial Cup.

Other:

• MacKenzie Entwistle – 2 Goals, 1 Assist
• Philipp Kurashev – Québec Remparts – 1 Goal
• Josiah Slavin – Lincoln Stars – 1 Goal
• Alexis Gravel – Halifax Mooseheads – 2 Wins, 61/64 saves

WORLD JUNIORS WATCH:

Be sure to keep an eye on numerous Blackhawks prospects through the holiday season. There is a good chance, once final World Juniors rosters are finalized, that Adam Boqvist, Nicolas Beaudin, Mackenize Entwistle, Philipp Kurashev and other Blackhawks college prospects will likely be representing their respective countries. Make sure to tune into The-Rink for the best coverage on both CHL and college representatives at the World Juniors.

Keep up with The-Rink for extensive CHL/USHL coverage of Chicago Blackhawks prospects.

The post Blackhawks Prospect Roundup: 12/3 – 12/9 appeared first on The Rink.

Notably, Philipp Kurashev continues to dominate the QMJHL and recently signed Brandon Hagel continues to dominate the WHL. Defenseman Adam Boqvist has hit his stride in London and fellow OHL player Mackenzie Entwistle has shown promise for the Hamilton Bulldogs.

BRANDON HAGEL – RED DEER REBELS – 3 GOALS, 4 ASSISTS

Brandon Hagel and the Red Deer Rebels played five games during this past week’s action. In each game, Hagel registered at least one point. Hagel collected one assist in losses to the WHL leading Prince Albert Raiders, the Medicine Hat Tigers and the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

In Red Deer’s 6-2 victory on November 30th over the Calgary Hitmen, Hagel has his best performance of the week. He registered two goals and added an assist. Hagel was the only Rebels player to record three points in the win. He also collected his third goal of the week in a 3-2 loss to the Moose Jaw Warriors on December 1st. The goal helped ignite the Toque Toss in Red Deer, benefiting the Red Deer Christmas Bureau Society. 

There it is! Hagel answers back for the Rebels, and here come the toques for the Red Deer Christmas Bureau Society! #RDR pic.twitter.com/yk9fiLSNiL

— X – Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) December 2, 2018

Hagel has been incredibly hot of late, registering 16 points (5 goals, 11 assists) in ten games in the month of November. Despite being an over-age junior player, Hagel’s performances should give Blackhawks something to look forward to in Rockford next season where he will gain extra seasoning.

Hagel and the Rebels (sounds like a great band name) will return to action on Friday, December 7th against the Regina Pats and Saturday, December 8th against the Swift Current Broncos. This weekend’s action will begin a six-game home-stand for the Rebels.

PHILIPP KURASHEV – QUÉBEC REMPARTS – 2 GOALS, 2 ASSISTS

The former 2018 fourth round draft pick continued his impressive QMJHL season adding four points in three games over the past week for Québec. He collected an assist in the first game for the Remparts, which aided in the 3-2 victory over the Victoriaville Tigres on November 28th.

Kurashev had his best game of the trip in a 3-2 overtime victory against the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. The young center registered one goal and one assist, helping the Remparts to their second consecutive victory. In the Remparts’ final game of the week, Kurashev registered his second goal in the Remparts’ 5-3 win over the Baie-Comeau Drakkar on Saturday, December 1st.

After this week’s action, Kurashev remains 7th in league scoring. He is tied with Jakob Pelletier for sixth in points, but has more games played than Pelletier (30 for Kurashev vs. 28 for Pelletier). Nonetheless, Kurashev has shined for the Remparts all season. He has been solid in the faceoff dot, with a 53.8% win percentage.

Remparts coach Patrick Roy relies heavily on Kurashev, starting his top line in almost every contest. At only 19-years-old, Kurashev  has time to continue his junior development. If he continues on this path, the Chicago Blackhawks may have found a hidden mid-round gem.

After sweeping this past week’s games, the Remparts return to action on Wednesday, December 5th against the Saint John Sea Dogs in Saint John. The Remparts travel to Charlottetown to take on the Islanders on Thursday, December 6th and then to Cape Breton to face the Screaming Eagles on Saturday, December 8th. After these three road games, the Remparts will return to Québec for four straight home games.

