Whether on the message boards, private chat, or email, a question that I commonly get is whether a certain Blackhawks prospect will make it to the NHL and -- if so -- in what capacity as far as what forward line, defense pair, or goalie role.
In that vein, below is a data dump of all Blackhawks prospects in terms of where they will be playing in 2021-22, how they were acquired, and what their NHL water level is if they hit full potential. Included are undrafted players on AHL contracts.
When considering the NHL potential of each prospect, keep in mind that they may not reach that level within the Blackhawks system and could get traded later in order to obtain assets to fill other needs then reach that level within another organization.
--
Before We Begin
Adam Gaudette, Brandon Hagel, and Philipp Kurashev are included below even though they have played at least one full season in the NHL. This may be helpful for comparison's sake when considering the other prospects in Rockford who are on the cusp of getting recalled.
Henrik Borgstrom is likely to crack the Blackhawks roster as he isn't waiver exempt thus being at risk of getting claimed. Wyatt Kalynuk also has a chance of making the big club as one of the starting 6. But if he's the reserve, have him play top pair with the IceHogs instead.
Also, even though Malcolm Subban and Collin Delia aren't considered prospects in this exercise, one or both of them could still be in the system once training camp arrives yet neither would be with the Blackhawks and instead spending time on the farm with the IceHogs.
However, Subban and Delia aren't waiver exempt so there's a risk that they get claimed when sent down. Some argue that it's no loss if that happens. Regardless, it may behoove the Blackhawks to trade either or both of them to gain assets rather than lose them for nothing.
--
Blackhawks
Henrik Borgstrom (C)
Acquired: 2021 trade with Panthers
NHL Potential: Top 6 offensive center
Adam Gaudette (C/W)
Acquired: 2021 trade with Canucks
NHL Potential: Middle 6 hybrid power/finesse winger
Brandon Hagel (W)
Acquired: 2018 free agent from Sabres
NHL Potential: Middle 6 all-around winger
Wyatt Kalynuk (D)
Acquired: 2020 free agent from Flyers
NHL Potential: Top 3 all-around defender
--
IceHogs
Andrei Altybarmakian (W)
Acquired: 2017 3rd round draft pick
NHL Potential: Bottom 6 energy winger
Evan Barratt (C/W)
Acquired: 2017 3rd round draft pick
NHL Potential: Middle 6 forward who can agitate
Matej Chalupa (W)
Acquired: 2020 free agent from Europe
NHL Potential: Too early to say but not likely
MacKenzie Entwistle (C/W)
Acquired: 2018 trade with Coyotes
NHL Potential: Shutdown 4C with underrated offense
Mike Hardman (W)
Acquired: 2021 free agent from NCAA
NHL Potential: 4th line power winger
Reese Johnson (C/W)
Acquired: 2019 free agent from Canadian juniors
NHL Potential: 4th line agitator
Philipp Kurashev (C/W)
Acquired: 2018 4th round draft pick
NHL Potential: Middle 6 three-zone center
Cam Morrison (W)
Acquired: 2020 free agent from Avalanche
NHL Potential: Middle 6 power winger
Jakub Pour (W)
Acquired: 2021 free agent from Europe
NHL Potential: Too early to say but not likely
Lukas Reichel (C/W)
Acquired: 2020 1st round draft pick
NHL Potential: Top 6 all-around winger
Josiah Slavin (W)
Acquired: 2018 7th round draft pick
NHL Potential: Botton 6 power winger
Michal Teply (W)
Acquired: 2019 4th round draft pick
NHL Potential: Middle 6 scoring winger
Nicolas Beaudin (D)
Acquired: 2018 1st round draft pick
NHL Potential: 2nd pair puck mover and PP quarterback
Jakub Galvas (D)
Acquired: 2017 5th round draft pick
NHL Potential: 3rd pair defensive defenseman
Chad Krys (D)
Acquired: 2016 2nd round draft pick
NHL Potential: 3rd pair all-around defender
Ian Mitchell (D)
Acquired: 2017 2nd round draft pick
NHL Potential: Top 3 all-around defender
Isaak Phillips (D)
Acquired: 2020 5th round draft pick
NHL Potential: 3rd pair all-around defender
Alec Regula (D)
Acquired: 2019 trade with Red Wings
NHL Potential: 3rd pair all-around defender
Arvid Soderblom (G)
Acquired: 2021 free agent from Europe
NHL Potential: Backup
--
AHL Contracts
D.J. Busdeker (W)
Acquired: 2020 free agent from Canadian juniors
NHL Potential: Too early to say but not likely
Liam Folkes (W)
Acquired: 2021 trade with Bakersfield Condors
NHL Potential: Career minor leaguer
Carson Gicewicz (C/W)
Acquired: 2021 free agent from NCAA
NHL Potential: Too early to say but not likely
Kale Howarth (W)
Acquired: 2021 free agent from NCAA
NHL Potential: Too early to say but not likely
Riley McKay (W)
Acquired: 2020 free agent from Canadian juniors
NHL Potential: Career minor leaguer
Dylan McLaughlin (C)
Acquired: 2019 free agent from NCAA
NHL Potential: Middle 6 offensive center
Garrett Mitchell (W)
Acquired: 2020 professional tryout
NHL Potential: Career minor leaguer
