How every Blackhawks player must prove themselves in training camp

The organization must be able to Blackhawks don’t have a heck of a lot to play for this season. To lose is the goal. Next summer, Connor Bedard will be drafted.

However, as individuals, the Blackhawks still have a lot to lose. After all, teams tank, players don’t. Whether they’re trying to break into the NHLFor the first time, players will be able to firmly establish themselves as NHLers full-time, revive a career, or simply tell the aging curve what to do. Each player who shows up for training camp’s opening ceremony on Thursday will have his own motivation. This camp might not have the heated position battles and lineup dilemmas of a typical camp, but it’ll have its own juice, in its own way.

With that in mind, here’s what every player of significance at camp has to prove over the next two and a half weeks.

(Read a full guide to the Blackhawks’ prospects here.)

Forward

Andreas Athanasiou

He must prove it:His hands can keep up to his feet, and that his feet can stay on the ice. Athanasiou was one of the most skilled skaters in league. He scored a record 30-goal season in 2018-19. Red Wings. However, injuries have cost him big in the last three seasons. With the team, he scored 11 goals in 28 games. KingsThe pending UFA could make a good draft pick if he stays healthy and scores at that pace.

Colin Blackwell

He must prove it: That there’s a place for him in the Blackhawks’ future. And unlike fellow signings Athanasiou Max DomiBlackwell signed two-year contracts, making it less likely that he will be flipped at the deadline. He’s 29, though, and a career fringe NHLer. The Blackhawks are likely to have no qualms about placing him in the minors, if necessary.

Max Domi

He must prove it: That his career hasn’t peaked. Domi scored 29 goals in the same year Athanasiou scored 30 goals. Canadiens. His combination of skill, irritation and grit seemed to be leading him well towards a major NHL career. But he’s 27 now and had just 20 goals over the past two years. Domi will have a chance to play in Chicago for big minutes and be a contender by springtime.

MacKenzie Entwistle

He must prove it: That he’s more than just another fourth-liner. Entwistle was an over-ager in his last year, scoring 30 goals and 57 pts in 57 games. Since turning pro, though, he’s played more of a grinder role. That’s all well and good, but the Blackhawks have a lot of those guys. He’s no longer waiver-exempt, so he’s likely in the NHL to stay this season. He can still play a bigger role if he is able to add scoring punch.

Cole Guttman

He must prove it: He has the ability to play in the NHL. Tampa Bay let Guttman’s draft rights expire this summer, and the Blackhawks He was offered a two-year contract.. He was a great senior at Denver with 45 points in 41 matches. He did a great job in the prospect showcase. But, can he match the NHL pace of play?

Mike Hardman

He must prove it: That he’s still in the conversation. Hardman seemed to have a spot in Jeremy Colliton’s and Stan Bowman’s rotation, but spent most of the Derek King/Kyle Davidson era in Rockford (where he was quite productive, with 19 goals and 13 assists in 43 games). Hardman brings hustle and size to the table, but with one goal in 29 career NHL games, he’s looking closer to an AHL standout than a viable NHLer.

Reese Johnson

He must prove it: That he can be Luke Richardson’s guy, too. Derek King loves Reese Johnson. Loves him. He was a great guy in Rockford. I gave him a long look in Chicago the last season. Johnson’s speed and tenacityHe was known for his wrecking-ball personality, which attracted coaches looking to hire hard workers. King’s still on staff, which can only benefit Johnson. And he signed a two-year, one-way deal in April, so he’s here to stay. He must win over Richardson in the same way that King did to become an everyday presence in the lineup.

Tyler Johnson

He must prove it: That there’s a reason for him to be in Chicago. Johnson was acquired to improve the team’s depth and potential for contention. Recovered from neck SurgeryA team looking five years ahead. At 32 and with two years left at a $5 million cap hit, he won’t be easily moved. So who is he? What is the No. The No. Plug-and-play forward that can fill in for any position. He hasn’t been a star in years, but he’s a versatile, highly respected player. He should be able, at the minimum, to bring in some young players, especially if Kane or Toews go.

Patrick Kane

He must prove it: That he’s still one of the game’s very best, and that his hip isn’t a lingering concern. Over the last four seasons, only two players have more points than Kane — Connor McDavid Leon Draisaitl. The only ones who seem to think he’s worthy of that rank are his Chicago teammates and the players who idolized him as a child. Even The Athletic ranked him as a “3B” in its player tiersSlotting him below at most 34 other players Kane’s desire to remain in ChicagoKane could make a statement or fade into the second (or third?) tier. tier.

