On Monday, the Chicago Blackhawks open their 2019 summer prospect development camp at the Fifth Third Arena in Chicago. One of my personal favorite times of the year, it is a chance for fans to get an up-close look at the young players in the organization’s system and see which players are the next wave coming to the team. Before camp opens, here is a breakdown of the players who will be attending and participating in drills both on and off the ice.
Blackhawks development camp: Forwards
The Blackhawks made it a priority at this year’s NHL Entry Draft to get an impact forward with the third overall pick. Selecting Kirby Dach from the Saskatoon Blades, the Blackhawks finally have the marquee forward in their prospect system that they had lacked for the last handful of seasons. Dach will be the main focus in the forwards group, but players like Mackenzie Entwistle, Philipp Kurashev and newly acquired Alexander Nylander will have plenty of attention focused on them by fans and Blackhawks brass.
** Player will only participate in off-ice workouts
(camp jersey number)
- Evan Barratt (25) — Center, 2019–20 team: Penn State (NCAA) **
- 2018–19: 16 goals, 27 assists, 43 points, +19
- Barratt is at the top of the second tier of Blackhawks forward prospects in the system. A player who has a bit of scoring touch with an added bit of edge to his game, he took a big step forward last year in his second season with Penn State. If he can replicate his production this year, he could very well see a shot at NHL ice-time once his NCAA season ends next spring.
- Kirby Dach (77) — Center, 2019–20 team: Chicago Blackhawks (NHL) / Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
- 2018–19: 25 goals, 48 assists, 73 points, +15
- As mentioned before, Dach is going to be the main attraction at camp this year. The highest NHL draft pick since Patrick Kane in 2007, Dach has a lot of intrigue and potential surrounding him. Questions still remain about what his role with the Blackhawks may end up being next season. Could he play in the NHL full-time or will he slide back to the WHL? If he impresses in development camp and training camp later in September, he could work his way into an NHL role with Chicago faster than most expect.
The Chicago Blackhawks signed 2019 first round draft pick Kirby Dach to a three-year entry-level contract on Monday afternoon. (Photograph courtesy of Chicago Blackhawks)
- Mackenzie Entwistle (37) — Wing, 2019–20 team: Chicago Blackhawks (NHL) / Rockford IceHogs (AHL)
- 2018–19 with Hamilton and Guelph (OHL): 30 goals, 27 assists, 57 points, +10
- Entwistle made a quick move from the Coyotes to the Blackhawks this time last year after being involved in the Marian Hossa trade. He made a quick impression on the Blackhawks and showed promise throughout camp and the preseason. He became a two-time OHL champion this year, winning with the Guelph Storm. Barring a herculean effort in camp this year, he will get his first taste of professional hockey with the Rockford IceHogs. He turns 20 years old on the Sunday before camp opens.
- Parker Foo (52) — Wing, 2019–20 team: Union College (NCAA)
- 2018–19: five goals, 10 assists, 15 points, +8
- Foo improved from his freshman season at Union College, but still is relatively buried on the Blackhawks organization depth chart for forwards. He has good speed to his game and upper-level skill in his hands and will look to continue to build upon his first two years at the NCAA level.
- Mathias From (76) — Wing, 2019–20 team: MODO (Allsvenskan)
- 2018–19 with AIK (Allsvenskan): eight goals, eight assists, 16 points, +6
- From has bounced around while playing in Sweden the last few seasons. A former fifth round pick by Chicago, he has yet to play in a game on North American ice. A moderately-skilled two-way winger, the Blackhawks have until June 1, 2020 to decide if From fits into their plans moving forward.
- Brandon Hagel (29) — Wing, 2019–20 team: Rockford IceHogs (AHL)
- 2018–19 with Red Deer (WHL): 41 goals, 61 assists, 102 points, +42
- This will be Hagel’s first camp with the Blackhawks organization. A former sixth round pick by the Buffalo Sabres in 2016, Hagel was signed by the Blackhawks in October last year after not being given a contract from Buffalo. He went on to finish tied for fourth in the league in points and eighth in the league in goals. Hagel joined the IceHogs for the final eight games of the season and will rejoin Rockford this season for his first full season at the pro level. He possesses a good amount of versatility in his game and has a top-end scoring touch.