ADAM BOQVIST – LONDON KNIGHTS – 1 GOAL, 1 ASSIST

Boqvist continued his red-hot tear over the weekend with one goal and one assist in the only game he played. He was held out of London’s 8-1 win on Saturday the 1st for what is reported to be illness. London’s 6-3 victory over the Sarnia Sting was kicked off by Boqvist’s 7th goal of the season. Like Hagel before him, Boqvist’s goal ignited the Teddy Bear Toss for the London Knights on Sunday, December 2nd.

Nothing in the #OHL quite like a @GoLondonKnights #TeddyBearToss @NHLBlackhawks prospect @BoqvistAdam makes it rain inside @BudGardens scoring his 7⃣ of the season. pic.twitter.com/myN9ST3AAY

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 2, 2018

We've run the numBEARS

The final count is… 8,763 TEDDY BEARS! pic.twitter.com/nSmioTAeSY

— London Knights (@LondonKnights) December 2, 2018

The goal was not only a great play from Boqvist, but gives the impression that the young defenseman is becoming much more comfortable on the North American ice sheet. Boqvist read the play and slid to the open space in the slot. Showing off his speed, Boqvist found the pass from his teammate and took the puck to the net, finishing the play with a nice fake-forehand, backhand combination. Fans keeping up with Adam Boqvist’s play in London this season may have seen that move once or twice before. Boqvist added his second point of the game as a secondary assist on Josh Nelson’s goal.

The London Knights return to action on Friday, December 7th against the Kingston Frontenacs in London. The Knights follow that game up on the road on Saturday, December 8th against the Owen Sound Attack. The Knights look to maintain their position atop the OHL Western Conference and second place in the league overall. Only the Ottawa 67’s have more points than the Knights to this point.

MACKENZIE ENTWISTLE – HAMILTON BULLDOGS – 2 GOALS, 1 ASSIST

Blackhawks prospect MacKenzie Entwistle continues to have a solid campaign for the Hamilton Bulldogs. This week’s action gave way to Entwistle adding two goals and an assist, bringing his point total to 24 through 26 games. His 13 goals have already matched a career high in the OHL.

After being held off the score sheet in the Bulldogs’ 5-2 win against the Mississauga Steelheads on Friday, November 30th, Entwistle rebounded quite nicely on Saturday against the Windsor Spitfires. Entwistle potted two goals in the 3-2 Bulldogs’ victory, and was also tied for the team lead in shots on goal with four for the game. As the Bulldogs looked for a sweep off their weekend action, the Niagara IceDogs ended the Bulldogs’ win-streak with a 5-1 beating. The silver lining came in form of an Entwistle assist, to bring his weekend to a point-per-game pace.

BULLDOGS GOOOOAAAAL!!!

: Mackenzie Entwistle
: Brandon Saigeon, Arthur Kaliyev

Bulldogs take a 2-1 lead over Windsor! #GoHAM pic.twitter.com/e6qrOscqbQ

— Brantford Bulldogs (@BulldogsOHL) December 1, 2018

BULLDOGS GOAAAAL!!!

: Mackenzie Entwistle
: Matt Strome, Brandon Saigeon

Captain Mack gets his 2nd of the night to put the Dogs up 3-1! #GoHAM pic.twitter.com/dPwzpUTHTg

— Brantford Bulldogs (@BulldogsOHL) December 1, 2018

Entwistle has proven to be a solid contributor for the Bulldogs so far this season. Despite not being a point-per-game player as many expect top prospects to be in junior, Entwistle brings other intangibles to the team.  He is able to play center, winning just under 50% of his draws, while still playing his natural wing position. He also has no fear of going to the net (as shown by the highlight above) giving himself opportunities to leverage his size against smaller players. Entwistle is also the Bulldogs’ captain, showing his leadership qualities that he brings on and off the ice.

The Bulldogs return to action on Thursday, December 6th against the Peterborough Petes in Peterborough. Hamilton follows that up with back-to-back home games on Saturday, December 8th and Sunday, December 9th. The Bulldogs will welcome the Flint Firebirds and the North Bay Battalion in those games, respectively.

Other:

• Mikael Hakkarainen – Muskegon Lumberjacks – 2 Assists
• Nicolas Beaudin – Drummondville Voltigeurs – 2 Assists
• Alexis Gravel – Halifax Mooseheads – 2 Wins

WORLD JUNIORS

On Monday, December 3rd, the Canadian World Juniors camp roster was announced. Blackhawks’ CHL prospects Nicolas Beaudin and MacKenzie Entwistle both made the roster with fellow Blackhawks prospect Ian Mitchell. Keep an eye on these three as they push to make Team Canada for the fast approaching World Juniors, while other prospects like Kurashev, Evan Barratt, Jake Wise, Niklas Nordgren, Adam Boqvist, and Jakub Galvas could all potentially make their country’s respective rosters.