Boris Katchouk

He must prove it: It is possible for him to play a lower-six role moving forward. Katchouk was purchased from the Tampa Bay Lightning by the Tampa Bay Lightning before the trade deadline. Part of the Brandon Hagel DealHe looked like he could be someone who could help Blackhawks in future.

Jujhar Khaira

He must prove it: That he is able to stay healthy. Khaira performed well last season when he was fully healthy. He only played in 27 games last season. He missed one stretch ConcussionAnother because of a lower-back injury. He should be available to start this season.

Philipp Kurashev

He must prove it: He can be a top six player in the NHL. Kurashev’s highlights reel from the past two seasons shows that he has the skating, versatility, and skills to be a top-six player in the NHL. Kurashev is known for his inability to stay on the ice for long periods of time, often playing himself down and sometimes out of the lineup. Kurashev, who is defensively responsible, enters his third NHL season. One of the most intriguing forwardsIn the organization. But without a consistent effort, he’ll remain in a third- or fourth-line role.

Sam Lafferty

He must prove it: He can create opportunities, but also finish them. Lafferty, acquired PittsburghLast season Alex NylanderHis breakneck skating and his net-crashing mentality made him a popular choice. However, for all his offense, he only scored five goals in 46 games in Chicago and only 11 goals in 140 NHL games. He’s the kind of player you A linemate is someone you would love to be withAlthough he was on the top line last year, he needs to find a finish that is more than a generic bottom-sixer.

Taylor Raddysh

He must prove it: That last season wasn’t a fluke with the Blackhawks. Raddysh was also part in the Hagel deal and performed well with the Blackhawks upon his arrival. After the trade, Raddysh had six goals and four assists over 21 games. He’ll likely get even more of an opportunity to play in the top-6 this season.

Lukas Reichel

He must prove it: That he’s ready to produce for the Blackhawks. Reichel was able to accomplish everything the Blackhawks had hoped for in Rockford. As a rookie in the AHL at 19, he was a special player. But when he got to the NHL last season, he wasn’t the same player. Reichel has gained some muscle and weight to prepare for this season. optimistic he’s more preparedOne year later, the NHL. It will now be decided whether the Blackhawks would prefer him to be in Chicago or Rockford for the start of the season.

Dylan Sikura

He must prove it: His game is adaptable to the NHL. Sikura is a veteran of the AHL and has been able produce consistently at that level. In his last stint with Blackhawks, he was able to do that without any difficulty. It’s just that he has never been able to do the same when promoted to the NHL. Now 27, he’s no longer a prospect and his time is probably running out to be considered more than a really good minor league player.

Josiah Slavin

He must prove it: He can be a permanent, bottom-six NHL player. Slavin was One of many prospectsWho got several different stretches in NHL last season. He ended up with 15 NHL games. But with zero goals and one assist in those games, he didn’t do much to differentiate himself from the other bottom-six possibilities. He’ll have to do more this season if he’s given another opportunity.

Jonathan Toews

He must prove it: Everything. Toews is largely forgotten by hockey fans, even though he had missed a full year. Toews believes that he can reverse the clock and become the dominant two-way center. We’ll see if he truly wants to be traded or not, but He said it himselfThe only way he could be traded at his cap (even though the Blackhawks still have half of $10.5 million) if he proved he still has worth. He may be the most motivated player on the team this season.

Seth Jones begins his second season with Blackhawks. (John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images).

Defense

Nicolas Beaudin

He must prove it:But he is still a valuable player in the team. Beaudin, the Blackhawks’ second first-round pick in 2018, seemed well on his way to Becoming a regular in NHLDuring the 2021 season, he played 19 games and looked strong. But the game started to get too fast for him, and his puck-moving skills weren’t good enough to balance out his defensive lapses. Beaudin, who played in only two NHL games last year was passed up by many Rockford defensemen on Rockford’s organizational depth chart. On the verge of his 23rd birthday, Beaudin is running out of time to show he’s still a bona fide NHL prospect.

Jakub Galvas

He must prove it: He was NHL brief stintLast season was no fluke. Galvas, who looked poised and polished, was undoubtedly the most impressive of all the young Blackhawks defensemen who were able to get into the Blackhawks’ lineup last season. A good preseason game could make a big difference with so many players jostling for blue line position.

Jack Johnson

He must prove it: That he still has There is still something in the tank. Johnson has probably less to prove than any other camper. Johnson just won his first Stanley Cup, in his 16th season, and with his fifth team. The loaded AvalancheJohnson was working only 10-12 minutes per day, but he is a consistent presence in the dressing rooms. His role on the Blackhawks remains to be seen, but at 35 years old and finally with that championship, Johnson very well might be in the cruise-off-into-the-sunset stage of his career.

