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Who's Your Breakthrough Baby? |
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Follow me @jaeckel
Every year, it's someone different. And often not the darling of the preseason.
That Hawk player/prospect who steps up and makes a name for himself. Or takes the next real step toward stardom. Last year, you could argue it was rookie Brandon Saad. Or Niklas Hjalmarsson stepping up as a premier (or near-premier) NHL defenseman.
Who do you think it will be this year?
Some candidates:
Nick Leddy
Some would argue the point is moot—Leddy already has stepped up. I would argue, Leddy has been the recipient of on-the-job training the last two seasons, but he really hasn't put it all together yet. The talent is there. The skating is off-the-charts, the big and accurate point shot. But Leddy still sits at crunch time in big games and hasn't really seized the pretty much vacant power play QB job. Maybe this is the year.
Marcus Kruger
Some will argue Kruger is all he ever will be: a solid lower line/defensive swing forward. But the truth is, Kruger has shown flashes of high-end hands and vision and very good hockey sense, and is still maturing physically.
Brandon Pirri
Another player some suspect is all he ever will be: last year's AHL scoring champ, but a player with too many glaring holes in his game to be a full-time top 6 player in the NHL. Can Pirri step up and bring it on the next level, especially physically and playing defense?
Jeremy Morin
Morin scored a really nice, and tough, goal in a one-game NHL call-up last year. Testament to his willingness to mix it up physically. He is also a player who knows how to find open ice and let go a blistering shot that has produced large numbers at every level. Some of the decision-making and the skating is suspect, as is a history of concussions.
Jimmy Hayes
Block Out The Sun Big with a natural gift for puck possession down low, Hayes has struggled to use his body in other situations and is a ponderous skater at best.
Joakim Nordstrom
Nordstrom was really solid in a brief stint at Rockford last Spring after coming over from AIK in the Swedish Elite league. A pure defensive centerman with some ability to generate garbage goals around the net, he was a surprise star of the 2012 gold-medal winning Swedish entry at the WJCs.
Klas Dahlbeck
As "stay at home" as a defenseman can be, Dahlbeck has been very strong in that role at Rockford the last two seasons. The Hawks place an emphasis on mistake-free hockey first.
Ryan Stanton is another Rockford performer who could log some minutes in Chicago this year. Former Maple Leaf Mike Kostka bears watching as well. Kostka is one of those guys whose game could fit the Hawks' system better than other teams—and he could blossom. Ben Smith will get some games with the Hawks this year and has shown flashes as a utility, lower-line player.
So who's your breakthrough baby?
All for now,
JJ
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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