After Slaggert, 3 Prospects Likely Up Next for the Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks won big last night, a convincing 7-4 win over the Arizona Coyotes. But the news that preceded it was that prospect Landon Slaggert inked a two-year entry-level deal with the team less than 24 hours after his Notre Dame Fighting Irish were eliminated from the Big 10 Tournament.

That’s exciting for fans because it potentially gives them another young player to track–with the big club–alongside the core there with Connor Bedard, Kevin Korchinski, and Alex Vlasic. Head coach Luke Richardson gave the team a day off today but Slaggert could be with the team as soon as tomorrow.

“I think we’re going to get him in Tuesday,” Richardson said. “He’ll be here for the morning skate. He won’t play Tuesday because we want to spend time and show him some clips of how we play and how we want him to play and fit in.”

So for fans hoping to see him skate in a game, could it at least be sooner rather than later?

“Maybe by the end of the week for sure,” Richardson added. “We have either L.A. or San Jose coming up or both.”

Richardson would explain that for a young kid getting a chance at the NHL, there’s a need to ensure he’s eased in. For a long-time veteran of the league, one who was a high pick, it’s not surprising for him to explain it as such.

But as Slaggert is eased in, how might things look for the guys who aren’t quite done yet–but are certainly knocking on the door?

Here’s a look at three players who are next in line to make a leap right to the Blackhawks.

Ethan Del Mastro

Strong blue lines win Stanley Cups and if it all goes according to plan, the Hawks may have struck gold when it comes to fortifying the blue line.

Del Mastro may very well have eclipsed every other prospect in the pipeline right now and it’s been a gradual thing as this season has worn on. This isn’t to say that any prospect has fallen off. Conversely, it’s an apples and oranges argument in terms of where some of the other players are currently. Three of the other prospects in the potential top five range are Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore, and Gavin Hayes, all of whom are not playing professional hockey.

Del Mastro stands out most because of what he’s doing and where he’s playing. Like Slaggert, Del Mastro immediately fits into the culture piece because of his leadership qualities. But far beyond that, his numbers and performance (7-23-30) have certainly made the case for an apperance in Chicago pretty soon.

It also helps with a ringing endorsement from general manager Kyle Davidson.

“It’s always nice when you can see your players, one, take a step up to another level as Ethan did this year in the AHL, and then play big minutes and carry that through,” Davidson said. “He’s obviously AHL All-Star, playing a bunch of different situations, which is really key for the development down there and something we are able to provide in Rockford and something that he’s grabbed hold of and ran with. And so really happy with how his year has gone.”

Because of where Rockford is right now in its own journey, an appearance in Chicago doesn’t seem to make sense right now. But being one of the parings on opening night 2024? It seems like it can be penciled in now.

Frank Nazar

It will be very interesting to see what Nazar produces in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament with Michigan. He was relatively quiet against Notre Dame, adding an assist in two games but he was still buzzing around the ice as he always does. The hesitancy on him has always been size, and that can be remedied by making sure bulk in the way of muscle is added to his frame. But the production is there and he too, fits in with the culture piece of leadership. His speed and 200-foot game is another part that goes into the Blackhawks scheme, but whether or not he’s offered a contract like Slaggert may hinge on how the rest of this tournament plays out.

The reasoning? Does Nazar need more time to grow a bit more at Michigan? Or at this point, is he as far along as he can get and is it now time to expose him to the professional game? Oliver Moore once compared his game to Dylan Larkin’s, who is also an apt measure for Nazar. The numbers are pretty close–with Larkin having more points, but Nazar nearly equal in goals.

Conventional wisdom sees the Blackhawks offering him an entry-level deal. But the timeline may differ if the Blackhawks end up winning the draft lottery again.

Gavin Hayes

Oliver Moore seems like the trendy pick right now, but only a lights out, dominant performance in the Big 10 tournament and NCAA tournament seem to speed his timeline up. Again, it’s not due to performance. He’s had a great freshman campaign, one that has gotten stronger since the World Juniors. But using Larkin again, his numbers don’t stack scoring wise like his did. His speed does, but he hasn’t found the net as much as maybe Chicago would like.

So that’s why Hayes, though he already has an entry-level deal signed, seems the best bet. All he does is score goals, and it’s not as if they’re just the pretty ones. What likely differentiates a Rockford start versus a Chicago one next October is production in the OHL playoffs and the preseason. How will he react when the pressure situations present themselves?

The numbers speak for themselves. With just six games left, he’s very close to matching his 41-goal output from last season. He’s five goals shy of that total with 16 fewer games played. Whether he hits it or not, the projected total easily surpasses last year’s pace.  In fact, he’s flirting with 50 goals.

Pace like that isn’t a fluke, especially when it only improves the following season. Hayes’ release and nose for the net reminds of Patrick Sharp. A strong playoff showing might give Blackhawks fans a chance to see if the comparison is indeed right next year.

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