Blackhawks 2025-2026 General Comments

[Metalhead]

Mr Ricochet wrote:

No doubt though, IMO Gryz will skate 20 minutes a night for the club.

Thanks for the info. I have no problem with Gryz making the team.

——Nothing outa Spellacy and Foligno was bad

Spellacy is very intriguing but considering how raw of a prospect, it would be crazy to expect him
to get a real NHL chance until 3 years after being drafted.
Any sooner would be awesome, but not realistic.

Foligno was noticeably worse last year than the year before.
I think “old man degradation cliff” might be exactly what we’re seeing.

[CoachFrenchy]

Alex Vlasic is day to day with a lower-body injury and will be reevaluated in the coming days, per the team

[totem]

Sunday, September 28, 2025 – Barrie at Owen Sound

Joseph Salandra Barrie Colts 15-Feb-08 5-10 190 RW (2026 Eligible, Wiz #67)
Salandra got some notice with a nice showing (5-1-2-3) at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup this year. He is new to the OHL after having scored over 2 points per game in US high school last year. Got an assist and played on the power play during the game; had 4 SOG. Also took a hooking penalty to stop a rush. Has a good all-around game with decent speed; his potential has him ranked in the early to mid rounds for the 2026 draft. Will need to keep showing his scoring touch during the season to find a higher draft slot.

Jaiden Newton Barrie Colts 13-Oct-07 5-11 181 LC (2026 Eligible, Wiz #173)
Newton played an aggressive offensive game and wired a hard shot over the goalie’s shoulder on the glove side for a goal. In on the forecheck all night. Not huge but plays bigger than he is. Will need to show defense and physical play over the season to ensure a spot in the 2026 draft. Goal and 3 shots, also had 7 PIM in a penalty filled game. 62-3-9-12 last year in Barrie.

Nicholas Desiderio Barrie Colts 16-Jun-08 6-1 187 LW (2026 Eligible)
Winger with good size who was very active. Had one shot but it was a low hard shot that required a good stop. Had a nice interception to start a scoring opportunity. Played some on the power play. New to OHL, good scorer in 16U AAA last year. Will need to develop quickly to get draft consideration in 2026.

Nicolas Sykora Owen Sound Attack 24-May-07 6-0 179 LW (Undrafted 2025)
Sykora is the son of Petr Sykora, who played 1017 games in the NHL. Nicolas shows a lot of offensive talent; he had a goal on a back door play, a nice end-to-end rush on the power play, and a breakaway chance and some other offensive opportunities. Goal and assist with 5 shots for the game. He has mobility and shows good elusiveness and puck handling. Very developed offensive game but is also active all over the ice and reads the play well. New to the OHL after spending last year in the USHL. Dropped through the draft last year but if he continues to play a similar game through the season, he will definitely get draft consideration for 2026. Heading to Quinnipiac in the fall of 2026.

Pierce Mbuyi Owen Sound Attack 17-Apr-08 5-11 158 LW (2026 Eligible, Wiz #56)
Very reedy but fast player who is always around the puck. Despite his size he is usually around the crease on offense and is always dangerous. Speed, agility, and reading the play have him ranked high for the 2026 draft.Had a goal and 5 PIM in the game. Had 63-29-23-52 in Owen Sound last year, is wearing an “A” this year. Heading to Penn State in the fall of 2026.

Cole Zurawski Owen Sound Attack 6-Feb-08 6-0 181 RW (2026 Eligible, Wiz #133)
Good sized winger who also plays on the power play. Played in the OHL last year and came over to Owen Sound from Flint, had 61-15-16-31. Had a quiet game with 1 shot on goal, and left in the 3rd with a shoulder injury.

2027 Eligible:
Max Delisle Owen Sound Attack 6-Jul-09 6-1 184 RC
Adjusting quickly to the OHL; showed speed and had several chances on offense. Was a high pick in the OHL entry draft and will be someone to watch for 2027.

Notes log: hockeystew25.blogspot.com/

[LAHawk]

Metalhead wrote:

How did Gryz look yesterday?

Better than Brodie.

[35Tony0]

CoachFrenchy wrote:

Alex Vlasic is day to day with a lower-body injury and will be reevaluated in the coming days, per the team

Darn, let’s hope it turns out to be a minimal setback for Vlasic.

[BetweenTheDots]

I tell you in a rebuild i think it’s great Kaiser is looking like a solid defenseman,

I think if you can make Murphy a 5th dmen on your team then you are in good shape. We’ll see if Kaiser will be able to continue to play well through the preseason and during the season. This also allows the franchise to send Korchinski to Rockford for more seasoning, win win.

What i saw from Arty he looked good last night so we’ll see.

And if Nazar and the 2nd line can produce i expect Bedard to get to the next level in point production. This is shaping up into an interesting season, so long as Vlasic is healthy come opening day.

[Assman22]

BetweenTheDots wrote:

I tell you in a rebuild i think it’s great Kaiser is looking like a solid defenseman,

I think if you can make Murphy a 5th dmen on your team then you are in good shape. We’ll see if Kaiser will be able to continue to play well through the preseason and during the season. This also allows the franchise to send Korchinski to Rockford for more seasoning, win win.

What i saw from Arty he looked good last night so we’ll see.

Agreed on all this and you know who’s had a really great camp and completely deserves an NHL spot? Allan. Guy does whatever he’s told and has been hitting everything in site the past two games and rarely makes a mistake. He’s often an afterthought and is likely going to get sent back to Rockford to pair with KK to help him develop. Allan is infinitely better than Crevier ever will be.

[CoachFrenchy]

The Blackhawks have sent these players to the IceHogs:

Drew Commesso
Nick Lardis
Ashton Cumby
Samuel Savoie
Aidan Thompson
Mitchell Weeks

They have sent AJ Spellacy back to the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL

31 players remain in training camp

[Metalhead]

CoachFrenchy wrote:

The Blackhawks have sent these players to the IceHogs:

They have sent AJ Spellacy back to the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL

Thanks for the info. No surprises.
I’m interested to see if Commesso can go from “looking very good” in the AHL to “looking too good” for the AHL.

[Assman22]

Metalhead wrote:

Thanks for the info. No surprises.
I’m interested to see if Commesso can go from “looking very good” in the AHL to “looking too good” for the AHL.

I’m interested to see if Toninato makes it through waivers. Misiak is the only natural RW on Rockford pending what happens with Moore as Anderson is likely out for awhile. Next question is who centers Lardis?

[Metalhead]

Assman22 wrote:

I’m interested to see if Toninato makes it through waivers.

31 years old, less than 200 career NHL games, and only 25 NHL games in the last 3 seasons screams
“makes it through waivers” but you never know for sure.

[Dan Maloneys left hook]

CoachFrenchy wrote:

Alex Vlasic is day to day with a lower-body injury and will be reevaluated in the coming days, per the team

Hopefully not the dreaded AA groin injury.

[Chunk]

Metalhead wrote:

Assman22 wrote:

I’m interested to see if Toninato makes it through waivers.

31 years old, less than 200 career NHL games, and only 25 NHL games in the last 3 seasons screams
“makes it through waivers” but you never know for sure.

One of the scribes posted that he cleared and is going to RFD.

[Chunk]

Dan Maloneys left hook wrote:

CoachFrenchy wrote:

Alex Vlasic is day to day with a lower-body injury and will be reevaluated in the coming days, per the team

Hopefully not the dreaded AA groin injury.

There’s a lot of speculation that he got cut with a skate blade. If not that, I’d say Knee/Ankle injury looking at the replay of when he got injured.

[BetweenTheDots]

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