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Thanks for your kind words, I really appreciate it. You’re right — things always start slow, but the fun is coming with the Hawks prospects this weekend at the Kurvers. I’m excited to cover it and keep building with all of you. Hockey talk is always better when we share it together!
I expect Oliver Moore to be with the big club — he has everything Bashill is looking for. Lardis, on the other hand, will likely need a full year in the AHL. I’ll be watching closely to see how he adjusts to the speed and physicality of the pro game. Still, I really like his game.
The article is up. I watched Kantserov in his first game — he logged 19 minutes, finished with no points and a minus-1, but overall played a solid game. He completed 76.19% of his passes and, despite his smaller size, he’s really fun to watch.
This is Frenchy. I’m not in charge of the site — I only write Blackhawks content here — but I believe comments may need to be approved first. I know this issue has been reported a few times recently, so I can’t give you a full answer right now. I’ll pass it along to the team and hopefully get more clarity for you. In the meantime, welcome to the HHS family!
Hey my friend — glad you joined the forums! Don’t hesitate to share your thoughts or requests, we’re all here to learn and enjoy hockey together. Welcome to the HHS (Chicago) family!
Tomorrow I’ll have a full piece on Rookie Camp — everything you need to know in one place. Thanks as always for your support! Which prospect are you most excited to watch? Let me know, and I’ll do my best to cover it.
I’m here now — sorry for the delay! If you have any questions, please let me know, and I’ll do my best to reply to everyone. Also, I’ll be starting a Mailbag in October, so keep your questions coming — they might be featured!
Thanks for your comment, really appreciate your input. What stands out with Bedard is how quickly he’s learning to adjust his game. He’s already talked about fine-tuning his shot setup and managing his stick so those one-timer chances don’t get wasted. That alone could make a big difference in his goal totals this season.
Nazar is another key piece — if he keeps improving his finishing, the Hawks will finally have more than one real scoring threat behind Bedard. And with Vlasic learning how to handle the grind of a full NHL year, you can see the young guys starting to understand what it takes to sustain their game.
It’s exciting for fans because these players are being more open about their growth, and it really feels like we get to grow with them as this rebuild moves forward.
Thanks for your comment @Assman22
Exactly — the added bulk is only going to help him handle NHL contact, and if he keeps that elite speed, watch out. He doesn’t need to suddenly become a hitter like Hyman, just being harder to knock off the puck will make a huge difference. And yes, KK could definitely use a page from that playbook! ????
Absolutely agree — at some point they have to give Bedard more support. I do think Davidson will add to the top six next summer, because he knows Bedard can’t carry the load forever.
For now, Davidson chose the patient route, giving prospects the chance to grow into bigger roles. Time will tell if that was the right call, but the expectation has to be that reinforcements are coming.
Thanks for your comment!
Thanks for your comment! I agree — the long grind is going to test the young guys, especially with a compressed schedule and more back-to-backs. Adding a veteran on defense would have made sense, but at least this way the prospects will get real experience that pays off later.
There will be ups and downs, but points aside, the big win this season is seeing how players like Levshunov, Rinzel, Nazar, and Moore adapt to the pace and physical wear of a full year. That’s what will shape the Hawks’ future.
Thanks for your comment! You’re right — once Sorensen came in and Jones moved on, the system changed. The goals against actually increased because the defensemen were given more freedom, and the Blackhawks paid the price on the back end. But the trade-off was more puck possession and more offensive opportunities, which is a step forward for the rebuild.
At 5-on-5, puck possession still needs to improve next season. If Nazar buried more of his chances, he could’ve easily added 5+ goals, and that’ll be key for his development.
I also agree about speed — a quick transition game with sharp quick-ups makes a team harder to play against. The Devils are a great example of that style. I’m curious to see how Bashill puts his system in place and balances offense with defense this season.
Thanks for your comment and solid input. I don’t really disagree with your take on Lardis. Like a lot of players coming out of the CHL, the jump to the AHL takes time — the speed, the physical grind, and playing against grown men is a big adjustment. He’s going to have to figure it out if he wants to stick. Until he proves he can handle that part of the game, he’ll have that “target on his back,” like you said.
As for Korchinski, I see your point. Defensemen take longer to develop, and maybe the Hawks rushed him by putting him in the NHL at 19. Another year in junior or more time in Rockford could have helped. He reminds me a bit of Cole Sillinger in Columbus — strong rookie year, but struggled badly as a sophomore and ended up in the AHL. That’s the risk when you keep a young guy in the NHL too early. With Korchinski, the key is improving his physical play and tightening up his defensive-zone coverage. Patience is needed here.
On Arty, I lean the other way from you. The way Davidson approached the summer — no big UFA signings, no splash trades — shows he wants his young core to get real NHL minutes. That’s why I believe Arty will be on the roster. And honestly, if you remove both Korchinski and Arty like you suggest, the blue line looks pretty thin: Vlasic, Murphy, Rinzel, Crevier, Kaiser, Nolan, and Del Mastro. Training camp will sort it out, but my gut says at least one, if not both, of KK and Arty will be in the top seven defensemen to start the year.
Thanks for your comment. I really like how you compared Korchinski to Forsling — that’s a smart way to look at it.
Maybe the Blackhawks rushed him a bit by keeping him in the NHL at 19 instead of giving him one more year in the WHL. Defensemen usually take longer to develop, and whether you’re drafted 7th overall or 23rd, the process isn’t a straight line. Prospects go through ups and downs before they figure it out.
When Korchinski was drafted in 2022, the scouting reports were clear: excellent skater, strong on offense, but his defensive play needed work. He put up 65 points in 67 games that year, which showed his talent. In his rookie NHL season, 15 points wasn’t bad, but his defensive struggles stood out. On top of that, he still needs to play with more physicality and win more one-on-one battles.
He actually reminds me a lot of Justin Barron — flashes of skill, but inconsistencies because of the lack of physical edge. That’s why I wouldn’t trade Korchinski at all. Give him two more years inside the Blackhawks system, let him grow into his game, and then we’ll know what he really is.
