Blackhawks Best Case: Prospects Push

As August chugs ahead to September, the thaw of a lack of hockey will make way for camps and the preseason. Fear not, Blackhawks fans, it’s getting closer.

It will also begin to answer some questions about the prospect pool and the players everywhere from the cusp to still being a few years away.

A look at where some of them may slot in and how they could

The Up and Out

Connor Bedard, Alex Vlasic, Isaak Phillips, Lukas Reichel, Arvid Soderblom

It seems a sure bet that these five will stick in Chicago for most, if not all of the season. Vlasic and Phillips might shuffle a bit back and forth to Rockford, but Bedard and Reichel are virtual locks to begin and end their respective seasons in Chicago. Soderblom will assuredly serve in the backup role in Chicago, if not pushing for the starter role with great play or as Petr Mrazek might see injury issues arise–as they have in previous seasons.

Blackhawks Prospects on the Bubble

Kevin Korchinski, Wyatt Kaiser

Another season in the Western Hockey League just doesn’t seem like it would be in the best interest of him or the club. General manager Kyle Davidson will have no issues burning through a year of his entry-level deal and though the blueline could be crowded at times, Korchinski seems more than ready to take the next step in his career. The beauty of it is that the Blackhawks are in absolutely no rush–a similar approach they had with Reichel. The glaring difference is he’d likely be a healthy scratch instead of sending him back to Seattle.

Kaiser shows promise and will likely start in Rockford to get ready for a longer showing in Chicago. This adds to the Korchinski kerfuffle, however, as there’s only so many slots for them to fit into.

Needs More Seasoning

Colton Dach, Drew Commesso, Nolan Allan

This is simply stating the obvious, but it still needs to be reason. A cup of coffee late in the season is certainly an opportunity. Dach and Allan could force themselves into the conversation by March, with a few games to skate around in April as the season closes out–if they stand apart in Rockford as professional rookies.

Commesso needs to get comfortable as he settles into the professional grind. Even with Jaxson Stauber ahead of him, Commesso could earn a look late in the season to give him an NHL debut–but why rush anything. Besides, a strong season in Rockford that could be in the heat of playing meaningful games late in its season could instead keep him planted firmly with the IceHogs.