#Blackhawks prospects Nicolas Beaudin, Ian Mitchell, and MacKenzie Entwistle all named to Team Canada #WorldJuniors Camp Roster https://t.co/lfITWhxWTO

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) December 3, 2018

Keep up with The-Rink for extensive CHL/USHL coverage of Chicago Blackhawks prospects.

The post Blackhawks Junior Prospect Roundup: 11/26 – 12/2 appeared first on The Rink.

Notable performances came from defensemen Adam Boqvist and Nicolas Beaudin, fellow 2018 first round draft picks, and forwards Philipp Kurashev and MacKenzie Entwistle.

ADAM BOQVIST – LONDON KNIGHTS – 4 GOALS, 1 ASSIST

After recording three points in pre-Thanksgiving action, the Sweden-native came out strong in London’s three games over the American holiday weekend. Although Boqvist was held scoreless in the third game of the weekend (a London Knights win), Boqvist recorded five points in the first two games.

On Thursday, November 22nd, Boqvist was a star for the Knights in their victory over the Mississauga Steelheads. The young defenseman scored two goals and added an assist in the 7-4 London win. The goals represented Boqvist’s third and fourth tallies of the season and the assist helped his point total climb to 17 points in 17 games.

On Friday, November 23rd, Boqvist once again had a multi-goal outing for the London Knights. Boqvist’s goal total climbed to six for the campaign, and another seven goal outing for the Knights powered them to their second win in as many days, this time a 7-2 victory over the Owen Sound Attack. After being held scoreless during Sunday’s action, Boqvist now has 19 points in as many games.

Defenceman @BoqvistAdam is

Second straight 2⃣ game for the @NHLBlackhawks prospect who scores the opener and winner Friday for @GoLondonKnights who extend streak to 1⃣1⃣ pic.twitter.com/eXwgeMZm0H

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) November 24, 2018

The Knights return to action on Friday, November 30th against the Erie Otters at home for one last game in the month of November. The Knights will remain at home, and after a day off, take on the Sarnia Sting on Sunday, December 2nd.

NICOLAS BEAUDIN – DRUMMONDVILLE VOLTIGEURS – 1 GOAL, 5 ASSISTS

Beaudin registered at least one point in each of the three contests for Drummondville over the holiday weekend. On Friday, November 23rd, Beaudin registered one assist in a dominant 7-2 victory over the Saint John Sea Dogs in Saint John.

On Saturday, November 24th, Beaudin once again made his presence felt. Drummondville won 7-1 over the Moncton Wildcats, in Moncton, and Beaudin registered one goal and two assists. To continue his torrid pace, Beaudin also registered two assists in Drummondville’s Sunday win over the Halifax Mooseheads.  

Beaudin has been sensational since returning from a wrist injury early in the season. In 16 games, Beaudin has 3 goals and 15 assists, giving him a better than point-per-game pace. Since returning from injury, the Blackhawks’ first round pick has registered 9 points (2 goals, 7 assists) in seven games.

The Voltigeurs return to action on Friday, November 30th against Gatineau at home. The Voltigeurs will have a day off in Drummondville before taking on the Charlottetown Islanders, also at home, on Sunday, December 2nd.

PHILIPP KURASHEV – QUÉBEC REMPARTS – 4 GOALS, 1 ASSIST

Kurashev continued his marvelous campaign for the Remparts over the last week. Québec began their playing week on the 20th against the Moncton Wildcats. In the 6-3 loss for the Remparts, Kurashev registered his then 10th goal of the season.

On Friday, November 23rd against Val-d’Or, Kurashev recorded his second multi-goal game of the season for the Remparts. Despite the great individual effort, the Remparts dropped the contest to the Foreurs, 3-2 in overtime.   

After a day of rest, the Remparts returned to action on the 25th against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in Québec. Kurashev once again made his presence known, recording one goal and one assist in yet another losing effort. The Remparts lost in a shootout 4-3.

Kurashev has been spectacular for the Remparts this season. He now ranks tied for sixth in the QMJHL in scoring with 37 points (14 goals, 23 assists) in only 27 games. He is currently ten points off the league lead.

