Brandon Hagel. Sandpaper gritty.#CignaChicago | #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/ON1LYnGT8m
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) September 21, 2021
Forwards
8 Dominik Kubalik 11 Adam Gaudette 12 Alex DeBrincat 16 Jujhar Khaira 17 Dylan Strome 19 Jonathan Toews 20 Brett Connolly 22 Ryan Carpenter 23 Philipp Kurashev 26 Evan Barratt 27 Lukas Reichel 36 Josiah Slavin 38 Brandon Hagel 45 Cam Morrison 52 Reese Johnson 53 Michal Teply 58 MacKenzie Entwistle 59 Jakub Pour 67 Matej Chalupa 77 Kirby Dach 84 Andrei Altybarmakian 86 Mike Hardman 88 Patrick Kane 90 Tyler Johnson 92 Alex Nylander -- Henrik Borgstrom
Defensemen
4 Seth Jones 5 Connor Murphy 6 Jake McCabe 41 Isaak Phillips 43 Chad Krys 44 Calvin de Haan 48 Wyatt Kalynuk 51 Ian Mitchell 61 Riley Stillman 74 Nicolas Beaudin 75 Alec Regula 76 Jakub Galvas 82 Caleb Jones
Goalies
29 Marc-Andre Fleury 30 Malcolm Subban 32 Kevin Lankinen 40 Arvid Soderblom 60 Collin Delia
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Dark Horse Candidates
* Andrei Altybarmakian plays with a relentless pace and fearless demeanor quite similar to and that could be just as endearing as Brandon Hagel.
* Evan Barratt possesses a similar package as Altybarmakian but with more versatility to slot on any line just like predecessors Andrew Shaw and Drake Caggiula.
* MacKenzie Entwistle is a big-game player who will execute whatever is asked of him and particularly thriving as a defensive specialist with underrated offense.
* Jakub Pour has pro experience from his years back home in the Czech Republic to be an unheralded yet valuable role player who can hit or be hit to make a play.
* Lukas Reichel acquitted himself so well in this past weekend's prospect showcase with his blue-chip 3-zone play that he may be NHL ready now rather than later.
* Michal Teply was arguably the best forward in the prospect showcase to move past the soft and passive Euro forward stereotype into the realm of top 6 power winger.
* Jakub Galvas has the composure, sound fundamentals, and endurance to be a minute-munching defender who can escape the zone and contribute to the transition game.
* Alec Regula may be a better version of Trevor van Riemsdyk as he displays noticeable growth from last season becoming more reliable in his end and playing with more pace.
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Anticipated Storylines
Here are prominent storylines to keep tabs on during training camp:
* Will recent news about Jonathan Toews being in tip-top shape be a harbinger for not only staying healthy for a full 82 games but playing at the level he was at prior to sitting out?
* Will Kirby Dach prove that his offseason wrist rehab and training regimen can be key factors to him starting to resurge again as one of the league's top young centers?
* Will Henrik Borgstrom live up to the hype of once being one of the best young talents in the game and worthy of taking on Brett Connolly's $3.5M AAV contract with multi years left?
* Will Alex DeBrincat and Dominik Kubalik build off of their strong 2020-21 campaigns to be the team's top scorers who are increasingly dependable with their play without the puck?
* Will Brandon Hagel raise the bar even higher in his second season after an outstanding rookie year that had analysts and fans gushing about his tireless compete level?
* Will Dylan Strome and/or Alex Nylander make it beyond training camp to snag a starting role with Chicago or be traded to another team and need to fight for a spot somewhere else?
* Will Adam Gaudette burst out of the gate with renewed energy after finally moving past his stomach ailment and submit proof that his 2019-20 breakout year with the Canucks wasn't a fluke?
* Will Philipp Kurashev demonstrate early that he's got the goods to be an effective middle 6 forward and wrestle a spot away from a veteran to make it difficult for the coaches to cut him?
* Will Tyler Johnson have a new lease on life to catch a second wind in his career to show that he still has the capacity to contribute as a top 9 -- even top 6 -- forward?
* Will Seth Jones put his critics in their place early and often to emerge as a bonafide #1 defenseman that the Hawks sorely need to lead not just the blueline but also the entire team?
* Will Calvin de Haan be able to stay in one piece in order to make it to the start of the regular season with a spot in the starting lineup and not with a spot on injured reserve?
* Will Wyatt Kalynuk, Ian Mitchell, and/or Nicolas Beaudin make it difficult on the coaching staff to decide whether to keep them in Chicago or send them to Rockford for more seasoning?
* Will Collin Delia and/or Malcolm Subban make it beyond training camp to remain in the organization and could one of them even bump Kevin Lankinen down a peg on the depth chart?
Also, other relevant questions to ask include:
* Will there be any players who opt to not get vaccinated and perhaps face consequences similar to Blue Jackets forward Zac Rinaldo?
* Will the Hawks invite any veterans on professional tryouts (PTOs)?
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Readers' Poll
If interested, take the readers' poll to weigh in on various topics related to Blackhawks training camp. Click here to take the poll.
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See you on the boards!