Rockford IceHogs forward Brandon Hagel carries the puck during the 2018–19 season. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)
- Mikael Hakkarainen (15) — Center, 2019–20 team: Rockford IceHogs (AHL)
- 2018–19 with Muskegon (USHL): 19 goals, 28 assists, 47 points, +24
- After three seasons in the USHL, Hakkarainen makes his first jump to the professional level this year. He has an interesting jump ahead of him, having been an older player in the USHL the last two years being 20 and 21 years old playing against teenagers. If he can find consistency in his game, as some scouts worry about his compete level, he could very well make a sizable impact for the IceHogs on the score sheet.
- Reese Johnson (78) — Center/Wing, 2019–20 team: Rockford IceHogs (AHL)
- 2018–19 with Red Deer (WHL): 27 goals, 26 assists, 53 points, +15
- A teammate of Hagel’s with Red Deer, Johnson captained the Rebels last year and was signed late last season. He joined the IceHogs for six games to end the season last year and tallied four assists. He will get his first full professional season under his belt this year with the IceHogs and will likely be a full-time fixture in their lineup.
- Dominik Kubalik (97) — Wing, 2019–20 team: Chicago Blackhawks (NHL) / Rockford IceHogs (AHL) **
- 2018–19 with Ambri-Piotta (NLA): 25 goals, 32 assists, 57 points, +5
- It is unfortunate that Kubalik will not be skating at development camp to make his debut with the Blackhawks organization. After acquiring Kubalik from the Los Angeles Kings, the Chicago fanbase was introduced to Kubalik at the World Championships in impressive fashion. After leading the NLA in Switzerland in points last year, there are heavy expectations that Kubalik will make the Blackhawks roster to begin the season. We will have to wait until training camp to see him for the first time.
Dominik Kubalik comes to North America this season after playing in Switzerland in 2018–19. (Photograph courtesy of Lucas Filipec / sport.aktualne.cz)
- Philipp Kurashev (54) — Center/wing, 2019–20 team: Rockford IceHogs (AHL)
- 2018–19 with Quebec (QMJHL): 29 goals, 36 assists, 65 points, -8
- A versatile forward with dynamic talent, Kurashev could very likely become the steal of the Blackhawks’ 2018 draft class. After impressive showings at the World Juniors and World Championships, he made a name for himself within the Blackhawks’ system. He joined the IceHogs for just three games to end last season, but will get his first big taste of professional hockey this year with Rockford. He may even give the Blackhawks something to consider with a strong performance this summer.
- Dylan McLaughlin (96) — Center, 2019–20 team: Rockford IceHogs (AHL) / Indy Fuel (ECHL)
- 2018–19 with Canisius College (NCAA): 19 goals, 21 assists, 40 points, -6
- After finishing his four-year NCAA career at Canisius College, McLaughlin made the short jump to the professional ranks with the IceHogs, where he sakted in seven games and tallied two assists. McLaughlin was a Hobey Baker Finalist in 2018 as a junior at Canisius. He will likely move between the IceHogs and Indy Fuel next season in his first full year of professional hockey.
- Niklas Nordgren (94) — Wing, 2019–20 team: HIFK (LIIGA) **
- 2018–19: four goals, three assists, seven points, -3
- An undersized winger from the 2018 draft class, Nordgren made a decent impression at development camp last season. A season after helping Finlad win the U18 World Junior Championships gold medal, Nordgren played in 15 games in the Finnish pro league LIIGA for HIFK, his second season playing that many games at the pro level. He will return to HIFK this season, looking to play the full year in the top tier.