Kurashev and the Remparts return to action on Wednesday, November 28th against the Victoriaville Tigres. The Remparts will play one last game in November on Friday the 30th against Chicoutimi, before beginning December action on Saturday, the 1st, against Baie-Comeau.  

MACKENZIE ENTWISTLE – 3 GOALS, 1 ASSIST

Entwistle came into the weekend’s action with 17 points in 20 games for the Hamilton Bulldogs. The Bulldogs captain had a strong weekend, posting three goals and one assist for the Bulldogs in three games over the weekend, all despite being held scoreless in Hamilton’s first game on Friday, November 23rd.

On Saturday, November 24th, Entwistle scored two goals for the Bulldogs, his fourth multi-goal game of the season. Entwistle’s two goals helped lift the Bulldogs to a 5-2 win over the Niagara IceDogs. The goals were Entwistle’s 9th and 10th for the season. One of Entwistle’s goals on Saturday was a beauty! After shaking off a defender, Entwistle skated in on a breakaway to score.

BULLDOGS GOOOOOAAAAL!!!

: Mackenzie Entwistle
: Brandon Saigeon, Kade Landry

Ewww @5twisty5 pic.twitter.com/qyXRiwa8b8

— Brantford Bulldogs (@BulldogsOHL) November 24, 2018

On Sunday, November 25th, Entwistle followed up his two goal performance with one goal and one assist in a losing effort to the Peterborough Petes. Entwistle collected his 11th goal and 10th assist giving him 21 total points, which puts him tied for fourth on the Bulldogs this season in scoring. 

The Hamilton Bulldogs return to action on Friday, November 30th, in Mississauga, to take on the Steelheads. The Bulldogs also play on Saturday, December 1st and Sunday, December 2nd. Both games are at home against the Windsor Spitfires and Niagara IceDogs, respectively.

Other:

• Mikael Hakkarainen – Muskegon Lumberjacks – 2 Assists
• Brandon Hagel – Red Deer Rebels – 1 Goal, 1 Assist
• Jake Ryczek – Halifax Mooseheads – 1 Assist
• Alexis Gravel – Halifax Mooseheads – 1 Win, 2 Losses

Check out this pass over the weekend from Mikael Hakkarainen. Although not talked about above, certainly worth sharing!

What was better… that pass from Mikael Hakkarainen or that finish from Alex Gaffney??? Asking for a friend. @MuskegonJacks lead big #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/g4m4Sv6GaC

— USHL (@USHL) November 24, 2018

Keep up with The-Rink for extensive CHL/USHL coverage of Chicago Blackhawks prospects.

The post Blackhawks Junior Prospect Roundup: 11/19 – 11/25 appeared first on The Rink.

Beaudin had an excellent return in two games this past weekend. Philipp Kurashev continues to pace the Quebec Remparts in scoring after three very good games. Mikael Hakkarainen and Josiah Slavin in the USHL also had strong showings this past weekend.

Kurashev and Hakkarainen are both showing they can dominate junior level talent. The two 2018 draft picks should be moving up to pro hockey next season to further their development. So far, these two look like the could be steals for their draft position. Beaudin also has showed well and could be a great value for Chicago in the near future.

NICOLAS BEAUDIN – DRUMMONDVILLE VOLTIGEURS – 1 GOAL, 2 ASSISTS

After returning to game action for the first time since October 19th, Nicolas Beaudin had a great weekend both on and off the ice. Off the ice, Beaudin signed his first professional contract with the Blackhawks. He joins fellow 2018 1st round pick Adam Boqvist as the first two 2018 Chicago draft picks under contract. On the ice, Beaudin showed why Chicago selected him in the late part of the first round this past draft.

Excited to sign my first NHL contract with the @NHLBlackhawks . I would like to thank my friends, teammates, coaches and especially my family for their sacrifice, commitment and support. pic.twitter.com/gr7cZzRdlP

— Nicolas Beaudin (@NicBeaudin92) November 10, 2018

On November 9th against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, Beaudin registered one goal and one assist, helping the Voltigeurs to a commanding 8-1 victory. Beaudin was the highest scoring defenseman for Drummondville during the contest.

Beaudin celebrates a goal after returning to action for the first time since mid-October. Photo: Ghyslain Bergeron

The following day, Beaudin picked up an assist against the Victoriaville Tigres. Despite adding to his excellent weekend on the scoresheet, Drummondville dropped the game 5-1 in Victoriaville.

