Blackhawks Had A Nice Weekend Exterior Of NHL

The Chicago Blackhawks had one weekend recreation. They took on the Vancouver Canucks in British Columbia on Sunday and had been crushed fairly soundly.

At 6-11-1, issues aren’t going nice for them. Their 13 standings factors rank final within the NHL heading into play this week.

Regardless of the dangerous weekend on the NHL degree, issues went nicely for the Hawks elsewhere within the group. Their prospect pool is trying good all around the world.

That is information that ought to preserve followers engaged whereas they determine the right way to win on the highest degree. Calling up prospects isn’t going to make it simpler to win. It could even make it more durable.

For now, letting them develop elsewhere is the perfect factor for many of those youngsters. Over the weekend, these are the prospects that stood out probably the most:

1. Nick Lardis

Nick Lardis was a third-round decide (67th general) by Chicago within the 2023 NHL Draft. He presently performs main junior for the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs. Over the weekend, he was spectacular.

Lardis scored back-to-back hat tips on Saturday and Sunday. Each of these video games had been wins for the Bulldogs. Lardis additionally added an help within the second recreation so it was seven factors in two video games.

Now, he has 20 targets and 9 assists for 29 factors in 19 video games performed. After a recreation within the AHL final yr and a glance through the preseason this yr, the Hawks did the fitting factor by sending him again to junior. He’s growing very nicely.

2. Sacha Boisvert

Sacha Boisvert was a first-round decide (18th general) by Chicago in 2024. There are excessive hopes that he is usually a productive NHL participant in the future.

Over the weekend whereas enjoying for the College of North Dakota, Boisvert scored a gorgeous aim of their weekend finale in opposition to Denver. North Dakota wasn’t capable of beat the defending champions however Boisvert was capable of finding the again of the web on a pleasant play that was arrange for him.

Boisvert will enter subsequent weekend’s video games with three targets and 5 assists for eight factors in 11 video games. The offensive numbers aren’t by means of the roof but however the younger freshman has some very thrilling upside. The Hawks wish to see snipes like this proceed.

3. Oliver Moore

The Chicago Blackhawks landed the speedy Oliver Moore within the first spherical (nineteenth general) of the 2023 NHL Draft. Now, he presently performs for the College of Minnesota the place he’s surrounded by quite a lot of expertise.

Over the weekend, Moore collected the first help on their solely aim which was scored by Matthew Wooden in opposition to Bemidji State. The Golden Gophers misplaced 3-1 however Moore was on the market creating offense.

The cross-ice feed that Moore made to Wooden was about as particular of a move as you may make. Via all of that visitors, you need to be good to attach and Moore did.

Moore is as much as two targets and 6 assists for eight factors in 12 video games up to now. The Hawks want to see an uptick in offense. He has the velocity to vary video games however it’s about placing that velocity to good use.

4. Aiden Thompson

We talked about the College of Denver sweeping North Dakota of their two video games this weekend. Properly, the previous Blackhawks third-round decide (ninetieth general in 2022) performed a giant position in that.

Thompson scored a aim within the first recreation in opposition to the Combating Hawks which prolonged his level streak to 11 video games to open the yr. He additionally had an help on a aim scored by Zeev Buium earlier within the recreation.

One night time later, he made it 12 video games with a degree as he scored a power-play aim. The Blackhawks have to like his development as a scorer. This child can do all of it in the case of enjoying the sport on the ice.

Enjoying as a defending nationwide champion, he has taken on a management position with an A on his sweater as nicely which provides to his progress off the ice.

Up to now this yr, he has 9 targets and 11 assists for 20 factors in 12 video games performed. He ought to blow previous his 11-goal/30-point mark from a yr in the past. Denver is a scary staff proper now and Aidan Thompson is a giant a part of it.

5. Frank Nazar

Frank Nazar was scratched from Sunday night time’s recreation in opposition to the Chicago Wolves due to a private matter. Hopefully, every thing is okay with him and his family members.

One recreation prior (Friday), Nazar had a aim and an help in Rockford’s 3-2 victory over the Manitoba Moose. Nazar was named the number-one star of the sport.

The five-on-three aim was his fifth marker of the season. He additionally has eight assists for 13 factors to steer the IceHogs in 11 video games performed. Not dangerous for the 2022 first-round decide (thirteenth general).

Honorable Mentions

These 5 aren’t the one 5 that performed nicely both nevertheless it’s inconceivable to call all of them. Just a few honorable mentions will be mentioned although. Ryan Greene of Boston College scored a few targets together with a formidable shootout successful tally.

Kevin Korchinski and Artyom Levshunov every assisted on the Nazar aim as nicely. Each of them are anticipated to be pillars on Chicago’s blue line in the future so seeing them contribute offensively within the AHL is an efficient signal. There’s quite a lot of work to be executed there and it begins with performs like this to construct confidence.

For the Chicago Blackhawks group, managing their younger expertise must be their largest concern. It’s clear that they’re a bottom-five staff within the NHL and it could be even worse than that if Connor Bedard’s sophomore hunch goes on for a bit.

You recognize that Bedard goes to be a famous person although so growing these youngsters is of probably the most significance as a result of you need to encompass him with depth.

Weekends like this should proceed for the rebuild to tread on. A few of these youngsters need to play on the identical staff as Bedard and assist him win as a result of he cannot do all of it by himself.

Go to The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks staff website to remain up to date on the latest news, game-day protection, player features, and extra.

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