Caleb Jones

He must prove it: That he’s more than just Seth’s little brother. Jones is an aggressive player and has good puck skills. But his inconsistent play meant that he was largely a replacement player in the NHL last season. Jones, 25, has not played more than 51 NHL games since he signed a one-year deal. Last year was the closest he’s come to being an everyday player. With so many younger defensemen knocking on the door, he’ll need to be at his best more often to finally do it this season.

Seth Jones

He must prove it: He could be an elite No. 1 defenseman again. Jones performed admirably last season. He was the No. 1 defenseman in a lot of ways, but he wasn’t What the Blackhawks believed they were gettingAfter trading a lot for him, he signed a long-term deal. Evolving hockey calculated that he had 5.8 goals over replacement. He was tied for 78th overall among defensemen. Jones needs to improve his power play game this season. He had zero power-play goals last season.

Jake McCabe

He must prove it: He can be healthy again and get back to where he was before his injuries. McCabe was thrilled that this offseason could be more focused on his game after spending the last offseason rehabbing a knee injury. That didn’t go according to plan as he had to Have cervical spine surgery performed recentlyExpected to miss between 10-12 week. That shouldn’t cost McCabe too much of the season, but it does make getting into form more challenging.

Ian Mitchell

He must prove it: It is possible to be an NHL defenceman. Mitchell was an NHL rookie. He was A step backLast season, he spent the majority of the year in Rockford playing significant minutes. He became the IceHogs’ No. He became the IceHogs’ No.1 defenseman throughout the season. He is now a question mark as to whether he will be able to do the same in NHL, despite being smaller and getting less power play opportunities. He is expected make the Blackhawks’ roster after camp.

Connor Murphy

He must prove it: He can return to being a reliable defenceman in all areas. Murphy was undoubtedly His best season in his entire career2020-21 He was solid on defense, more offensively efficient and was a key player in the penalty kill. Last season, he wasn’t as effective. Although his defensive analytics were strong, everything else fell. After being acquired by Arizona, his analytics were very similar to the early years of his tenure with the team.

Isaak Phillips

He must prove it: He is ready to take on the AHL and prove that he is capable of dominating the league. Phillips was not able to make it to Rockford for the 2020-21 season because of the pandemic. He was supposed to return to his junior team for the season, but he took advantage of his opportunity and earned a place in the IceHogs’ lineup. He The last season was a success.Phillips was in the top pair with Ian Mitchell at the end. Phillips, still just twenty-five years old is expected to have more responsibility in Rockford. You can expect him to be in Chicago if he continues to excel.

Alec Regula

He must prove it: He can be a reliable NHL defenseman. Regula was the best Blackhawks defenseman prospect and was the Blackhawks’ most recent NHL defenseman. He can he stay up for the entire season? Regula must move the puck quicker, is what the Blackhawks desire. He did some great rushes last year, but the Blackhawks feel Regula is too slow to move the puck.

Alex Vlasic 

He must prove it: That is what he can do Adjust to playing a full professional season. Vlasic had a taste pro hockey during his junior season at Boston University. After his 15 NHL games, Vlasic seemed to be more comfortable. Now the real test begins. A full AHL season or NHL season can be more challenging than a college season. He’ll likely begin the season in Rockford and get a chance to earn his way back to Chicago.

In the offseason, Petr Mrazek was acquired by the Blackhawks from the Toronto Maple Leafs. (John E. Sokolowski / USA Today)

Goalies

Petr Mrazek

He must prove it: He can still be a legitimate No. 1 goalie. Mrazek hasn’t started more than 40 games since the 2016-17 season. After his first season under a three year contract, the Maple Leafs cut him off. It is doubtful that he will be able to stay healthy and keep the same form for a full season as he did earlier in his career. He was purchased by the Blackhawks assuming he’d keep them competitive, but not Too competitive. He can prove them wrong.

Arvid Söderblom

He must prove it: He could be their future No. 1 goalie. Söderblom The NHL may be available for you this season – and might just be their best goalie in the organization right now – but the Blackhawks don’t want to rush him. They also don’t want to expose him to a team that is likely going to struggle defensively. It’s probably not what Söderblom wants, but he’s probably going to be in Rockford for much of this season.

Alex Stalock

He must prove it: He is still eligible to play in the NHL. Stalock only played one NHL game in the two seasons since he was Diagnosed with myocarditisIn November 2020. He’s healthy now, but there’s also Father Time to battle. In July, he turned 35. He’ll likely be the No. This season, he’ll be the No.

(Top photo by Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews – Chris Sweda/Getty Images