Beaudin and the Voltigeurs return to action on Friday, November 16th in Gatineau, followed by Sherbrooke on Sunday, November 18th. The two games mark the second and third straight away games for Drummondville, who will play another three road games before returning home on November 30th.

PHILIPP KURASHEV – QUÉBEC REMPARTS – 3 GOALS, 3 ASSISTS

Kurashev had an incredible weekend for Québec. After being held off the score-sheet on November 6th, Kurashev made up for it in the following two games.

Québec’s first game of the trip against val-d’Or did not fair well for the Remparts, as they dropped the contest 8-4. However, Kurashev had a goal and two assists, which was a commanding performance for the 2018 4th round pick.  

The following game resulted in a huge win for Québec, taking down the Shawinigan Cataractes 7-2 in Shawinigan. Kurashev had another three point performance, this time, recording two goals and one assist. This game capped off two excellent games for Kurashev where he recorded six points (three goals, three assists).  

Kurashev and the Remparts return to action on Friday, November 16th against Shawinigan in Québec. They will remain at home as the Rimouski Océanic pay a visit on Sunday, November 18th.

MIKAEL HAKKARAINEN – MUSKEGON LUMBERJACKS – 3 GOALS, 2 ASSISTS

Hakkarainen continued his now four game point streak over the weekend for Muskegon in back to back home games against Youngstown.

On November 9th, Hakkarainen recorded his first hat trick of the season, helping the Lumberjacks to a big 8-2 win over the Phantoms. Hakkarainen would also add on an assist to cap off the impressive four point performance.

Hakk-Trick! #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/iHLa3VtCeo

— USHL (@USHL) November 10, 2018

Hakkarainen would tack on an assist the following day as Muskegon split the weekend series with Youngstown. The Phantoms won game two 4-3. Hakkarainen now has 17 points in only nine game for Muskegon. Muskegon sits six points ahead of the next closest team in the USHL eastern conference standings with two games in hand.

Jacks improve to 11-1 and win 8-2! #HakkTrick #HakkIsBack pic.twitter.com/urbJ8OTfBq

— Muskegon Lumberjacks (@MuskegonJacks) November 10, 2018

Muskegon returns to action on Saturday, November 17th against Cedar Rapids. With only one game next weekend, the Lumberjacks will play three games over the extended Thanksgiving holiday (21st – 24th) against Team USA and two games against Green Bay.

JOSIAH SLAVIN – LINCOLN STARS – 1 GOAL, 2 ASSISTS

Despite going pointless in Lincoln’s first two games of the weekend, Slavin made his presence felt on Sunday, November 11th as he collected two assists against Tri-City. Slavin has now increased his point total to 14 for the season in 14 games.

Lincoln will play two games next weekend. Friday, November 16th they take on Sioux Falls in Lincoln. On Saturday, November 17th, the Stars take on the Waterloo Black Hawks in Waterloo. Lincoln will play a similar schedule to that of Muskegon during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Other:

• Alexis Gravel – Halifax Mooseheads – 1 Win
• Brandon Hagel – Red Deer Rebels – 1 Goal, 1 Assist
• Adam Boqvist – London Knights – 4 Shots on Goal

Keep up with The-Rink for extensive CHL/USHL coverage of Chicago Blackhawks prospects.

The post Blackhawks Junior Prospect Roundup: 11/6 – 11/11 appeared first on The Rink.

Notable performances came from forwards Philipp Kurashev, Mikael Hakkarainen and Josiah Slavin. Other prospects such as Mackenzie Entwistle and Alexis Gravel had strong weekends as well.

PHILIPP KURASHEV: 2 ASSISTS

Kurashev continues to pace Québec Remparts scorers with 23 points in 19 games in the QMJHL.

Québec began their three game stretch since the last roundup on October 31st against the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. Kurashev did not tally a point in the game as Québec was shutout 3-0.

The Remparts returned to action on Friday, November 2nd against the Victoriaville Tigers. Although Québec dropped the matchup 5-4 in a shootout, Kurashev tallied two assists and six shots on goal. Sunday’s game started off well for the visitors. After falling behind 1-0 to the Gatineau Olympiques after the first period, the Remparts scored two goals in the second to take a 2-1 lead. Kurashev was responsible for one of the goals, recording his 6th goal of the season.

Fans will have to wait until Monday, January 14th, 2019 to learn the outcome of this contest. The game was postponed after a power outage in Gatineau at Centre Robert-Guertin.

