A look at how Chicago Blackhawks may address goalie dilemma this week

With the Cubs and White Sox both unceremoniously dumped from the postseason, most Chicagoans will no doubt focus on the 3-0 Bears.

But this is a big week for the Blackhawks, who have been trying to return to elite status since being swept by Nashville in the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs.

We'll zero in on the NHL draft today, then turn our attention to free agency, which opens Friday.

If no trades are made, the Hawks are set to select 17th Tuesday, and have six more selections during Rounds 2-7 Wednesday. Round 1 coverage begins at 6 p.m. on NBCSN.

The Hawks' biggest long-term need is in net. They are still trying to sign 35-year-old Corey Crawford, but even if they do, there probably isn't a franchise netminder in the pipeline.

This draft does have one can't-miss goalie prospect in the 6-foot-3, 176-pound Yaroslav Askarov.

The problem is Askarov will almost certainly be off the board by the time GM Stan Bowman is on the clock. Four of seven mock drafts I checked have the Hurricanes taking Askarov at No. 13, and all of them have him gone by No. 14.

So unless the Hawks trade up to snag Askarov, watch for them to take the best player available.

"When you're picking in the first round, my approach has always been that you've got to take the player you value the most and the best asset at that point, even if it's in a position you have a lot of," Bowman said.

The Hawks can address their goalie dilemma in the second round at No. 46 or with one of their two third-round selections. Even if that player pans out, though, don't expect him to be in the NHL for at least three years.

It can also be a crapshoot when determining which of the top prospects will develop into a reliable pro.

Mark Kelley, the Hawks vice president of amateur scouting, explains why.

"When you start looking at goaltenders there's a of elements that go in," Kelley said. "(When) you try to take those things and look at the junior goaltenders, it becomes very, very different. It's a more athletic game in the junior level. ...

"But (in the NHL) it's more of a science for the goaltender. ... No one ever talks about the hockey sense of a goaltender, but a goaltender has to understand what's happening now and what that play is going to develop into. And that's really hard to project."

The 2012 draft is a great example.

That's when Andrei Vasilevskiy, who just backstopped Tampa Bay to a Stanley Cup championship, was the first goalie off the board at No. 19.

After that, Boston took Malcolm Subban at No. 24, Columbus took Oscar Dansk at No. 31 and Philadelphia took Anthony Stolarz at No. 45. Those three have done next to nothing in the league, but four goalies taken after them - including Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck, who went at No. 130 - have all played 127 or more games.

Interestingly, the Blue Jackets took a second goalie in 2012 - Joonas Korpisalo at No. 62. He turned into their starter this season, posting a 19-12-5 record.

So given the uncertainty of the position, maybe the Hawks should throw two darts at this position.

Assuming the Hawks can't get Askarov, they will most likely take the best forward available. Two mock drafts identify that player as Wisconsin's Dylan Holloway. The 6-foot-1, 203-pound center scored 40 goals in juniors in 2018-19 and had 8 goals in 35 games as a freshman with the Badgers.

"(Has) soft hands and excellent vision," writes Bill Placzek of draftsite.com. "Possesses a high level hockey IQ, strong balance, lateral quickness and turning ability. Will need to get a quicker first step, and refine his play in his own end. Very creative pivot who plays to control the mid-ice."

Trade for a goalie?

Let's not rule out one other possibility: That Stan Bowman elects to deal for an NHL-ready goaltender. Columbus' pipeline is absolutely jam-packed, making the Blue Jackets a viable partner if Bowman is willing to give up enough.

That might mean parting with Dominik Kubalik, who scored 30 goals and was a finalist for rookie of the year.

It doesn't seem too likely, but seems like something worth considering.

Busy week

Tuesday: NHL draft, Round 1 begins at 6 p.m. on NBCSN

Wednesday: NHL draft, Rounds 2-7 begins at 10:30 a.m. on NHL Network

Friday: NHL free agency opens at 11 a.m.