- Alexander Nylander (92) — Wing, 2019–20 team: Chicago Blackhawks (NHL) / Rockford IceHogs (AHL)
- 2018–19 with Rochester Americans (AHL): 12 goals, 19 assists, 41 points, +11
- It was a less than warm welcome to the Chicago Blackhawks for Nylander. Chicago acquired the former eighth overall pick in exchange for Henri Jokiharju just a week prior to the opening of development camp. Suffice to say, the large majority of the Blackhawks’ fan community did not take the news well, citing the lopsided loss for the Blackhawks in the trade. But, Nylander has potential; it just remains to be seen if Chicago can pull it out of him like they did with Dylan Strome. Since being drafted in 2016, Nylander has just six points in 19 NHL games. Development camp will be his first chance to win over the organization and fan base.
Newly acquired forward Alexander Nylander played with the Rochester Americans in 2018–19. (Photograph courtesy of Graig Abel/Getty Images)
- Kyle Olson (61) — Wing, 2019–20 team: Tri-City Americans (WHL)
- 2018–19 with Tri-City (WHL): 21 Goals, 49 assists, 70 points, -3
- A 2017 fourth round draft pick by the Anaheim Ducks, Olson was second on the Tri-City Americans in points last season with 70. He will return to Tri-City this season, where he has been named as the team captain. Scouts describe him as a playmaker with an edge to his game, not afraid to get dirty from time to time. His drafts rights expired with Anaheim as of June 1.
- Antti Saarela (73) — Wing, 2019–20 team: Ilves (LIIGA)
- 2018–19 with Lukko (LIIGA): two goals, eight assists, 10 points, +3
- The younger brother of Aleksi Saarela, who the Blackhawks acquired this offseason, Antti was taken in the fourth round of this June’s NHL draft by Chicago. An energy winger with upper-level offensive skills, Saarela will hope to play a full season in the Finnish Pro LIIGA this year with Ilves after spending the last four seasons with Lukko.
- Josiah Slavin (23) — Wing, 2019–20 team: Colorado College (NCAA)
- 2018–19 with Lincoln and Chicago (USHL): 24 goals, 23 assists, 47 points, -9
- The younger brother of Carolina’s Jaccob Slavin, Josiah makes the jump to the NCAA this season, as he is set to join Colorado College. Slavin, a seventh round pick in last year’s NHL draft, finished last season in the USHL with the Chicago Steel and posted eight points in the playoffs as Chicago lost in the Clark Cup Final. In his four years in the USHL, he tallied 103 points in 168 games.
- Tim Soderlund (64) — Center/wing, 2019–20 team: Rockford IceHogs (AHL)
- 2018–19 with Frolunda and Skelleftea (SHL): six goals, eight assists, 14 points, +/- 0
- Soderlund made a splash in his first Blackhawks development camp appearance in 2017. A fourth round draft pick that year, Soderlund has since garnered comparisons to fellow Swede Viktor Arvidsson on the ice, but that praise has yet to translate on the scoresheet. After a stellar performance at the 2018 World Junior Championships, Soderlund split time between Frolunda and Skelleftea in the Swedish SHL last year. He will make his North American pro debut this season with the IceHogs.
Tim Soderlund comes to North America after spending 2018–19 in Sweden. (Photograph courtesy of Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
- Jonny Sorenson (98) — Wing/center, 2019–20 team: Minnesota (NCAA)
- 2018–19 with Fairbanks (NAHL): 17 goals, 39 assists, 56 points, +13
- After dominating in the high school ranks in Minnesota, Sorenson played last season with Fairbanks of the NAHL, where he was nearly a point-per-game player and was named the league’s rookie of the year. He will again move up in competition this season, as he is set to attend Minnesota.
- Michal Teply (53) — Wing, 2019–20 team: Winnipeg Ice (WHL)
- 2018–19 with Bili Tygri Liberec (Czech): zero goals, two assists, two points, +1
- Teply may end up being quite the sleeper pick for the Blackhawks from this past June’s NHL draft. Taken in the fourth round, Teply was the fourth overall selection in the CHL import draft by the Winnipeg Ice and is expected to make the jump from Europe to the WHL this season. Already measuring in at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, Teply possesses size and a scoring touch that could make him a prospect to keep a close eye on.