Québec returns to action Tuesday, November 6th against Rouyn-Noranda once again before playing the following night against the Val-d’Or Foreurs. The Remparts finish up the week with their third road game in as many outings against the Shawinigan Cataractes on Friday, November 9th.

MIKAEL HAKKARAINEN: 2 GOALS, 2 ASSISTS

Hakkarainen continued his torrid pace, adding four total points during Muskegon’s two games this past week. On November 1st, Hakkarainen recorded two goals and one assist, while also recording eight shots on net. Hakkarainen was dominant against Team USA.

Hakkarainen puts the biscuit in the basket for his second PP goal of the game @MuskegonJacks lead by #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/UqlJ17oIL2

— USHL (@USHL) November 1, 2018

Hakkarainen finished off the weekend with one assist on November 3rd against the Chicago Steel. The assist was Hakkarainen’s 13th point in only seven games. Hakkarainen is now tied for the team lead in points with having played four less games than teammate Bobby Lynch, who has also tallied 13 points.

Muskegon returns to action on Friday, November 9th for three games in three days. Muskegon plays back-to-back games against the Youngstown Phantoms in Muskegon on the 9th and 10th. On November 11th, the Lumberjacks travel to Central Illinois to take on the Flying Aces.

JOSIAH SLAVIN: 1 GOAL, 2 ASSISTS

The younger brother of Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin, recorded his first three-point game of the season for the Lincoln Stars. The Colorado College commit tallied one goal and two assists on Friday, November 2nd against the Omaha Lancers. Although Slavin was successful personally, Lincoln dropped the contest 5-4 in overtime.

The 2018 7th round pick will return to action with his teammates on Friday, November 9th for three games in three days. The Lincoln Stars will be home on the 9th and 11th against Sioux Falls and Tri-City, respectively. The Stars will be in Sioux City for their contest on the 10th.

MACKENZIE ENTWISTLE: 2 ASSISTS

After a quiet game against Oshawa last weekend, Entwistle registered two points in his last three games. Entwistle was scoreless on October 28th and November 3rd against North Bay and Kingston, respectively.  

The Hamilton captain tallied two assists on November 4th against the Owen Sound Attack. The Hamilton Bulldogs were able to capture a 5-2 victory in large part due to great performances from Entwistle and teammates Brandon Saigeon (one goal, one assist) and Arthur Kaliyev (two goals and one assist).

BULLDOGS GOOOOOOAL!

: Nick Mattinen
: Mackenzie Entwistle

Beauty shot from @Nick_Mattinen and the Dogs are up 2-0 in the 1st! pic.twitter.com/BY6AZAk73U

— Brantford Bulldogs (@BulldogsOHL) November 4, 2018

The Hamilton Bulldogs return to action on Friday, November 9th against the Kingston Frontenacs. Hamilton finishes their weekend action against Peterborough on Saturday, November 10th. Both games are on the road for the Bulldogs.

ALEXIS GRAVEL: 1 WIN

Alexis Gravel picked up his 10th win of the season for the Halifax Mooseheads on Saturday, November 3rd. Gravel followed up his 10th win with a solid outing against Moncton on November 4th, falling in overtime. Gravel made 60 saves on 65 shots in Halifax’s two games over the weekend. Gravel is now 10-4-1 on the season with a 2.86 goals against average and a .913 save percentage.

OTHER:

• Jake Ryczek – 3 shots on goal

Keep up with The-Rink for extensive CHL/USHL coverage of Chicago Blackhawks prospects.

The post Blackhawks Junior Prospect Roundup: 10/31 – 11/4 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.

The Blackhawks opted for a new practice format to focus more heavily on positional skills. The group rotation continued, with Group A skating first, followed by Group B.

Since MB Ice Arena has two sheets of ice, the Blackhawks took advantage of the space. The practices were largely split into separate practices for the forwards and defensemen, with the goaltenders splitting time on each side. At the conclusion of the ice time for each group, the players were joined for a three-on-three mini scrimmage, the first full-ice competition of the camp.

