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What did we learn from the recently concluded London Rookie/Prospects Tourney? Not much, or certainly not much terribly exciting.
All teams tend to hype their prospects—it's part of trying to reassure themselves and the fanbase that good times are ahead, the team is drafting well, etc. The Hawks probably put no more emphasis on it than anyone else—except for the fact that the Hawks are in full-scale marketing mode 24/7, and GM Stan Bowman does love to go on and on about his prospects.
In truth, some of the Hawks' best prospects were not in London—Stephen Johns, Adam Clendening and most notably Finnish sensation Teuvo Teravainen. The team was comprised largely of Euros, tryout players and a mixed bag of ECHL and Rockford players.
But let's break down who kooked good, who looked meh, and who looked disapopinting in terms of the futures market.
BUY
VIKTOR SVEDBERG
The 6'7" Swedish defenseman caught a lot of eyes with his combination of skating and size and he made some nice plays joining the rush.
PHILIP DANAULT
Of the few "top" prospects in this tourney for the Hawks, Danault was most noticeable, doing what he does around the puck.
THE BROADHURST BROTHERS
It's hard to say what the eventual upside is for Chicagoans Terry and Alex Broadhurst. But they were arguably the Hawks' best forwards throughout the tourney.
JOAKIM NORDSTROM
The Swedish center moved out to wing and played well there in this tourney
HOLD
DILLON FOURNIER
Fournier showed the skating and offensive instincts scouts always knew were there. He does need to tighten it up in his own end a bit.
MAXIM SHALUNOV
The big Russian winger had some moments in this tourney. The question remains with him, can he bring enough to hold down a job in the NHL someday.
MAC CARRUTH AND BRANDON WHITNEY
Both showed enough in the tourney to say they are prospects worth taking a longer look at for now.
SELL
MARK MCNEILL
An unimpressive tourney for a guy so heavily talked up by the organization. There does seem to be a recurring theme developing of McNeill sleepwalking through what should be big game situations.
DREW LEBLANC
Again, you would expect more from a player his age on a stage like this—especially a guy the organization has hinted could be a top 6 player.
All for now, but more coming as we move closer to the opening of camp and the exhibition season.
JJ
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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