Tyler Cameron: Talking Blackhawks Prospects
I'm back! I'm not back with a blog that I have written though, I am turning the keyboard over to our IceHogs/Prospects correspondent, Theo aka AEL_Fox.

We need a new conversation, so as we lead up to our first Armchair GM blog (coming out on Friday), let's look at the prospects in the system and how they progressed – or didn't progress – this season.

Tyler, thank you as always for the opportunity to contribute to your blog.

Hope you and everyone else in your online community are safe and staying healthy.

Thank you Tyler and Theo!
Some of these guys will definitely make it and definitely contribute.

Nicely done Theo and Tyler. I'm more optimistic about the future now than at the beginning of the year. I (and most others) didn't know what to expect from Dach, especially after the concussion to start the year. I'm happy to see the growth.

Hey Theo, always appreciate your reports and insights.

A question - I saw that Fortin made the score sheet a few times recently - anything going on there to keep an eye on or simply a hot streak for a minor league player?

Thank you Tyler and Theo!
Some of these guys will definitely make it and definitely contribute.
- 35Tony0

You're welcome, TonyO.

Agree, some of these youngsters will be impact players and for many years to come, not just as placeholders waiting for something better to come along.

Tyler and Theo, outstanding job!! Tyler I figured at some point you’d eventually start watering down or duplicating your blogs but they are actually getting better and more informative. Getting AEL (Theo) to provide a Hogs update was a great idea. And Theo, looking forward to more updates or news as you hear it.

Nicely done Theo and Tyler. I'm more optimistic about the future now than at the beginning of the year. I (and most others) didn't know what to expect from Dach, especially after the concussion to start the year. I'm happy to see the growth.
- Chunk

Thanks, Chunk.

It feels so long ago now that we were worried about Dach's career with that head injury he sustained in late summer against the Wild in the Traverse City tourney. Quite a scare.

Yes, good to see Dach progress so much since then.

Hey Theo, always appreciate your reports and insights.

A question - I saw that Fortin made the score sheet a few times recently - anything going on there to keep an eye on or simply a hot streak for a minor league player?
- EbonyRaptor

Thanks, ER.

To answer your question, Fortin's play this season was thankfully the result of improving upon his skill set to perform more consistently and be more noticeable each shift. Instead of being Mach 4 all the time, he used different gears to disrupt plays.

Although not at the level of Highmore and Hagel, Fortin is still pretty good at hunting down pucks, hounding the opponent, and generating scoring chances for himself and his mates.

He's also excellent at finishing especially from in close.

Fortin and Tomkins would be my Rockford picks for most improved from a season ago.

Tyler and Theo, outstanding job!! Tyler I figured at some point you’d eventually start watering down or duplicating your blogs but they are actually getting better and more informative. Getting AEL (Theo) to provide a Hogs update was a great idea. And Theo, looking forward to more updates or news as you hear it.
- paulr

Thanks, Paul.

Happy to help and contribute however I can. So many people in this online community offer great insights, observations, and information. Definilte learn a lot here than a lot of websites we all read.

Thanks, Chunk.

It feels so long ago now that we were worried about Dach's career with that head injury he sustained in late summer against the Wild in the Traverse City tourney. Quite a scare.

Yes, good to see Dach progress so much since then.
- AEL_Fox

Speaking of head injuries, has anyone heard how Boqvist is doing?

Thanks, ER.

To answer your question, Fortin's play this season was thankfully the result of improving upon his skill set to perform more consistently and be more noticeable each shift. Instead of being Mach 4 all the time, he used different gears to disrupt plays.

Although not at the level of Highmore and Hagel, Fortin is still pretty good at hunting down pucks, hounding the opponent, and generating scoring chances for himself and his mates.

He's also excellent at finishing especially from in close.

Fortin and Tomkins would be my Rockford picks for most improved from a season ago.
- AEL_Fox

Wonder if Fortin could find a niche as 4th line pain in the ass guy. Thinking like a Nordstrom type with better speed. Fortin always seemed willing to play the body. That speed cold flip the ice. I know he has killed penalties in Rockford.

Just a thought as I watch the world slip into utter shambles.

It’s basketball, but great game on NBA-TV - 1987 Finals, Celts - Lakers game 4 at the old Garden.

Damn, those teams were good.

If the game was still like that....

Thanks for the info TC and Leo, I appreciate your blogs as we try and get past these unfortunate times.

It’s basketball, but great game on NBA-TV - 1987 Finals, Celts - Lakers game 4 at the old Garden.

