TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — With development camp now months in the past and the Traverse City prospects tournament down to its last day today, the Blackhawks’ front office has a fairly clear picture of where its prospects stand entering the 2019-20 season.
The two top-10 draft picks from the last two seasons are clearly Nos. 1 and 2, but the list beyond them is far deeper than it used to be.
Plenty of uncertainty remains when plotting out the most likely career course for each player — an inevitable problem when it comes to prospects — but the following is a best guess at how the hierarchy shakes out for now.
This list includes only players age 21 and under:
No. 1: Kirby Dach, center, age 18
Projected 2019-20 team: Saskatoon Blades (WHL).
Dach seemed a bit off-the-board when he was selected third overall in June, but he’s since demonstrated just why Stan Bowman, Mark Kelley and the rest of the Hawks’ front office were so bullish on him.
Not only is Dach a prototypical 6-4 power center, but he’s also surprisingly elusive, smooth with the puck, masterful with his stick (for both offensive and defensive purposes), physical at times and a natural leader. He’ll be a top-six staple for years to come.
No. 2: Adam Boqvist, defenseman, 19
Projected 2019-20 team: Rockford IceHogs (AHL).
Boqvist’s game has yet to fully round into form — he’s still somewhat mistake-prone, and he fluctuates significantly from game to game — but his raw talent is nonetheless striking. The Swedish blue-liner boasts an accurate, powerful shot, great on-ice vision and a skating stride silkier than a pillowcase.
He’ll probably spend the majority of the season developing more in Rockford, but Boqvist should enjoy at least a few NHL appearances.
No. 3: Ian Mitchell, defenseman, 20
Projected 2019-20 team: University of Denver (NCAA).
Questions about his contract future aside, Mitchell is almost as talented as Boqvist and more reliable defensively. For a 57th overall pick matched up against an eighth overall pick, that’s a lovely comparison.
He’ll likely be one of the top players in college hockey this season after bulking up to 181 pounds in the offseason and working with Hawks’ staff to improve his gap control and physicality.
No. 4: Alex Nylander, winger, 21
Projected 2019-20 team: Rockford IceHogs (AHL).
When considering the fact that Nylander has already spent three largely unsuccessful years in the AHL, it’s easy to forget that he’s still just 21 (and won’t turn 22 until March).
The Hawks traded Henri Jokiharju (who likely would’ve slotted in at No. 3 in these rankings) to Buffalo in exchange for Nylander essentially because they believe three things: Nylander’s rough injury luck in recent years won’t continue, lifetime mentor Anders Sorensen and the rest of the Rockford staff can manage Nylander better than the Sabres did, and Nylander still owns the same talent that once made him a top-10 pick. This coming season will help determine if they’re right.
No. 5: Philipp Kurashev, center, 19
Projected 2019-20 team: Rockford IceHogs (AHL).
Kurashev’s agility, vision and puckhandling make him a dynamic offensive weapon who can create a play by himself.
Combined with a creative hockey mind and deceptive speed, he’s the fastest-rising prospect in the Hawks’ system. He’s been one of the most impressive standouts in Traverse City so far.
No. 6: Nicolas Beaudin, defenseman, 19
Projected 2019-20 team: Rockford IceHogs (AHL).
Speed remains a concern for the Hawks’ overshadowed 2018 first-round pick, but Beaudin managed to overcome that deficiency in the QMJHL, averaging over a point per game from the back end the last two seasons for Drummondville.
Moving up to Rockford this season will provide another test. Even if Beaudin finds himself forced to evolve into a more conservative, defensive defenseman, it might not be a bad thing.
No. 7: Alex Vlasic, defenseman, 18
Projected 2019-20 team: Boston University (NCAA).
Vlasic is years away from NHL relevance, but when he does arrive — around 2023 or so — he could be on the same tier as someone like Ian Mitchell.
For a 6-6 defenseman, Vlasic can more than hold his own in the offensive zone or on the rush, so if he can eventually put it all together, he has top-pairing potential.
No. 8: Alexis Gravel, goaltender, 19
Projected 2019-20 team: Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL).
Just a year removed from falling to the sixth round, Gravel broke out in impressive fashion last season as his save percentage skyrocketed from .890 in 2017-18 to .913 in 2018-19.
At 6-3, 219 pounds, Gravel doesn’t leave much space in the net for opposing shooters, and his efficient movement and calm demeanor make the most out of that already impressive size. He looked ready for professional hockey already in the Traverse City opener, even though he’s bound for another year in juniors.
No. 9: Evan Barratt, center, 20
Projected 2019-20 team: Penn State (NCAA).
Barratt unfortunately missed the Hawks’ various summer developmental programs rehabbing from hip surgery, but he should be ready for the start of the Nittany Lions’ season, hoping to build off a 2018-19 campaign in which he ranked fourth in the nation in points per game (43 in 32). He’s a well-rounded, consistent forward with second- or third-line upside.
No. 10: Brandon Hagel, winger, 21
Projected 2019-20 team: Rockford IceHogs (AHL).
Hagel’s hockey career has been through a hurricane the last couple of seasons, but he now finds himself in a good spot.
The winger signed with the Hawks last fall after the Sabres let his rights expire, and he immediately thrilled his new franchise with a 102-point season in the WHL.
Rockford coach Derek King has shown in Traverse City that he’s a big fan of Hagel already — for three-on-three overtime, King sent out Dach, Boqvist and Hagel — so he’ll be an interesting guy to watch with the IceHogs.
