Chicago Blackhawks Prospect Updates
The regular seasons have come to a close for most of the Blackhawks’ top prospects, and many are getting ready for a busy postseason. Many of the Hawks’ recent draft picks have had exceptional seasons.
Here are some updates on the increasingly-impressive group of Blackhawks prospects not playing in Rockford.
Vince Hinostroza, F, Waterloo (USHL)
37 games, 23 goals, 32 assists, 55 points, +22, 8 PIM
Hinostroza has 121 career points and 70career assists in the USHL, and is now tied with current San Jose Sharks forward Joe Pavelski for 11th all-time on Waterloo’s scoring list. Also, he is only the ninth player in team history with 70 career assists. Hinostroza missed six weeks because of an upper-body injury, but still ranks ninth in the USHL in scoring with 55 points and has 20 points (7 G, 13 A) in his last 11 games (dating back to January 9).
- The QMJHL postseason begins Thursday, and all three Blackhawks prospects will play prominent roles. In the first round of the QMJHL playoffs, Phillip Danault’s Moncton Wildcats will face his former team, the Victoriaville Tigers, led by netminder Brandon Whitney. Defenseman Dillon Fournier’s Rouyn-Noranda will face Drummondville.
Phillip Danault, C
Victoriaville (QMJHL) – 29 games, 14 goals, 30 assists, 44 points, -1, 28 PIM
Moncton (QMJHL) – 27 games, 9 goals, 32 assists, 41 points, +17, 22 PIM
Total – 56 games, 23 goals, 62 assists, 85 points, +16, 50 PIM
Danault finished the regular season ranked 12th in the QMJHL with 85 points in 56 games. His 62 assists were tied for fourth in the league, and his 27 powerplay assists were tied for eighth in the league. His 1,207 faceoffs ranked 17th in the QMJHL, and he won 53.9 percent of his draws.
Dillon Fournier, D, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
59 games, 6 goals, 18 assist, 24 points, +8, 61 PIM
Brandon Whitney, Victoriaville (QMJHL)
58 games, 27-20-6, 4 shutouts, .900 save pct
Whitney finished the regular season ranked tenth in the league in goals against average.
- The WHL postseason also begins this week, and both Blackhawks prospects will be a major factor. Mac Carruth’s Portland Winter Hawks led the Western Conference and had the best record in the league (117 points), while Mark McNeill’s Prince Albert Raiders finished fifth in the Eastern Conference.
Mac Carruth, Portland (WHL)
39 games, 30-7-2, 7 shutouts, .929 save pct
Carruth finished the regular season tied for the league lead with seven shutouts, and his 2.06 goals against average was second in the league. His .929 save percentage ranked third in the league while his 30 wins were tied for tenth overall.
Mark McNeill, F, Prince Albert (WHL)
65 games, 25 goals, 42 assists, 67 points, +4, 43 PIM
- The OHL playoffs are also set to begin, and the Blackhawks will only need to watch one first round series. Garrett Ross will lead Saginaw against Alex Broadhurst and London.
Garret Ross, F, Saginaw (OHL)
61 games, 44 goals, 46 assists, 90 points, +31, 114 PIM
Ross finished the season ranked seventh in the OHL with 90 points, tied for fourth with 44 goals, and tied for 15th with 46 assists. He tied for fourth in the league with four short-handed goals. Ross tied for 14th in the league in plus-minus and was also 14th in the league with 114 penalty minutes.
Alex Broadhurst, F, London (OHL)
65 games, 23 goals, 40 assists, 63 points, +30, 36 PIM
Broadhurst finished third on the Knights in both points and assists.
- US College Prospects
Kevin Hayes, F, Boston College
26 games, 6 goal, 18 assists, 24 points, E, 14 PIM
Hayes was suspended by BC and his season ended because of an injury that required surgery.
Stephen Johns, D, Notre Dame
38 games, 1 goals, 12 assists, 13 points, E, 56 PIM
Michael Paliotta, D, U. of Vermont
35 games, 1 goals, 9 assists, 10 points, E, 50 PIM
Justin Holl, D, U. of Minnesota
33 games, 3 goals, 4 assists, 7 points, E, 10 PIM
- Other Prospects
Teuvo Teräväinen, F, Jokerit (SM-liiga)
44 games, 13 goal, 18 assists, 31 points, +2, 6 PIM
Jokerit finished in first place in the SM-liiga. Despite missing 16 games, Teräväinen finished fifth on the team with 31 points.
Chris Calnan, F, South Shore (EJHL)
31 games, 27 goals, 22 assists, 49 points, 35 PIM
Calnan, committed to Boston College next year, ranked fifth in the league with 27 goals and 13th in the league with 49 points. He also contributed 10 powerplay points (six goals, four assists) and three game-winning goals.
Joakim Nordstrom, F, AIK (SEL)
43 games, 5 goal, 4 assist, 9 points, -12, 29 PIM
Nordstrom has joined the Rockford IceHogs.