Damn, those teams were good.

If the game was still like that....
- StLBravesFan

If the game was still like that I would probably still be a fan.

If the game was still like that I would probably still be a fan.
- Angotti

Yeah - me too.

Tyler and Theo, outstanding job!! Tyler I figured at some point you’d eventually start watering down or duplicating your blogs but they are actually getting better and more informative. Getting AEL (Theo) to provide a Hogs update was a great idea. And Theo, looking forward to more updates or news as you hear it.
- paulr

Ditto! Appreciate both Tyler and Theo. I don't see the Hogs games so appreciate the updates and insight from Theo and am thankful for this place to escape and talk Hawk hockey.

I’ve been watching a couple of kids out in western Canada. One is 16 year old Matt Savoie, he has incredible skating ability, quick and fast with great edges. He also has a great shot, passes well and seems to see the ice well. The other is a 14 year old named Connor Bedard, this guys wears a jersey with Oiler markings and skates like McDavid. Blazing speed, great edges and an effortless stride he also changes speeds well to slow up a defenders then shift gears to blow past him.

Next year they’ll both wind up in the Toronto area for a tournament or two and I’ll try to go out to see them.

Here’s a link of Bedard’s team vs Savoie team. Bedard is #98 in blue and Savoie #7 in white.

https://youtu.be/X9ALB51_PI8

https://youtu.be/QoAUUlECfuI

https://youtu.be/SXqQcDDCOAc

Wonder if Fortin could find a niche as 4th line pain in the ass guy. Thinking like a Nordstrom type with better speed. Fortin always seemed willing to play the body. That speed cold flip the ice. I know he has killed penalties in Rockford.

Just a thought as I watch the world slip into utter shambles.
- Elbows15

Fortin is a pending RFA this summer. If you had asked me at the start of this season what to do with him, I would have said let him sign elsewhere as he was a waste of a roster spot last year.

Now, I would re-sign and further develop him into the role you just described. He has blinding speed as we all know. But, as you pointed out, he also plays physical and plays on the PK.

He is a good candidate to be a 4th liner who can disrupt plays in the D zone and manufacture scoring chances with his new-found gears, patience for plays to develop, and finishing ability.

Thanks for the info TC and Leo, I appreciate your blogs as we try and get past these unfortunate times.
- Angotti

You bet, Angotti.

Even when I'm working remotely, I still often spend as much time on this blog than I do on actual work.

As my wife says about HockeyBuzz, "Are you on that website that has all those ads?"

Ditto! Appreciate both Tyler and Theo. I don't see the Hogs games so appreciate the updates and insight from Theo and am thankful for this place to escape and talk Hawk hockey.
- HawkintheD

Of course, D.

I am thankful for this space that Tyler creates for us. We all need an escape from all that goes on in the world and this has been my go-to spot even when I was a long-time reader but never posted.

Thanks, ER.

To answer your question, Fortin's play this season was thankfully the result of improving upon his skill set to perform more consistently and be more noticeable each shift. Instead of being Mach 4 all the time, he used different gears to disrupt plays.

Although not at the level of Highmore and Hagel, Fortin is still pretty good at hunting down pucks, hounding the opponent, and generating scoring chances for himself and his mates.

He's also excellent at finishing especially from in close.

Fortin and Tomkins would be my Rockford picks for most improved from a season ago.
- AEL_Fox

I've seen Highmore play enough to know that Fortin is another gear faster - not sure about Hagel. It's a long shot but I still hold out hope Fortin can get just a little bit better in a couple areas and play with consistency he could have a job in the NHL. With his speed and nose for the puck he could be a good 4th line forechecker type at least.

You bet, Angotti.

Even when I'm working remotely, I still often spend as much time on this blog than I do on actual work.

As my wife says about HockeyBuzz, "Are you on that website that has all those ads?"
- AEL_Fox

Wait. WTF do you not have an Adblock?

Wait. WTF do you not have an Adblock?
- Elbows15

I know, I know. Just lazy to install something so simple. Many of you have promoted Adblock many times to others.

Of course, D.

I am thankful for this space that Tyler creates for us. We all need an escape from all that goes on in the world and this has been my go-to spot even when I was a long-time reader but never posted.
- AEL_Fox

Thanks Theo - you're the best and I truly appreciate your contributions.

I too, would love to watch hockey all day, but I can only carve out so much time. Theo you have been doing a great job filling in the gaps for me and that's just a win-win for everyone here!