Below are some observations Jeff Osborn and I made during today’s skates:

• Ian Mitchell used his stick exceptionally well again today during the defense group drills. Throughout the week, Mitchell has shown the ability to have his stick pressuring the attacking player almost as soon as the player receives the puck. His gaps have been excellent. Additionally, during his group’s three-on-three mini scrimmage, Mitchell scored on a wicked, top-shelf wrist shot.
• Adam Boqvist showed good quickness during a breakout drill in the defense group practice. He used his skating ability to wait a split second longer behind the net to bait the attacking player. Boqvist was able to identify the open teammate and get the puck to them quickly.
• Chad Krys again showed good intensity and composure today. After a rough Monday, he seems to be settled in and is playing with much more confidence.
• John Dahlstrom and Alexis Gravel had a bit of a feud taking place during their practice. At one point in a drill, Dahlstrom took a hack at Gravel in an attempt to get a rebound opportunity. Gravel took exception and stared Dahlstrom down afterward. The two yapped at each other throughout the rest of the practice.
• Wouter Peeters continues to be an enigma. His play has left a lot to be desired and he seems to lack confidence. Jeff determined the best word to describe Peeters is “clunky.”
• Josiah Slavin again impressed with his shot. He has shown to have heavy and accurate wrist shots and snapshots. While he could greatly benefit from adding some muscle, there is no denying he has a great shot and knows how to use it.
• Jake Wise displayed his shooting talent today, regularly beating goaltenders clean during drills. Wise also had a nifty goal during his group’s three-on-three mini scrimmage, stick handling around a defender and then beating the goaltender.
• Jake McLaughlin, a 6’2”, 185-pound defenseman from UMass and a Hinsdale, Illinois, native, joined the camp today with Group B. McLaughlin donned a number 96 white jersey. He registered three goals and 10 assists last season as a sophomore in 39 games to go along with 28 penalty minutes and a –4 rating. Two of McLaughlin’s three tallies came on the man advantage.
• Niklas Nordgren again did not skate today, nor did Blake Hillman and Jack Ramsey. No word on their statuses.

Check out photos from the week here:

The post Blackhawks Prospect Camp: Day 3 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.

Next is the Blackhawks’ sixth round choice, goaltender Alexis Gravel.

Alexis Gravel
2017–18 Team: Halifax (QMJHL)
Date of Birth: March 21, 2000
Place of Birth: Berlin, Germany
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 222 lbs
Catches: Full-Right
Position: G

NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 3 (North American Goaltenders)
NHL Central Scouting Midterm Ranking: 1 (North American Goaltenders)

NHL Comparable: Devan Dubnyk

Gravel is a big, right-handed goaltender who has spent the last two seasons playing for the Halifax Mooseheads in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Gravel has been highly touted at points over the last couple of years and has at times looked fantastic. However, he has struggled with consistency and with his development, which led to some questions about his potential and therefore his draft stock.

The first thing that stands out about Gravel is his huge frame. At 18 years old, he is already 6’3” and weighs 222 pounds. This size helps him cover a lot of the net, a big plus for goaltenders. It seems that, more and more, successful upcoming goaltenders have larger frames like Gravel’s, so this is certainly a trait in his favor.

Gravel has good quickness, especially given his size. He is an athletic goaltender who has good reactions. Gravel is a good skater and can challenge shooters well, with the ability to move back in his net and a shooter gets closer to shut down deke opportunities. Gravel is a butterfly goalie and his quickness allows him to speedily get into his butterfly position.

Given his size, Gravel has pretty good strength, especially in his legs. His powerful legs allow him to react to bang-bang plays. Gravel is a battler and holds his own in net-front scrambles and goal line stands. He fights hard to track pucks through traffic and never quits on a play gone wrong. Gravel is highly competitive, which helps him make saves when things get hectic.

Gravel’s glove is one of his biggest strengths, as he can quickly flash it to make a big save. He is good at keeping it up in a ready position. Gravel is able to control rebounds better than most at his level, which will help him in his development.

Positioning is another strength for Gravel. He is very good at staying square to shooters, which, in addition to his size, helps him cut down angles. Gravel’s quickness helps him recover and stay square to shooters on rebound opportunities as well.

However, there are some issues Gravel will need to fix before he is ready to play at the NHL level. His lateral mobility leaves a lot to be desired. As a result, he can get beaten if the puck is moving across the ice quickly or if there is a quick, cross-crease pass. He does not handle the puck particularly well, and as such, often chooses to stay in his goal instead of playing the puck. Gravel can also work on his mental strength, as he has the tendency to ruminate on bad goals and let them affect his play. There is also some concern about his stick positioning, as he can sometimes leave his five hole exposed.

Gravel is a second-generation goaltender, as his father, Francois, played professionally for over a decade and represented France at the 1998 Olympics. The elder Gravel was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1987 but never made it to the NHL.