Chris Wilkie (W)
Acquired: 2020 free agent from NCAA
NHL Potential: Too early to say but not likely
Chad Yetman (C)
Acquired: 2020 6th round draft pick
NHL Potential: Too early to say but not likely
Michael Krutil (D)
Acquired: 2020 4th round draft pick
NHL Potential: Too early to say but not likely
Dmitry Osipov (D)
Acquired: 2019 free agent from ECHL
NHL Potential: Career minor leaguer
Cliff Watson (D)
Acquired: 2021 free agent from ECHL
NHL Potential: Career minor leaguer
Tom Aubrun (G)
Acquired: 2020 free agent from NCAA
NHL Potential: Career minor leaguer
Cale Morris (G)
Acquired: 2020 free agent from NCAA
NHL Potential: 3rd string NHL/AHL tweener
--
Europe
Victor Ejdsell (C/W)
Team: Farjestads BK Karlstad (Sweden)
Acquired: 2018 trade with Predators
NHL Potential: Career European leaguer
Niklas Nordgren (W)
Team: Lahti Pelicans (Finland)
Acquired: 2018 3rd round draft pick
NHL Potential: Too early to say but not likely
Antti Saarela (C/W)
Team: Ilves Tampere (Finland)
Acquired: 2019 4th round draft pick
NHL Potential: Shutdown 4C with underrated offense
Victor Stjernborg (C/W)
Team: Vaxjo Lakers (Sweden)
Acquired: 2021 4th round draft pick
NHL Potential: Shutdown 4C with limited offense
--
Russia
Artur Kayumov (W)
Team: Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)
Acquired: 2016 2nd round draft pick
NHL Potential: Career Russian leaguer
Ilya Safonov (C)
Team: Kazan Ak-Bars (KHL)
Acquired: 2021 6th round draft pick
NHL Potential: Career Russian leaguer
Maxim Shalunov (W)
Team: Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)
Acquired: 2011 4th round draft pick
NHL Potential: Career Russian leaguer
Ivan Nalimov (G)
Team: Vladivostok Admiral (KHL)
Acquired: 2014 6th round draft pick
NHL Potential: Career Russian leaguer
--
NCAA
Ryder Rolston (W)
Team: University of Notre Dame
Acquired: 2021 trade with Avalanche
NHL Potential: Bottom 6 energy winger
Landon Slaggert (C/W)
Team: University of Notre Dame
Acquired: 2020 3rd round draft pick
NHL Potential: Bottom 6 energy winger
Jake Wise (C)
Team: Ohio State University
Acquired: 2018 3rd round draft pick
NHL Potential: Middle 6 three-zone center
Stanislav Demin (D)
Team: University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Acquired: 2020 trade with Golden Knights
NHL Potential: 3rd pair defensive defenseman
Wyatt Kaiser (D)
Team: University of Minnesota-Duluth
Acquired: 2020 3rd round draft pick
NHL Potential: 2nd pair all-around defender
Connor Kelley (D)
Team: University of Minnesota-Duluth
Acquired: 2021 7th round draft pick
NHL Potential: 3rd pair all-around defender
Alex Vlasic (D)
Team: Boston University
Acquired: 2019 2nd round draft pick
NHL Potential: Top 4 shutdown defensive defenseman
Dominic Basse (G)
Team: Colorado College
Acquired: 2019 6th round draft pick
NHL Potential: 3rd string NHL/AHL tweener
Drew Commesso (G)
Team: Boston University
Acquired: 2020 2nd round draft pick
NHL Potential: Starter
--
Canadian Juniors
Colton Dach (C/W)
Team: Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
Acquired: 2021 2nd round draft pick
NHL Potential: Top 6 power winger
Jalen Luypen (C)
Team: Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Acquired: 2021 7th round draft pick
NHL Potential: Too early to say but not likely
Nolan Allan (D)
Team: Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
Acquired: 2021 1st round draft pick
NHL Potential: Top 4 shutdown defensive defenseman
Louis Crevier (D)
Team: Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
Acquired: 2020 7th round draft pick
NHL Potential: 3rd pair defensive defenseman
Ethan Del Mastro (D)
Team: Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
Acquired: 2021 4th round draft pick
NHL Potential: 3rd pair defensive defenseman
Taige Harding (D)
Team: Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL)
Acquired: 2021 3rd round draft pick
NHL Potential: Too early to say but not likely
--
Additional Notes
The draft rights for a trio of 2017 draft picks and one from 2019 lapsed this summer. On June 1, the draft rights for defensemen Roope Laavainen (2017 4th rounder) and Cole Moberg (2019 7th rounder) expired. There's a chance that Moberg could still be signed.
Then last week on August 15, the draft rights for winger Parker Foo (2017 5th rounder) and rearguard Joshua Ess (2017 7th rounder) expired. Ess graduated from the University of Wisconsin and is currently without a team while Foo has been playing for the Kunlun Red Star in the KHL.
Lastly, after being traded to Vegas in exchange for Marc-Andre Fleury but allowed to remain in Chicago's system, Mikael Hakkarainen was put on unconditional waivers for the purpose of mutual termination then he returned home to sign on with TPS in the Finnish elite league.
--
See you on the boards!
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»