- Jake Wise (24) — Center, 2019–20 team: Boston University (NCAA)
- 2018–19: zero goals, two assists, two points, -7
- It is tough to get a read on Wise heading into this year’s development camp. A third round pick in last year’s draft, Wise looked the part of a skilled two-way centerman for the U.S. National Team Development Program in 2018, but injuries derailed his 2018–19 season at Boston University, only allowing him to play in 12 games. A bounce back year is hopefully in store for him, as he had garnered expectations to eventually slot into a top-nine role for the Blackhawks in the near future.
Blackhawks development camp: Defensemen
The spotlight on the Chicago Blackhawks defensive depth chart has been pretty bright over the last few days. With the trade of Henri Jokiharju to the Sabres to acquire Alexander Nylander, the “Big Four” in the system of Jokiharju, Nicolas Beaudin, Adam Boqvist and Ian Mitchell has been reduced, and a heavy amount of expectations are now resting with the remaining three players. Still, it looks as though there is no room on the NHL roster for them just yet. But beyond those three players, the Blackhawks’ young defensive depth is pretty impressive, especially with the addition of 2019 second round pick Alex Vlasic added to the mix.
- Nicolas Beaudin (34) — Left-handed, 2019–20 team: Rockford IceHogs (AHL)
- 2018–19 with Drummondville (QMJHL): seven goals, 49 assists, 56 points, +60
- Often a second-thought behind Boqvist, Beaudin is not a player that you want to forget about. Taken late in the first round of the 2018 NHL draft, Beaudin is an offensively gifted defender that can facilitate offense from the blue line. While undersized, Beaudin has the ability to use his speed to his advantage at both ends of the ice. He will make the jump to the professional ranks this season with the Rockford IceHogs.
- Adam Boqvist (27) — Right-handed, 2019–20 team: Chicago Blackhawks (NHL) / Rockford IceHogs (AHL)
- 2018–19 with London (OHL): 20 goals, 40 assists, 60 points, +12
- What more needs to be said about Boqvist that has not already been? A highly-gifted offensive defender, Boqvist is looked at as the next “it” player on defense for the Blackhawks. Again, an undersized defender who uses his feet well at both ends of the ice, his defending skills in his own end still need improvement to catch up to his offensive skillset. If he can put it all together, he may have a chance at living up to the “next Erik Karlsson” expectations many have placed on him since going eighth overall in last year’s NHL draft. He is eligible to play with the Rockford IceHogs this season, but could give Chicago a reason to consider him for NHL time if he has a breakout summer.
Adam Boqvist skates during an OHL game last season. (Photograph courtesy of Chicago Blackhawks)
- Josh Ess (17) — Left-handed, 2019–20 team: Wisconsin (NCAA)
- 2018–19: five goals, eight assists, 13 points, +2
- A seventh round pick in the 2017 NHL draft, Ess has improved drastically in his two seasons at Wisconsin. In his second year, Ess saw a significant increase in his ice-time and responsibilities for the Badgers. He will return for his third season this year looking to be a top-pairing option.
- Jakub Galvas (42) — Left-handed, 2019–20 team: Jukurit (LIIGA)
- 2018–19 with HC Olomouc (Czech): four goals, 13 assists, 17 points, +4
- A good puck-moving defenseman, Galvas finished his third full season in the Czech pro league last year with HC Olomouc. Having just turned 20 years old, Galvas already has 118 professional games under his belt in the Czech pro league and will now move on to the Finnish pro LIIGA and play next season with Jukurit.
- Chad Krys (36) — Left-handed, 2019–20 team: Rockford IceHogs (AHL)
- 2018–19 with Boston (NCAA): eight goals, 12 assists, 20 points, -10
- The development camp veteran among this year’s group, Krys will be making his fourth appearance with the Blackhawks camp since being a second round pick in the 2016 NHL draft. A highly-touted offensive defender out of the U.S. National Team Development Program when he was drafted, Krys has spent the last three years at Boston University and has shown slight improvement year to year. While not at the pace that maybe the organization or fan base had expected, Krys joined the IceHogs late last season and ended up tallying four assists in nine games and getting heavy minutes down the stretch of the season. In his NCAA career, Krys tallied 58 points in 105 games and will be with Rockford for his first full professional season this year, looking to be a top-pairing option for the IceHogs.
