Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Training Camp: Day 12

October 7, 2021, 3:58 AM ET [109 Comments]
Theo Fox
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT

Sources: Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Herald, NBC Sports Chicago, The Athletic Chicago

Here's a summary of newsworthy notes from Day 12 of Blackhawks training camp:

* Wyatt Kalynuk is now confirmed to be out 2-4 weeks with a right ankle sprain sustained after getting pushed to the boards by Reese Johnson in Tuesday's practice.

* Caleb Jones sat out practice yesterday due to left wrist soreness so it shall be seen whether he returns to the ice today and avoid a longer term ailment.

* Brett Connolly cleared waivers and is expected to report to Rockford where he would be a much needed veteran presence for the farm team along with captain Garrett Mitchell and Ryan Stanton.

--

Roster Cuts

Nine players were released from training camp yesterday to join the IceHogs for their camp:

Forwards
* Andrei Altybarmakian
* Brett Connolly
* Jakub Pour
* Lukas Reichel
* Josiah Slavin
* Michal Teply

Defensemen
* Louis Crevier
* Michael Krutil
* Isaak Phillips

Goalies
* None

Lukas Reichel is the biggest name on this list but isn't the biggest surprise either for being reassigned to the AHL to start his pro career in North America. This is the right choice despite impressing in training camp. More on Reichel in a second.

The two surprises on this list are Michal Teply and Louis Crevier not because they were cut from the Blackhawks camp -- that was to be expected -- but because they are reportedly heading to IceHogs camp and not to their respective junior teams.

Teply was slated to return to the Winnipeg Ice of the WHL while Crevier was expected to head to his new team the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. Crevier formerly played for the Chicoutimi Sagueneens for 3 seasons before getting traded in June.

After an impressive prospect showcase against the Wild in St. Paul, Minnesota, Teply may have possibly changed the minds of Hawks management of where his optimal place of growth is. As a budding power forward, the AHL may be more productive.

Crevier also showed well in the prospect showcase last month and had just as strong of a training camp with the big club the past two weeks. Compared to Teply, Crevier has more years of experience in juniors so graduating to the pros may not be too lofty.

It's still plausible for Teply and Crevier to attend Hogs camp then make their way to juniors. However, an argument for them to remain in the AHL is the fact that Michael Krutil struggled mightily last season as a rookie while Teply and Crevier have fared decently against pros.

Krutil will be starting his second season with the Hogs when he really should spend at least one season in the WHL with the Kelowna Rockets who hold his rights. He's already locked into an AHL deal to play in Rockford. Teply and Crevier are just as deserving if not more so.

--

Lukas Reichel

Similar to Ian Mitchell and Nicolas Beaudin expected to play huge minutes in all situations as the Hogs top D pair, Reichel will benefit immensely from starring on the top line and in all situations as he acclimates to the smaller North American ice surface.

Many are prognosticating that Reichel's stay in Rockford should be short lived as he should be ready to matriculate to the NHL within this current season and even before calendar year 2021 ends. While I don't doubt that, is it a good decision for him and the team?

To help answer that question, take a look at what the Hawks forward lines could look like for the season opener:

DeBrincat - T Johnson - Kane
Kurashev - Toews - Kubalik
Hagel - Dach - Borgstrom
Khaira - Carpenter - Gaudette

Extras: Strome, Nylander

Young forwards on the cusp include MacKenzie Entwistle, Mike Hardman, and Reese Johnson but they are likely starters in Rockford instead due to the glut of forwards at the varsity level. They along with Reichel should be in the mix if the Hawks need to recall a forward.

With the suggested lines above, the goal would be for each forward to thrive in their role as well as stay healthy all season. In an ideal world where that miraculously happens, there would be no room for Reichel especially if the team carries 1-2 extra forwards, too.

Yet, it's inevitable for someone to get injured or get sick. A trade or two could also go down, i.e. Dylan Strome, Alex Nylander, and/or Ryan Carpenter. That would open up a spot for Reichel but another factor is what type of forward is needed to fill the void in the lineup.

As a former 1st round pick, Reichel is cut from a different cloth than other prospects like Entwistle, Hardman, and Johnson. In fact, the latter two were never drafted. Nevertheless, Reichel plays a different role and style compared to this big, gritty trio.

So if there's a roster opening part way through the season, Reichel isn't automatically the one to be recalled. Entwistle and Johnson are also entering their third season with the Hogs so they have significant AHL mileage whereas Reichel has yet to log any games.

There are other prospects who are progressing nicely and could state their case for earning a cup of coffee with the Hawks. Andrei Altybarmakian, Evan Barratt, and Josiah Slavin headline this next group. European free agent Jakub Pour may be worth a look-see, too.

Regardless of where each of the forward prospects are on the depth chart, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world and could be the best thing in the world for Reichel to spend most of the season -- if not all of it -- in the AHL.

Again -- just like Mitchell and Beaudin as well as Kalynuk to a certain extent -- Hawks management needs to apply the lessons learned from the Henri Jokiharju and Adam Boqvist experiments to Reichel: don't rush them and instead let them marinate as long as needed in the minors.

The same goes for other prospects coming through the pipeline including the aforementioned youngsters as well as up-and-comers like Landon Slaggert, Colton Dach, Isaak Phillips, Alex Vlasic, Wyatt Kaiser, Nolan Allan, Arvid Soderblom, and Drew Commesso.

--

IceHogs Preseason Opener

Tonight the IceHogs open their preseason schedule with a game in Coralville, Iowa to face the Wild at 7:00pm CDT. The same teams square off again tomorrow at the same place and same time. Both games can be heard live online streaming from the Hogs website:

www.icehogs.com

--

See you on the boards!

Join the Discussion: ยป 109 Comments ยป Post New Comment
More from Theo Fox
» One Last Shift
» What's the Plan?
» Teaser Ad
» Power Source
» Cut the Mustard