For Hawks, there's more talent coming
Last of a three-part series
When The Hockey News published its annual ranking of the NHL's top 50 prospects last month, the Blackhawks had one representative in Jack Skille.
It was a deceiving list considering most of the Hawks' best prospects already were in the NHL playing key roles on a team that finished just 3 points out of a playoff spot. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews were ahead of schedule as difference makers while Dave Bolland, Dustin Byfuglien, Cam Barker and Jordan Hendry all started the year in the minors before being promoted.
"Everybody talks about Johnny and Patrick, and obviously those guys are special, but we've got a lot of other special young players that developed for us down the stretch," general manager Dale Tallon said.
And there are more kids on the way.
As many as three rookies could find their way onto to the Hawks' roster next fall as the solid drafting in recent years by Tallon and his scouts continues to pay dividends.
At the end of the season the Hawks had four No. 1 draft picks in the lineup in Kane, Toews, Barker and Brent Seabrook - and a fifth, Andrew Ladd, who was acquired in a trade for Tuomo Ruutu, a former first-rounder.
Counting second-rounders Bolland and Duncan Keith, plus Byfuglien, Hendry, Adam Burish and James Wisniewski, the Hawks had 10 draft picks on the roster at year's end playing regular minutes.
Skille, a first-round pick in 2005, and goalie Corey Crawford, a No. 2 pick in '03, lead the candidates expected to make a strong push to be here next season.
The Hawks had 19 players come up from Rockford this season and contribute in one way or another.
"We've had some kids really develop quite nicely at Rockford," said Tallon. "(IceHogs coach) Mike Haviland has done a great job developing those young guys and you can see how they came up and performed admirably under tough situations.
"Our future is really bright and we have the 11th pick in the draft so we should get another good player there."
Here are the Hawks' 10 top prospects, according to the Daily Herald:
1. Jack Skille, RW
He had some memorable moments in 11 games with the Hawks this season, getting 3 goals and 2 assists.
Skille has size, speed and skill. The only reason he was sent back to Rockford was to fine tune a few things, such as wandering away from his position to chase the puck.
"This kid is going to be a good Hawk for a long time," coach Denis Savard said.
2. Niklas Hjalmarsson, D
He's right with Crawford and Skille in terms of potential to play in Chicago next season. An injury slowed Hjalmarsson early, but he has come on strong.
The Hawks like his ability to move the puck and potential to be a dangerous open-ice hitter.
"He's starting to learn the North American game," Tallon said. "We think he's going to be a good one."
3. Corey Crawford, G
The Hawks think Crawford is ready to play 25-30 games next season as Nikolai Khabibulin's backup, and why not? He was brilliant in a 44-save performance in a 3-1 loss at Detroit March 11 and just as good in a 3-0 shutout of Anaheim days earlier.
"He's right on schedule," Tallon said. "He's big, strong and has tremendous desire. He doesn't let a lot of things bother him."
4. Troy Brouwer, RW
He's now scored 30 or more goals in two straight seasons in the American Hockey League. Brouwer has improved his skating and there's no doubt about his nose for the net.
5. Akim Aliu, C
The Hawks considered the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Aliu one of the steals of last June's draft, viewing him as a potential difference maker. Some teams questioned Aliu's character, but the Hawks took a chance and are happy they did.
"He's starting to get it," Tallon said. "He's a big kid who can play all three positions."
A season in the AHL might be best for Aliu, but don't dismiss his chances at training camp of making a strong push for a roster spot.
6. Kris Versteeg, LW
He had some impressive games with the Hawks, getting 2 goals and 2 assists in 13 appearances. Versteeg plays with energy and grit, and he has a decent scoring touch to go with good speed.
7. Petri Kontiola, C
He put up big numbers at Rockford (67 points in 65 games through Saturday), and was solid in 12 games with the Hawks. The Hawks like his offensive upside a lot.
8. Mike Blunden, RW
A lot of teams tried to trade for the future power forward this season with Tallon refusing to part with him. With only 15 goals in 73 games through Saturday for Rockford, Blunden was still trying to make up for missing most of last year with a shoulder injury.
9. Nathan Davis, C-LW
The Miami-Ohio star who signed with the Hawks on Friday, was a Hobey Baker finalist as a junior but this season battled injuries as a senior. Davis is another quick forward who has the potential to be a scorer.
10. Dan Bertram, RW
The Boston College star opened a lot of eyes at rookie camp last summer with Savard ranking him with Toews, Kane and Hjalmarsson as the most impressive kids that week.
Honorable mention: Bryan Bickell, LW, Rockford; Evan Brophey, C, Rockford; Danny Richmond, D, Rockford; Bill Sweatt, LW, Colorado College; Josh Unice, G, Kitchener.