The Harsh Reality of Prospect Development
The Chicago Blackhawks have amassed an impressive collection of prospects, with a seemingly endless list of talented young players vying for a spot on the roster. At forward, they have Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, and Lukas Reichel already in the NHL, along with a plethora of others in the pipeline. On defense, they have Alex Vlasic, Kevin Korchinski, Nolan Allan, and Louis Crevier in the NHL, with Wyatt Kaiser bouncing back and forth from the AHL and a few others in the pipeline.
The Challenge Ahead
With so many prospects, the question becomes: how will the Blackhawks develop and deploy them effectively? General manager Kyle Davidson has successfully built one of the league’s best prospect pools, but the next challenge is to develop these players and build a cohesive, championship-caliber NHL roster.
The Harsh Reality of Decision-Making
Unfortunately, there won’t be enough roster spots for all of them, even if the Blackhawks created a team composed entirely of homegrown players. Some prospects will bust, and cutting ties with them will be relatively easy, although doing so will inevitably prompt hand-wringing about whom they could’ve picked instead. However, other prospects should be traded at maximum value before they reach the NHL, preventing logjams on the roster and helping the Blackhawks acquire the established stars they’ll need to get over the hump.
Defense: The First Domino to Fall
The situation on defense is already approaching saturation point. Del Mastro, for example, is a solid prospect, but his path to a full-time job in Chicago has become murky due to Levshunov’s arrival, Allan’s breakthrough, and Rinzel’s imminence. He could be a trade candidate in the not-too-distant future.
Forwards: The Next Wave
The same is true for the forwards. Dach, Slaggert, Savoie, Hayes, and Ludwinski are all in Rockford and project to be bottom-six glue guys in the NHL, but not all of them will reach that ceiling. It will be exciting and gratifying for Davidson to watch so many prospects blossom into NHL contributors at the United Center in the next few years, but that process will have a harsher side, too. Davidson will need to stay on top of both.
Conclusion
The Blackhawks’ prospect pool is a treasure trove, but it’s the general manager’s duty to develop and deploy these players effectively. Davidson will need to make some tough decisions about which prospects to keep and which to trade, knowing that some will bust and others will require significant time in the AHL. The harsh reality is that not all prospects will make it to the NHL, and some will need to be traded before they do.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How will the Blackhawks develop and deploy their prospects?
- Will they keep all of their prospects or trade some?
- How will they acquire established stars to complete their roster?
- What will happen to prospects who don’t make it to the NHL?
- How will the Blackhawks balance their roster to stay above the salary floor?
The answers to these questions will determine the Blackhawks’ success in the years to come.
