Blackhawks Prospect Camp Preview: Goaltenders
We’ve already looked ahead at the defensemen and forwards headed to the Blackhawks’ prospect camp this week. Now, let’s take a look at who will be between the pipes.
Kent Simpson
Draft: 2nd round (58) – 2010
2013-14 Team: Rockford (AHL), Chicago (NHL)
Mac Carruth
Draft: 7th round (191) – 2010
2013-14 Team: Rockford (AHL), Toledo (ECHL), Florida (ECHL)
Matt Tomkins
Draft: 7th round (199) – 2012
2013-14 Team: Ohio State (NCAA)
Ivan Nalimov
Draft: 6th round (179) – 2014
2013-14 Team: VMF Kandopoga (Russia)
The Free Agents
- Ken Appleby
- Brody Hoffman
- Alex Lyon
- Matthew O’Connor
I thought Mac Carruth played at Toledo and Rockford last year.
Carruth was pro last year, and not good. I was guilty of having too-high expectations, but he was just bad last year.
Carruth was OK on stacked Winterhawks teams.
Not a great group…Simpson and Carruth were both Jeckyl and Hyde…sometimes great sometimes awful. For Simpson, if he doesn’t have a consistent, big year in Rockford then he will be done as a Hawk…Carruth will have 2 years to prove himself…the new draft pick from Russia is intriguing by size alone…we will see where he’s at next week.
Goaltending is by far the weakest spot in the organization. I still recall Mac Caruths final game as a winterhawk it was awful. I cant see him making any type of impact on the NHL roster. Hopefully Simpson can make some type of impact for the Hawks or Hogs. Nalimov appears to be a boom or bust prospect so hopefully he has a good camp.
A big fat YUCK!
In a feeble attempt to plum some optimism from that list, I will say that sometimes goalies take a long time to hit their stride, so … nah, still a big fat YUCK!
Tyler Motte isn’t at camp because of a schooling conflict at Michigan…both TVR and Fournier who were injured this past season are at practise today, which is very good news for both of them.
Did the actual on-ice camp start today? I thought it would be just all the first day orientation stuff today and the on-ice would begin tomorrow.
Skating and practising today, with orientation…how much of structured practise, I am not sure.
Where is Brandon Whitney?
chris – I’m pretty sure that Whitney is no longer in the Hawks organization – I think I read it somewhere a month or two ago. It was kind of weird because I thought he showed the most promise of the goalies in the Hawks system … although I guess that’s kinda like winning a tallest midget contest.
Teuvo Teravainen, Adam Clendening, Stephen Johns, and Ryan Hartman interviews from the 1st day of Prospect Camp…
http://video.blackhawks.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=628404&catid=107
was at camp today… @ 10am sharp… pissed off cuz- they started a little early so missed a little…
1st off- Drills were not a typical Coach Q practice (Q was not on ice… and he runs mostly fast paced… run and gun, transitional – full ice stuff)…
this was a lot of high speed passing — but mostly in tight quarters/space– and on one side of ice… SO- I didn’t really get to see/judge who are the BESTEST/FASTEST skaters!!!
1st session- mostly Hogs/ELC guys
Guys who put most pucks in net in order (unofficially) ( I will add most goals vs. Carruth (not good))
MOOSE
Carey
Ross, TT, Hartman
RasMOOSEn: Bigger than I thought, long reach, should be a good PK guy w/reach…
in 2 on 2 checked the crap/shadowed his man well in small spaces… WISH I could see if he can skate– but put in several shots…
Johns, TvR, Fournier are big… looked good… TvR has a baby face- guy might put on 20 lbs. in next two years… Fournier looked a lot Heavier/bigger than last year!!!
Brisbois was the best no-name that stood out…
Ross looked better than both McNeill/Danault…
Carey has a shot /knack for scoring… Moose was really good, Hartman,TT,Ross next best….
Once, again would love to see more Q like practice 1-1 , 2-1 full speed, end to end to assess speeds of Moose, Hartman, TT, Ross, Carey etc.
2nd Session– The Swedes were in the fold…
1st off- very little scoring… so either Carruth/Simpson are weak… or the Shooters were
weak… or the D was great!!!
My report says a little Carruth/Simpson (no good)… Hoffman, Russian, Tompkins were better/HUGE goalies in 2nd session… and shooters were a step below the ELC guys.
In Fact – Dahlstrom and Hayden were best Offensive guys…
The 3 Swede D guys were Huge – Dstrom, Soderberg, Press… Good!!!
Hayden- By far the Best Forward… Ollufson- was noticeable…
Bad news– Schmaltz!!! Was very timid/nervous (once again– same as 1st practice… mostly Tight space practice (not a lot of open ice play)… Based 1st practice- wishing Hawks took Ho-Sang/Fabbri!!!
I Hope Schmaltz is super good skater or IQ guy… cuz in the “half-court” drill/game- not impressed!!!
Thanks HN4 very much…
Wall, outstanding stuff…thank you so much…Moose is sounding great, and with his long reach, he has a good shot at making our roster as the 12th/13th forward…remember the scouting on him said good speed for a big man…so we will see what that translates into tomorrow…
This is a big camp for McNeil and Danault…they need to turn it up…I thought the Ross and Hartman would have the best camps of the bunch…
Thanks so much again!!!
@Wall
Thanks for the 1st hand account of the 1st day. I’m with you on the Schmaltz draft pick. Especially since the Hawks moved up to get him.
It appears Whitney suffered a serious injury in Jan, as for his current status I am not sure if he is still a Blackhawk prospect.
Great news on Hayden. Big kid, several teams were impressed the hawks were able to nab him in the 3 rd round and as evidenced by the kings series, the hawks need bigger bodies.
Also very good news on Fournier and his size. Mark Kelley was really high on this kid when they drafted him. For all the Justin holl, shawn lalonde type misses, it would be nice to hit on Fournier and Paliotta and perhaps even dahlstrom.
Off topic but just watched replay of Gold medal junior final in North Dakota-Canada dominated the whole tournament and due to the lock out may have had the best junior line-up of all time?
Future Hawks in Ladd, Seabrook and Fraser, (Cam Barker missed the final due to Mono)
Stars in he making-Richards, Bergeron, Weber, Perry, Getzlaf, Carter and a young Sidney C. It was fun to watch.
There has been a lot of posts about Patrick Sharp-one of my favourite players. I’ve changed my mind and would be in the camp of if you could get a younger piece that can help right away and over the next 4 or 5 years I would do it. His value is high now– (it could go down sharply in the next year or two-no pun intended) It would have to be a player with upside that can help now-with a lower cap hit. The core (4, 20, 2, 19 and 88) are here for the next several years-that is the compete for the Cup window-if you think it’s just the next year or two then don’t trade one of the best Hawks of all time. Otherwise why wouldn’t you be open to improving the team longer picture. (a big, strong winger that can skate and compete)
Not that I think it will happen. The Hawks are pretty loyal.
Does anyone have a thoughts on Scott Darling? Dont see him on the camp roster…
Scott Darling isn’t at camp because he’s an AHL veteran; the organization wants to see what they have in their younger prospects.
Darling, 25, had a nice year in Milwaukee (AHL) last season, posting a .933 save pct in 26 games (13-6-2). He’s tall (6-6) and is from suburban Lemont. Phoenix drafted him in the 6th round in 2007 and he’s played for 10 different teams in the NCAA, AHL, ECHL, SPHL and CHL since.
ahh yes is see, 25 and AHL exp…933 in AHL puts him near the tops for AHL tenders no? hope we’ll see some of him pre-season then…thanks Tab!