Drew Commesso Shows Again Why He’s A Blackhawks Top Prospect

It should have been much worse than it was Friday night. The Rockford IceHogs were peppered with 19 shots–19–in the first period by the Grand Rapids Griffins. But it was Drew Commesso keeping every one of those nineteen shots out of the net.

While the IceHogs would rally but fall short in overtime, Commesso had 38 saves in the contest, a heck of an effort for a first year pro in a tightly contested series. Look, Grand Rapids is stacked–its roster boasting guys in one of the best minor systems in hockey. The Griffins have several of the Red Wings recent first-round prospects playing in this series namely Sebastian Cossa (2021 15th overall), Marco Kasper (2022 eighth overall), and Simon Edvinsson (2021 sixth overall). They also feature Jonatan Berggren, who likely should have been a full time player in Detroit all season long. He would score the game winner, his second of the series.

But for Commesso to turn away nearly 40 shots against a top notch team? He’s another prospect Blackhawks fans should get excited about.

CHN Ranked Drew Commesso Sixth To Start the Season

Perhaps it’s because two of the closest people in my life were goalies, but it’s always been the demeanor of a netminder that has spoken volumes to me. Both my brother and my cousin Frank, who is essentially a brother, played between the pipes and both have mindsets for it. Never getting too high or too low. So when Commesso’s routines were discussed last year at Blackhawks development camp, it was something that really caught my attention.

He researched and worked on that of Andrei Vasilevki, one of the league’s primer goalies. As the season went on, he steadily–almost calmly–kept things even keeled both statistically and on the ice.

IceHogs head coach Anders Sorensen told Chicago Hockey Now how impressed he was with the 21-year-old netminder’s demeanor.

“I’m really impressed by how calm he is,” Sorensen said. “Even in the intermissions and TV time outs he’s talking to the guys on the bench. That goes a long way [for him]–and with the players as well.”

So a big time performance from Commesso in a huge playoff game shouldn’t be surprising. It’s what those rituals are for–to prep for those moments where he’s needed most.

While the result wasn’t obviously what Rockford or Commesso would want, it’s the efforts and what he’s showing against a team oozing with top end talent. His playoff save percentage is a sparkling .929, showcasing precisely what the Blackhawks can gain from him being between the pipes.

Development often is a bit longer for goalies, but a series against Grand Rapids could certainly speed things up a bit more for Commesso–especially if he’s able to steal a game–or even the series for the IceHogs.

While some names will get more attention, don’t snooze on Drew Commesso. He’s another prospect trending up for the Blackhawks and might be another critical piece for a rebuilding team.

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