Rockford IceHogs defenseman Chad Krys makes a pass at the end of the 2018–19 season. (Photograph courtesy of the Milwaukee Admirals)
- Roope Laavainen (44) — Right-handed, 2019–20 team: HPK (LIIGA)
- 2018–19 with HPK (LIIGA): one goal, two assists, three points, +1
- A former fourth round pick by the Blackhawks, Laavainen was one of the few defenders in the last two drafts, before 2019, to be over 6 feet tall. His mix of size and ability to move the puck effectively make him an intriguing European prospect for the organization. He bounced around the Finnish pro LIIGA last year on loans, but returns to HPK this season.
- Ian Mitchell (46) — Right-handed, 2019–20 team: Chicago Blackhawks (NHL) / Denver (NCAA)
- 2018–19: six goals, 21 assists, 27 points, +18
- Mitchell was selected in the second round of the 2017 draft and was a sleeper defender in the Blackhawks’ system for the past two years. He emerged as a highly skilled two-way defender in his freshman year at the University of Denver with 30 points and took another step in his sophomore year with the Pioneers and with Team Canada at the 2019 World Juniors. Mitchell held leadership roles with Denver and Team Canada last year and will captain the Pioneers this season. According to a report by Scott Powers of The Athletic, Mitchell and the Blackhawks will discuss his fit into the organization during camp and he may reconsider his return to Denver this season. If he does stay with the Pioneers, Mitchell will be the go-to defenseman this year and could then make his pro debut once the NCAA season ends.
Ian Mitchell has quickly risen to be a high-end defensive prospect in Chicago’s system. (Photograph courtesy of dobberprospects.com)
- Cole Moberg (20) — Right-handed, 2019–20 team: Prince George Cougars (WHL)
- 2018–19: 13 goals, 27 assists, 40 points, -33
- A seventh round pick by the Blackhawks in this June’s NHL draft, Moberg has plenty of size at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, and has even split time at forward and on the blue line with Prince George in the WHL. Last season, Moberg finished with 40 points and ranked third on the team in scoring. He will return to the WHL this season, looking to be a focal point in the Cougars’ attack as they try to improve on their fourth-to-last finish in the WHL last year.
- Jake Ryczek (43) — Right-handed, 2019–20 team: TBD (2018–19: Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL)
- 2018–19: nine goals, 24 assists, 33 points, +33
- Ryczek is an interesting defensive prospect. After being selected in the seventh round of the 2016 NHL draft, Ryczek played his final year in the USHL before heading to Providence College, but only played in five games before leaving the NCAA to play in the QMJHL. In two years as an over-ager for the Halifax Mooseheads, Ryczek played a middle-pairing role and was able to put up decent numbers from the blue line. His future is murky with Chicago, though, and the Blackhawks still have time to decide his place in the organizational depth.
- Ryan Shea (6) — Left-handed, 2019–20 team: Northeastern (NCAA)
- 2018–19: three goals, 13 assists, 16 points, +23
- One of the more consistent performers at the NCAA ranks for the Blackhawks’ system, Shea looks to return to Northeastern for his senior season after helping the Huskies win the Hockey East conference last year. Having not yet missed a game at the NCAA level, Shea looks to be a top-pairing option for Northeastern this year and will likely take on a leadership role as he did last year.
The Blackhawks added to their strong defensive prospect depth by selecting Alex Vlasic in last month’s draft. (Photograph courtesy of Rena Laverty / USA Hockey)
- Alex Vlasic (45) — Left-handed, 2019–20 team: Boston University (NCAA)
- 2018–19 with U.S. National Team Development Program (USHL/USDP): six goals, 36 assists, 42 points, +7
- The biggest draft pick the Blackhawks have made in quite some time in regards to physical size, Vlasic, a native of Wilmette, Illinois, and cousin of San Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic, stands at 6-foot-6 and comes in at 200 pounds. A physical, stay-at-home style of defenseman, Vlasic was part of the U.S. National Team Development Program the last two seasons and was consistently one of their best defenders in their own zone. He has a big slap shot and his skating is better than most players at his age and size. He will be attending Boston University this year.
