Red Rising’s second attempt at ranking the Blackhawks top ten prospects is here. Niklas Hjalmarsson has been great this season, and has played enough games in the NHL to graduate from the summer rankings (he was #2). Skaters with more than forty games played in the NHL and goalies with more than twenty appearances are exempt – age doesn’t factor into the rankings.
1. Kyle Beach (LW) – A couple days after the Blackhawks cut him from training camp, the Lethbridge Hurricanes traded Beach to another WHL team, the Spokane Chiefs. He is in his last year of eligibility at the junior hockey ranks. With Spokane, Beach has nineteen goals (fifth in the WHL) and eight assists in twenty-one games, and what would a power forward be with out putting in his time in the penalty box – he has 69 penalty-minutes on the season. (Previous Rank: 1)
2. Shawn Lalonde (D) – Lalonde missed nine games this season with a shoulder injury, but back in the lineup and producing from the blue line. In eighteen games, Lalonde has eighteen points (six goals, twelve assists). He is a great skater, but could improve in the defensive zone. Lalonde preformed well at Team Canada’s junior development camp this summer, and he could make the national team for the World Junior Championships next month. (Previous Rank: 4)
3. Dylan Olsen (D) – Olsen seems to have everything you want out of a defenseman. He skates well, is capable on both ends of the ice and has a physical style of play. In his first collegiate year at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Olsen has tallied eight assists in twelve games. Like Lalonde, he is also being considered for Canada’s World Junior team. (Previous Rank: 5)
4. Akim Aliu (C/RW) – Originally drafted at center, the IceHogs have been playing Aliu primarily on the wing. His offensive production is down in his first year at the professional level – five goals and one assist in eighteen games – but Aliu is still developing his offensive game with a physical brand of play in Rockford. (Previous Rank: 3)
5. Antti Niemi (G) – The organization’s choice of Niemi to backup Cristobal Huet was the right one. He has two shutouts on the season and a goals-against average of 1.85 in six appearances this season. Niemi has adapted to the North American game well, and could take over as the No. 1 goalie down the road. (Previous Rank: 7)
6. Billy Sweatt (LW) – Sweatt is having his best season for Colorado College in his senior year. He has eight goals and eleven assists in twelve games on the season. Sweatt is known for his speed and high level of energy, and it is hard for others to keep up with him. Looks like he could fit into the Blackhawks’ high-powered offense someday. (Previous Rank: 8 )
7. Jack Skille (RW) – After a brief stint in the show, Skille is back with the Rockford IceHogs. Over the course of training camp and the five games he played in the NHL this season he showed flashes that he can be a forward at the level, but Skille tends to be inconsistent. He has fallen out of favor with the organization that drafted him in the first round, and other capable forwards are recalled over Skille. (Previous Rank: 6)
8. Brandon Pirri (C) – The Blackhawks second-round selection in this year’s entry draft, Pirri will have to add to his 6’0” 160lbs frame. He is still a few years away from contending for a roster spot in the NHL, but the kid is quick, skilled and smart. Pirri is playing for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (it just sounds smart, right?). He has six goals and six assists in thirteen games in his freshman year. (Previous Rank: NR)
9. Igor Makarov (RW) – The twenty-two year old Russian prospect didn’t attend this year’s training camp – probably due to the lack of roster spots available on the NHL club – but Makarov hasn’t flourished in the KHL behind a core of veteran skaters on the St. Petersburg squad. Makarov is still a strong skater and knows his way around the offensive zone. (Previous Rank: 9)
10. Corey Crawford (G) – After losing out the battle for backup, Crawford returned to Rockford and is competing to starts with the younger Joe Fallon. He is 5-7-1 with a goals-against average of 2.74 with the IceHogs. Crawford has the talent to be a capable backup in the NHL, but that opportunity is likely closed with the organization that drafted him in 2003. (Previous Rank: 10)
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