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Here they are.

A few notes: I excluded a few guys like Ben Smith and Jimmy Hayes who have been around the NHL a bit at this point—specifically finishing the year in Chicago in 2011 or 2012. This is really devoted to true prospects and in that regard, I debated even including players like Dylan Olsen, Jeremy Morin and Brandon Pirri.

The comparables might raise some eyebrows, but they are intended merely to describe the style of play you can expect from a given prospect. I also tried to include a higher end comparable and a lower end comparable in most cases.

The teams listed are where you can expect the player to be this year.

Enjoy.



1) Teuvo Teravainen C/RW
Round 1, 2012
5’11”, 170 pounds
Jokerit, Finnish Pro A League
NHL comparables: Marian Hossa, Milan Hejduk, Valteri Filppula
Projection: 1st line C or RW

The question with Teravainen, who came gift-wrapped to the Hawks at #18 in the first round of the 2012 draft (where many had him projected as a top 5 pick), is not whether he will play in the NHL (he will), but will he be a scoring RW or more of a well-rounded center?

I believe he can be a very good player as a scoring winger. But he might have the potential for greatness if he can continue to progress at his preferred position, center.

On tape, what jumps out about Teravainen is an instinctive feel for finding open ice and a quick, accurate shot that finds the back of the net with great regularity. However, Teravainen is exceptionally well-schooled and during the recent Hawk prospect camp showed the ability to create offense for others. In fact, Teravainen is capable of brilliant passing, both in terms of recognition and his hands. He is clearly the Hawks’ top prospect below the NHL level.

Physically, Teravainen is presently about the same size as Patrick Kane, though he looks to have a slightly larger frame and therefore the ability to add more weight and strength as he matures. Already playing against men in the Finnish Pro League, Teravainen is likely 2 years away from Chicago.




2) Brandon Saad LW
Round 2, 2011
6’2”, 210 pounds
Rockford AHL/Chicago
NHL comparables: Ryan Smyth, R.J. Umberger
Projection: 2nd line LW

Opinions vary fairly widely on the player the Hawks seem to feel is their top prospect (or did until they snagged Teravainen). What is undeniable about Saad is his package of attributes: size, skating, positional play and a nose for the net. What is in question is his ability to use his physical skills against better, more mature competition. Sure, that’s a question that’s faced every power player as they break into the pros. However, it has also dogged Saad throughout his junior career.

Saad is the latest shiny penny of Hawk marketing and Stan Bowman, and as such is billed as a near lock to make the Hawks’ roster out of camp. In truth, with a late fall 1992 birthday, it makes almost no sense to return him to junior and he can’t play in Rockford, by CHL/AHL agreement, until November. At that point, that’s where I would look for him to be.


3) Philip Danault C/LW
Round 1
6’0”, 180 pounds
Rockford AHL
NHL comparable: Mikhail Grabovski, Dave Bolland, Martin Havlat
Projection: 2nd line LW, 3rd line C

Danault is a warrior, plain and simple.

He plays hockey with a joy and competitiveness that are rare, and usually translate to long, memorable NHL careers. Many observers felt Danault was robbed when left off the Canadian World Junior squad in 2012, after a dominant tryout camp performance. Danault combines plus speed, with plus hands and a knack for winning faceoffs and corner battles and making plays. And he makes players around him better.

While the Hawks and many fans were impressed by Saad’s performance in the 2011 London Prospects Tourney, to my eye and that of other observers, Danault created a number of chances that Saad then had the chance to finish.

Like Bolland, and maybe more so, he is more of a playmaker than a scorer.

The way Danault plays, he will need to gain strength to be effective in the pros. And you have to believe he will work hard to do so.


4) Mark McNeill C/W
Round 1, 2011
6’2”, 210 pounds
Rockford AHL
NHL comparables: Michael Peca, Jason Arnott
Projection: 2nd or 3rd line C

McNeill has above average, though not elite size and skill. But any deficiencies there versus other highly touted prospects are made up for by competitiveness and work ethic. Just when you start to write McNeill off as the lesser of the top 3 players selected by the Hawks in what looks like a great 2011 class, he goes out and lights someone up on the scoresheet or along the boards, reminding you he will likely be a very good NHL player. The questions are, will it be at center or wing, and on the 2nd or 3rd line.



5) Adam Clendening D
Round 2, 2011
5’11”, 195 pounds
Rockford, AHL
NHL comparables: Phil Housley, Kevin Shattenkirk
Projection: #3-4 defenseman, power play QB (possibly elite)

Clendening might not be as highly rated in the systems of other NHL teams who value size and physicality on their blueline versus the Hawks, who look for skating and passing first. Clendening has all the earmarks of a player who will thrive in Chicago. Top-end skating and passing, offensive acumen and enough defensive zone responsibility. Perhaps no Chicago prospect has done more to elevate his stock for the last 12 months than Clendening, who was a consistent standout on an otherwise disappointing U.S. team at the 2012 World Juniors.


6) Dylan Olsen, D
Round 1, 2009
6’2”, 215 pounds
Rockford AHL/Chicago
NHL comparables: Derek Morris
Projection: #4-5 defenseman

Olsen is big, physical and skates well—once he gets going. He also has a pretty good point shot. He has a slow first couple of steps and that is something he will need to overcome in order to have a successful NHL career. These factors directly informed a brief callup performance he had last year in Chicago, where in most circumstances he held his own and showed some toughness around the net that most other Chicago defenders lacked last year. However, his lack of initial quickness was exposed at times as well. He also has a reputation for less than optimal commitment to conditioning, and that, if true, he will have to overcome before anything else.


7) Stephen Johns D
Round 2, 2010
6’3’, 220 pounds
Notre Dame CCHA/Rockford AHL
NHL comparables: Ed Jovanovski, Steve Montador
Projection: #4-5 defenseman


Johns has all the tools to be tough, physical and intimidating NHL defenseman. Like Clendening, he is a right-handed shot and can join the play at times. For Johns, the key to a successful pro matriculation will be keeping his uber-aggressiveness, and resulting mistakes, to a minimum.



8) Jeremy Morin, RW
Trade with Atlanta, 2010
6’1”, 195
Rockford AHL, Chicago
NHL comparable: Brandon Bochenski, Troy Brouwer
Projection: 2nd or 3rd line LW

With all the hubbub over the Hawks’ 2011 draft, and a bad concussion taken at the 2011 World Juniors, Morin has become a bit of a forgotten man. Yet, a strong argument can be made that he, and not the heavily hyped Saad, could become a fixture on the Hawks’ right wing this season.

Morin often jumps out on tape for his physicality and effectiveness around the net, and that is against men at the pro level, not in junior against boys. He has a feel for open areas and a terrific right-handed shot. The weaknesses in Morin’s game are average skating and a tendency to skate with his head down, inviting further concussions.


9) Joakim Nordstrom, C
Round 3, 2010
6’1”, 175 pounds
AIK, Swedish Elite League
NHL comparables: Sami Pahlsson, Marcus Kruger
Projection: 3rd line C

Nordstrom is a classic Swedish pivot, who thinks defense first. Like Kruger, he is fearless around the net relative to his size and also shows an early talent for re-directing pucks in front of the net. Nordstrom emerged as a key player for 2012 WJC champion Sweden.


10) (6-way tie) Brandon Pirri C, Kevin Hayes W/C, Kyle Beach RW, Dillon Fournier, D Shawn Lalonde D, Maxim Shalunov RW

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