Blackhawks development camp: Goalies
One position the Blackhawks have relatively not had to focus on for the last eight or nine years has been goaltender. With Corey Crawford being a solid starting goaltender for most of his NHL career, Chicago was able to let their development of goaltenders slide. But, with recent injury problems to Crawford, the future of the goaltending position is in need of attention. Chicago signed Collin Delia after an impressive development camp in 2017 and he has since become the organization’s No. 3 in line after signing Robin Lehner this summer. Behind Delia is Kevin Lankinen, who will push Delia for starting time in Rockford this year, but beyond him is a question mark. Chicago has drafted a goaltender in back-to-back drafts and they will be on display in this year’s development camp.
- Dominic Basse (82) — Catches left, 2019–20 team: TBD (Committed to Colorado College, NCAA)
- 2018–19 with USA Selects Hockey Academy (U18): 42 games, 1.91 goals against average, .924 save percentage
- Basse is a highly intriguing prospect. A sixth round pick by the Blackhawks in this past June’s NHL draft, Basse clocks in at 6-foot-6 and 185 pounds. His size jumps off the page, as do his number from the USA Selects Hockey Academy. He is headed to Colorado College in 2021.
The Chicago Blackhawks added to their goaltending prospect pool by selecting Dominic Basse in this year’s draft. (Photograph courtesy of Colorado College)
- Devin Cooley (80) — Catches left, 2019–20 team: Denver (NCAA)
- 2018–19: 20 games, 1.85 goals against average, .934 save percentage
- An unsigned camp invitee, Cooley was the backup in Denver last season and was a part of a highly successful Pioneers team. He will look to take over the starting job in Denver this season as a junior.
- Alexis Gravel (70) — Catches right, 2019–20 team: Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
- 2018–19: 49 games, 2.49 goals against average, .913 save percentage
- The one “known commodity” at this year’s development camp in net for the Blackhawks is Alexis Gravel. A sixth round pick in last year’s NHL draft, Gravel has matured into a rock-solid starter in the QMJHL with Halifax. Helping the Mooseheads to the QMJHL Finals this spring and the Memorial Cup Final, Gravel will look to get the Mooseheads over the hump in what looks to be his final season in the QMJHL before making the jump to the professional game in the 2020–21 season.
Halifax Mooseheads goaltender Alexis Gravel stands in the net. (Photograph courtesy of the Halifax Mooseheads)
- Stefanos Lekkas (40) — Catches left, 2019–20 team: TBD (2018–19: Vermont, NCAA)
- 2018–19: 34 Games, 2.27 goals against average, .930 save percentage
- An Illinois native from Elburn, Lekkas is the smallest of the goaltenders in camp this summer. His numbers with Vermont as a starter are impressive and he put things together this season, posting career bests in goals against average and save percentage on his way to being named second team All-Hockey East.
- Mareks Mitens (30) — Catches left, 2019–20 team: Lake Superior State (NCAA)
- 2018–19: 11 games, 2.31 goals against average, .919 save percentage
- Leader in the clubhouse for best name at development camp, Mitens is another unsigned camp invitee for the Blackhawks this summer. He has spent the last two seasons as a backup at Lake Superior State and will look to take over the starting role this season.
- Zackarias Skog (92) — Catches left, 2019–20 team: TBD (2018–19: American International College, NCAA)
- 2018–19: 35 games, 2.68 goals against average, .899 save percentage
- The final of the four unsigned camp invitees in net, Skog helped backstop AIC to the AHA regular season and tournament championships this season and was named to the AHA All-Tournament team.
When and where?
- Fifth Third Arena
- 1801 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL
- Monday, July 15–Friday, 19
- 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Mon.–Thurs.
- 9:30 a.m. Friday (Full team scrimmage)