Blackhawks Prospects Hurting At Summer Showcase

This week the 2017 World Junior Summer Showcase is taking place at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, and it isn’t treating the Blackhawks prospects in attendance well.

USA defenseman Chad Krys, a second round pick by the Hawks in 2016, suffered an upper-body injury over the weekend and is done for the Showcase. He will head back to Boston University for the upcoming season, but will reportedly get another look from USA Hockey for the World Juniors in late December.

Finland defenseman Henri Jokiharju, the Blackhawks’ first round pick this summer, suffered a knee injury and is done for the week. Roope Laavainen, a fourth round pick this year by Chicago, is also on the Finnish roster and is having a good week.

Finally, Sweden forward Tim Söderlund, also a fourth round pick this summer by the Hawks, reportedly suffered a back injury. He could play on Wednesday.

The Summer Showcase includes 12 international games between Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States in preparation for the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, which will take place Dec. 26, 2017 – Jan. 5, 2018, in Buffalo, New York.

17 thoughts on “Blackhawks Prospects Hurting At Summer Showcase

  • August 2, 2017 at 12:34 am
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    Krys sounds like he will be fine.

    Let’s hope Henri J. Is okay to start his season in Portland.

  • August 2, 2017 at 4:31 pm
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    Barrat cut.

  • August 3, 2017 at 6:17 pm
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    Just read a good article on Henri Jokiharju playing in Portland next , good to see he’s putting in his adjustment time for the smaller ice now. With Snuggerud in Rockforrd and Gilbert probably signing next year and Mitchell impressing in prospect camp some strong potential on defence in the next few years.

  • August 3, 2017 at 10:39 pm
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    how serious is Henri’s injury? I would like to see him start in Chicago! If Vatanen and those 1st dmen start seasons with ANAHEIM, why not the HAWKS!!! Too conservative! Please let ROSY retire!!!

  • August 4, 2017 at 5:51 am
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    Reassessed in a couple of weeks they hope he’s ok for training camp.

  • August 4, 2017 at 5:30 pm
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    Dark Horse: Iacopelli and or Fortin

  • August 4, 2017 at 7:23 pm
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    Need to get this tournament back to Lake Placid in the summers.

    Detroit sucks.

  • August 4, 2017 at 10:30 pm
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    Because Vatanen was an 09 draft pick and didn’t play his first nhl game until 12/13.

    Lindholm on the other hand drafted in 2012 played that year in the AHL, something he was able to do because he played his entire draft year in Sweden. He was also the number 6 pick.

    Fowler was drafted 12th in 2010 and played all of 2010 for the ducks.

    These things are easily fact checked.

    The blackhawks drafted Saad in the second round and he played when Carcillo was suspended and then returned. He came back for 2 games in the playoffs. The kids play when theyre ready. Saad was the first non 1st round pick to play the year he was drafted since Ryan Oreilly.

  • August 4, 2017 at 10:41 pm
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    Savoir really hope Fortin gets an oppurtunity early on but Iacopelli might need some time in minors but could be a late season add and I wouldn’t rule out Snuggerud either later on.

  • August 5, 2017 at 1:01 am
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    Good discussion. Jokiharju had 48 points at Portland last year. Pretty impressive for his first year in North America. I would rest that knee until the WHL camps open. We know what we have in him. Absolutely no need to rush him.

    For those who keep saying Rozsival is number 7. I completely disagree. He’s #8.

    The Hawks told Brian Campbell that he would not be invited back as a player, that they were going in a different direction. At this point, Campbell is miles ahead of Rosy in terms of ability. So Rosy is back but Campbell is done ? Both are done.
    Rosy is going to be a mentor to Kempny and Ruuta.
    Mark my words, the Hawks will tell us that Rosy blocked a shot in training camp or is “sore” and they will place him on injured reserve.

    Assuming Kempny and Forsling are number 4 and 5. The final two will likely be Ruuta and Oesterle. If Cody Franson comes to Hawk camp, he will likely make the team.

    Pokka has almost no chance by the way. I’ve been told Q is not a fan.

    Opening night :
    Keith-Murphy
    Forsling-Seabrook
    Kempny-Franson/Ruuta
    Oesterle

    IR:Rozsival

  • August 5, 2017 at 3:11 am
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    Most other teams have as many or more question marks as the Blackhawks. At least the Hawks have a core of players who have been to the promised land to lead the rest. Let’s see happens. They added youth and toughness. Still, I indescribably resent Bettman and his salary cap, which he has failed to keep high despite selling out the game for the sake of drawing casual pacifist fans who never materialized.

  • August 5, 2017 at 7:37 am
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    Agree with Craig. Defense, aside from possibly adding Franson is set. Really the only question is 6 and 7. Which is probably pretty good when you lost 3 in the offseason.

    The bigger question are the forward spots. Top 6 is probably set. Bottom 6 is where there’s a lot to be decided.

  • August 5, 2017 at 7:39 am
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    Don’t hate Bettman. He’s a mouthpiece for the owners. The owners wanted the cap. It’s his fault hockey isn’t as popular as other sports?

  • August 5, 2017 at 2:00 pm
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    Still can’t believe they were booing Bettman in Las Vegas. He gave them an NHL team for crying out loud.

    Back to the defense. Stan and Q have always agreed you need 10 defensemen to get through an NHL season. So here’s my attempt at it.

    Keith-Seabrook-Murphy-Kempny-Forsling-Ruuta-Oesterle-Rozsival-Gustafson-Dahlstrom. (I doubt Pokka or Svedberg suit up in a game for the Hawks this year or beyond).

    If Franson does come on a PTO. I think slides in at #6 . But to me he would clearly have to be better than Ruuta or Oesterle at camp and in preseason. Past
    PTO guys like Jan Hejda and Lubomir Visnovskiy were released because Stan liked his own guys.

  • August 5, 2017 at 4:24 pm
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    Ian, I agree! Hopefully Fortin does well at camp and maybe IACOPELLI gets off to a good start in ROCKFORD.

    SVEDBERG is tooooooooooo slow. NHL not for him.

  • August 5, 2017 at 9:54 pm
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    If Butcher signs with Blackhawks would have to believe he gets a shot at a roster spot sooner than later, maybe even makes team out of camp. Also if Snuggerud makes an impression in Rockford you have to think a late season call up is a good possibility for him too.

  • August 6, 2017 at 12:38 am
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    Snuggerud has potential, I agree.

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