Terry Broadhurst, F
Toledo (ECHL) – 36 games, 12 goals, 19 assist, 31 points, +13, 14 PIM
Rockford (AHL) – 25 games, 5 goals, 6 assists, 11 points, +1, 10 PIM
Johan Mattsson, G, Tri-City, (USHL)
33 games, 12-15-3, 1 shutout, .909 save pct
Matt Tomkins, G, Sherwood Park (AJHL)
44 games, 22-14-6, 4 shutouts, .924 save pct
TT would have finished 2nd in scoring as 18 year old on the 1st place Finnish Pro Team… not to shabby. He will be even better offensively playing w/ Elite Players like Hawks top 6!!!
How does Garret Ross grade out skating wise??
Garret Ross has been coming on STRONG lately, he wasnt a top prospect going into this season but he was showed he can play at a high level in his league. He will be a prospect to really keep in eye on down the road.
Danault 85 points in 56 games? That looks great until you see that’s only 12th best in the league. Makes you wonder about the competition. Do they play defense down there?
From reports I’ve read, Danault may be good enough to jump straight to the NHL next season. High motor, good instincts and all-around game.
Saad
34g-42a-76pts in 44games=1.73ppg
Danault
23g-62a-85pts in 56games=1.52ppg
Ross
44g-46a-90pts in 61games=1.48ppg
I think Danault (Bolland 2.0) and Ross (Shawzer 2.0) if not on game-1 roster, they’ll be in for the second 40(games)…
These guys are going to be good players, but how good is Teuvo.
Look at this picture, doesn’t that look like Bolland…
http://www.moncton-wildcats.com/roster/show/id/7024
@Morrison – Danault skates well enough to play in the NHL, don’t know if that is true for Ross.
I don’t follow junior or minor league hockey so I ask this question with a true lack of knowledge about prospects in particular.
Is Stan not making a trade for a #2 C, not because he believes he has one for next year (which I think he does believe), but because he is going to bring Danault up after his Junior Playoffs are done? I think we did that with Kruger (from Europe). Could we do it again? IS Danault good enough to play this year…on the 2nd Line?
@Peter, other than a few games in the U20 tourney where Danault played for Canada I haven’t seen him play so I don’t don’t know if he looks good enough to play at the NHL level now. The reports that I read on him were that he is more of a 3rd line center and probably Bolland’s replacement next season or the season after. He’s a top-6 center at the junior level but keep in mind that this is his final year at the junior level so he’s a 19 year old playing with lots of 17 & 18 year olds.
I think he will get a call up after he is out of the QMJHL playoffs but I doubt Stan is counting on him to even play let alone the 2C spot.
The funny thing was I was always under the belief was Mark O’Neil was the 2nd line center that the Hawks have been looking for but it sounds like he hasn’t developed into that player yet. Reminds me of every ones favorite prospect Kyle Beach. Speaking of which I’m still surprised he hasn’t sniffed an NHL game yet since his contract is up after this season.
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/
best site for anyone looking for details on NHL prospects
IMO- neither Danault or McNeil will be making an impact come Playoff time…
I tried to watch a lot of World Jrs.- Danault is a better skater and passer… hounds the Puck… at best he is in the NHL in 2 years as a 3rd line option– and improves to a 2nd line center.
The better comparison to “Kruger” coming in during playoff run would be Teuvo.
Watching him play was comparable to watching Kane/Hoss… especially in PP situations… (I complained about Saad’s lack of patience in the 1st 25 games… and Saad has improved his patience and timing greatly in last several games.) Teuvo is a natural… he is so calm w/ puck ( just like Hoss on PP)- way beyond his years… his vision is Kane-like and his shot is quick/accurate. He has played against men for two years now… If this kid has a great playoffs… he could be the first Prospect to get the call. 1 goal in 2 playoff games so far.
Neither Danault or McNeil can help the Hawks this season…Danault might be ready to make the leap at some point next year, but only if he continues to put on the muscle. His body, as is, won’t stand up in the NHL…McNeil’s will, and might be that guy next year…we will see what happens when he gets to Rockford in a month’s time…
TT potentially next year, but he needs to put on strength as well…ultimately another year in Europe bulking up would be just what the Dr. ordered for him.
There has been a Monty and Rusty siting on the Rockford scorecard… both potted Goals.
Could this be Bowman’s Playoff Power Forward — Rusty???
Honestly- Rusty used to be pretty good- when he wasn’t injured… put up good #’s in Rockford too.
Perhaps he has 25 games in the NHL left in those knees come Playoffs!
I would be awful scared to count on Rusty in the playoffs but stranger things have happened. No doubt the guy has NHL talent, its just a question of how bad he wants it. Look at Ville Leino 9 goals w the winged wheel; traded to Philly. 4 pts in 19 games in the reg season that the guy so crazy with 21 pts in 19 playoff games carrying his team to the finals. By the way he and his insane contract is due to back soon. Playoffs are really a different animal. Kinda like Frolik too