Now is the time for the Blackhawks to see what Colton Dach Can Be

We’re 25 games into the season, and it’s fair to say the Chicago Blackhawks’ season is lost. They sit dead last in the NHL, are 10 points out of the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, and have less than a one percent chance of making the playoffs via the latest projections from The Athletic. It’s not that there were high expectations for them to be in the playoff conversation in the first place, but it’s still disappointing.

So, how do you remedy a season that seems to be going nowhere? By looking towards the future. Blackhawks’ fans have been holding on to the potential of the team’s strong pipeline, which Corey Pronman of The Athletic ranked first in the league in August.

The Blackhawks have always been upfront about their plan to be patient with their prospects. General manager Kyle Davidson said during the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase that he wants the players to “thrive and not just survive.” This explains why one of their top prospects, Frank Nazar, still has yet to be called up from the Rockford IceHogs despite having 21 points in 17 games. Head coach Luke Richardson said on Nov. 20 that they want him to continue growing as the number one center and on special teams with the Rockford IceHogs since that likely wouldn’t be the case on this Blackhawks team.

Therefore, I believe a good alternative for a call-up is Colton Dach. It might seem counterproductive to what the Blackhawks said about letting their prospects shine in Rockford, but Dach is in a different boat. The 2021 second-round draft pick has dealt with some development bumps, having dealt with significant injuries. Last season was his first full season with Rockford, and although he dealt with some injuries, he did have a decent showing, with 27 points in 48 games. This season, Dach has 15 points in 18 games (including six points in his last six games), which is second-best on the team.

Where Dach is in a bit of a predicament comes from what was recently reported by Scott Powers of  The Athletic. Powers reported that the Blackhawks hope he can figure it out because they believe he can be an NHL power forward, as shown in stretches, but it isn’t consistent enough.

Because he has been in the pipeline longer, he is in bigger competition with other players who play similarly to him, like Gavin Hayes, Paul Ludwinski, Landon Slaggert, and Samuel Savoie. Therefore, time is of the essence for evaluation. Head coach Anders Sorensen made the most compelling argument when he said in January, “His biggest thing is figuring out what he’s going to be in the NHL.”

The Blackhawks know he can be a big 6-foot-4, physical, scoring wing, but his NHL projection is mixed because he could be a menacing bottom-six forward, yet his two-way skill can greatly complement the top-six, as shown in Rockford. Dach told CHGO Blackhawks on Nov. 26, “I think for me, my biggest thing is just moving my feet and playing fast. We have a lot of emphasis on my first four strides, and just kind of focusing on those and being physical where I can. But making the right plays and being smart in the d-zone; I think when I’m playing, those are all being consistent plays. I just got to continue to do that day in and day out, and then you know, I think my time will come [in the NHL]. But I definitely want to keep working at it.”

I believe Dach will get called up this season, but the Blackhawks are currently on a three-game losing streak. If they want to shake things up sooner, I think he would be the right call-up to make. The team wants to know what type of player he would be in the NHL. It’s something to consider because the pipeline is getting more crowded, and his future spot doesn’t seem as solidified as other prospects like Nazar.

While Chicago is not competitive, it’s the best time to see what he could be, and they won’t know unless they give him a shot.

For more Blackhawks News from Jim Lynch and Brooke LoFurno, visit Chicago Hockey Now, subscribe to our YouTube and like our Facebook page.

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