Friday Standouts and Sunday Preview | Chicago Blackhawks Prospects

Hockey festivities kicked off on Friday as the Chicago Blackhawks Prospects faced off against the Minnesota Wild Prospects in Game 1 of the 2021 Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase. 

I wrote a preview about the roster that you can find here.

Before heading into Game 2, let’s take a look at some of the standouts from Friday and what I’m looking for in this afternoon’s game. 

Lukas Reichel

What is there to really say about Lukas Reichel?

By that, I mean that he was doing absolutely everything - so there is a lot to say about Reichel. He was the best player on the ice. He was winning draws, playing responsible hockey in his own zone, skating fast, and moving the puck even faster.

If his line mates had gotten off shots on the chances he was serving them, he would have come away with quite a few points. I was under the assumption that Reichel would start the year in Rockford. After Friday night, I’m not so sure. 

It’s only one game. But, wow.

Colton Dach

When your brother is a 3rd Overall Draft Pick, you have a lot to live up to. I think Colton is up to the task. The puck was finding him all over the ice - or, Lukas Reichel was serving him the puck all over the ice. The kid just couldn’t connect. The shots he did get off looked dangerous. Maybe it was nerves. Maybe it was the fact that it was Game 1. But, once he starts hitting all those chances - Colton Dach is going to be a dangerous scoring weapon. 

D.J. Busdeker

Oh, D.J. 

After a surprising 2021 season with the IceHogs, he continued right where he left off. He scored the first goal of the game for Chicago on the power play, and he was throwing his body around making his presence known. You can’t ask for much more. With fans back in the stands this year,  I think Busdeker is going to be a fan favorite. 

Andrei Altybarmakyan

I’m starting to come up with conspiracy theories in my head at this point when it comes to why pucks hate Andrei Altybarmakyan and refuse to go in the net. 

Much like Busdeker, he also picked up where he left off in the 2021 season - getting absolutely robbed of goals. 

Oh, Alty. I’m so sorry these pucks hate you. One day they’ll stop and you’ll score a bunch of goals. 

Arvid Soderblom

GOALIES! The first thing that stood out to me about Soderblom was that he looked dialed in. He came up with some great stops for Chicago. The first goal against was a shot off a rebound that he had no chance on. He held it down after that until the 3rd period when 2 pucks snuck by him. It was a good first game. Not great, but it certainly seems like the Rockford IceHogs will have better goaltending this season than they did last. 

There were two players who didn’t make my Friday list that stood out in a positive way. 

Jalen Luypen

Maybe an oversight on my part, but Jalen Luypen was active and the puck was finding him all over the ice. He did end up in the penalty box, but it’s hockey. It’s bound to happen. He certainly earned my interest with his Friday showing. 

Louis Crevier

This. Kid. Is. HUGE. 

The Chicago Blackhawks 2020 7th Round Draft Pick is 6’8” and 216 lbs (eliteprospects.com). It certainly shows. When he is on the ice, you can’t help but notice him. That could be a blessing or a curse for the kid. On Friday, it was a blessing. He was steady on the back end, and his skating is pleasantly fluid for a player of his size. I want to see more of him. 

Sunday Stories

Special Teams

Special Teams were the name of the game on Friday night. Both teams got their power play going early. That’s good and bad news depending on how you look at it. From an IceHogs standpoint, they need their power play to be better this season. But, they also need their penalty kill to be better. Special teams giveth, special teams taketh away. 

It was only one game. I’m not worried. But, I will be looking to see how they fare this afternoon in comparison. Can they keep scoring on the power play while also locking down their penalty kill?

Goaltending

Arvid Soderblom was given the entire game on Friday. One would assume that Cale Morris would grab the net for Sunday’s game. The IceHogs will have their own training camp, but those two are certainly in a battle for the starting role in Rockford. The battle starts this weekend - who comes out ahead?

Dach

Colton Dach was on the first line with Lukas Reichel and Dmitri Osipov (now a forward). They were all over the ice, but Dach could not get a good shot to connect. The puck was finding him, but it just wasn’t working out. Again - first game. I’m not worried. If he can get some of those quality chances on net, both he and Reichel are looking at a ton of points on the board. 

Allan

Nolan Allan, the Chicago Blackhawks 2021 1st Round Draft pick, was considered a reach when he was taken. He didn’t look out of place on Friday. I’m intrigued by the kid, but was admittedly paying more attention to the forwards. I’ll be watching Allan more closely this afternoon. Maybe Mark Kelley and crew come out looking smart with this pick. 

Phillips

Isaak Phillips had a decent game. There was one play in particular when a turnover led to a goal against, and those are the ones you’re going to remember most. Unfortunately. 

He was playing his game and winning board battles, breaking out the puck, and creating a bit of offense. So, it wasn’t a bad game by any means. I’m looking for him to have a more steady game back there today.

Game 2 between the Chicago Blackhawks Prospects and Minnesota Wild Prospects kicks off at 1:00pm CST over on the Minnesota Wild YouTube channel.