Implications for the Blackhawks
Gravel was a nice pick up for the Hawks, especially in the sixth round. With as many goalies picked early on day two, it was a little surprising to see Gravel fall to the sixth round, given he was ranked as the third-best North American goalie by NHL Central Scouting. As such, the Blackhawks may have lucked out. Gravel will need a long time to reach his potential, similar to Corey Crawford, who was drafted in 2003 but did not play regularly with Chicago until 2010–11. The Hawks have not drafted a goalie recently with nice upside, so taking Gravel could be a nice addition to the organization once he develops.

Timeline
Gravel is categorized as a project because of the aspects of his game he needs to work on. While having decent potential, he will take longer than other goalies to reach it. Gravel will return to Halifax this season and will likely spend another year or two there before turning pro, where he would likely spend a few years in the minors before being a legitimate option at the NHL level. Gravel likely will not be ready for regular NHL action until at least 2022–23 or 2023–24.

Projection
Gravel has the size and quickness needed to be a good goaltender at the NHL level. Whether he could become a reliable starter remains to be seen, but with proper development, Gravel should be a decent NHL backup at the least.

What others are saying
“At 6’3” and 220 pounds, Gravel already has the frame needed to be a pro goaltender. Gravel is a strong skater. He can get out of his crease to cut down angles, making full use of his frame and giving shooters little to look at. Gravel can back up quickly, taking away the ability to deke him. He also tracks pucks well but could stand to work on his lateral push. Gravel sometimes looks awkward when moving side-to-side. He also needs to adjust his stick position and close off the five hole. These adjustments would really help his game. He gets into and out of the butterfly quickly. Gravel has strong, quick legs that take away the bottom of the net. His glove hand is also particularly strong.”
— Ben Kerr/Last Word on Hockey

“Alexis is a guy we think has a lot of potential. And with goalies you have to be patient with them, they take a little bit longer (to develop). But he’s got a lot of ability, he’s got the size to be an NHL goalie, and I think that’s part of it. We’re happy that he was there and we were able to get him.”
— Stan Bowman/Chicago Blackhawks General Manager

Gravel’s draft-day interview can be viewed below:
https://www.nhl.com/blackhawks/video/alexis-gravel-on-being-drafted/t-298273022/c-60673103

The post Draft Pick Profile: Alexis Gravel appeared first on The Rink.

3rd round
69th pick: Jake Wise, C, USNTDP U-18 (USHL)
Some felt Wise had the potential to sneak into the first round. The fact the Blackhawks were able to grab him in the third round is great value.
74th pick: Niklas Nordgren, RW, HIFK Jr. (Finland)
The Hawks clearly like Nordgren, as they traded up to take the talented winger. He dominated this year in the Finnish junior league and played well on the international stage as well.

4th round
120th pick: Philipp Kurashev, C, Quebec (QMJHL)
Kurashev, a Swiss-born player, was a point-per-game player for the Remparts this season. He has excellent skating and good skill. Many view him as a high-risk, high-reward prospect.

5th round
139th pick: Mikael Hakkarainen, C, Muskegon (USHL)
Hakkarainen is a Finnish center who has spent the last couple of seasons playing in the United States in the USHL. He spent part of the 2016–17 season playing for the Chicago Steel.

6th round
162nd pick: Alexis Gravel, G, Halifax (QMJHL)
Gravel entered the season regarded as one of the best goaltender prospects in this year’s draft class. He has a sound technical foundation and could prove to be a valuable pick.

7th round
193rd pick: Josiah Slavin, LW, Lincoln (USHL)
The younger brother of Carolina Hurricanes rising star defenseman Jaccob Slavin, Josiah was passed over in last year’s draft. Slavin posted 42 points this season for the Lincoln Stars, a big uptick from his 14 points in 2016–17. Slavin has high character; the Stars recently named Slavin as their captain for next season.

Takeaways
The Blackhawks clearly established a trend with this draft: small, skilled players who can skate. With Slavin being the only skater above six feet tall, the Blackhawks did not appear to care about size. Additionally, the team appeared to have been willing to swing for the fences, as players like Boqvist and Kurashev are noted as being boom-or-bust prospects.

Though not yet formally announced, it is expected all of the Blackhawks’ draftees will be in attendance at the team’s upcoming prospect camp, likely to be held in mid-July.

The Rink’s full draft pick profiles on today’s picks will be available throughout the upcoming week.

The post Blackhawks NHL Draft Day 2 Recap appeared first on The Rink.