CHN Top 10 Prospects Check-In: Drew Commesso Steady As Ever

Back in the Fall, Chicago Hockey Now ranked the top 10 prospects in the Chicago Blackhawks pipeline. Those rankings had Connor Bedard sitting at the top of the list–while only being in the organization for three months. The sixth ranked prospect on the list is Drew Commesso, who has still gotten the job done for the Rockford IceHogs.

Drew Commesso
Current Team: Rockford IceHogs
Stats: 8-8-2; 2.82 GAA; .897 sv%
Drafted: 2020 46th overall pick (2nd round) by Stan Bowman

So, How’s It Going?

Commesso started out the season on a tear but has cooled as his first professional season has worn on. Some of that is due to how many IceHogs have been called up due to injury in Chicago. Another portion of it because at the end of the day, he’s playing a step below the NHL.

Ranking Higher, Lower, Holding, or Graduated?

Ranked holding and it’s not anything he’s doing or not doing. More on that below.

Now and Later: Where Does Drew Commesso Fit In the Grand Scheme of Things?

Goalies are always the hardest prospects to project because so much can change as they go through the system. Commesso has been steady with his numbers in the college ranks–holding pretty even at a .913 save percentage. So glancing at that save percentage in Rockford, which is nearly 20 points lower than his college average, may wonder if this is concerning.

Not yet. First, the Blackhawks injury problem has forced inconsistency of lineups, which having stable routine is the lifeblood of a success for skaters and goalies. Second, the fact that it’s not lower is more impressive. The IceHogs are 16-15-3-1, which is a testament to Anders Sorensen and his staff with all the change they’ve had. Further, Commesso accounts for half of their wins and has logged the most minutes between the pipes. Not bad for a rookie.

Commesso is a calming presence in net, and he’s a guy who should find his way to Chicago. Much like the current iteration with the big club, judgment needs to be reserved until that stability with familiar names and faces is more than a handful of games. If there’s slippage in the new CHN rankings, it’s only that players like Ethan Del Mastro, Nick Lardis, and Landon Slaggert have enjoyed terrific seasons thus far in their respective spots.

Commesso will find his way to Chicago likely at the same steady pace he’s shown in the crease.

Previous Check-Ins: 

Connor Bedard | Lukas Reichel | Kevin Korchinski | Frank Nazar | Oliver Moore