Posts Tagged ‘Brandon Pirri’

Dylan Olsen makes Canada’s junior team

December 15th, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

When the Canadian World Junior training camp closed up shop last year, defenseman Dylan Olsen didn’t survive the final round of cuts and was sent packing. This time around, the outcome was more desirable for the Blackhawks’ first round pick (28th overall) in 2009, as it was announced Wednesday morning that he was selected to the 2011 squad. He is just one of the two players that made the team from the collegiate ranks.

Forward Brandon Pirri, who was also invited and attended the training camp, was one of the nine players released this morning. He will no longer experience the hoopla that surrounds the Canada’s selection process to their national junior team, and return to the not-so glamorous surroundings of Rockford, Illinois

Olsen and Co. will have 11 days to prepare for their first match of the World Junior Hockey Championship against the Russians on Boxing Day (December 26) in Buffalo, New York.

On the American front

Forward Jeremy Morin and defenseman Nick Leddy were invited to Team USA’s selection camp, which begins Thursday, and will compete with 27 other players for a spot on the 22-man roster. Morin was a member of the 2010 gold medal winning team, but whether he’ll attend the camp is still up in the air. Injuries to players such as Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane could keep him in Chicago indefinitely.

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Olsen and Pirri invited to Canadian WJHC selection camp

November 29th, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

Hockey Canada announced their 39-man World Junior Hockey Championship selection camp roster on Monday. Two Blackhawks prospects – defenseman Dylan Olsen and forward Brandon Pirri – will be in attendance starting December 12 in Toronto, Ontario. The roster will need to be trimmed down to 22 players before the championship tournament begins in Buffalo, New York on December 26.

This is Olsen’s second consecutive year at Team Canada’s camp. He didn’t make it past the final round of cuts last December, but has a great shot to make the team this time around despite the competition on defense. Three blue liners are returning from 2010′s silver medal squad (Jared Cowen, Ryan Ellis and Calvin de Haan). Olsen is having his best collegiate season to date with the top-ranked Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs (WCHA).

Pirri has spent the majority of the season with the Rockford IceHogs (AHL), and will be made available by the Blackhawks for the selection camp and World Junior’s if need be. This is his first invite to a Canadian national training camp.

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Top twenty Blackhawk prospects: Fall 2010

October 15th, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

Our first installment of prospect rankings for the season have been expanded to twenty players, from the usual ten. The regular guidelines for making the list are still intact – under the age of 25, and less than 40 games played at the NHL level for skaters and 20 appearances for goalies. For more information and statistics regarding every player in the Blackhawks’ system, check out our In the Organization page above.

A lot has changed since the Spring 2010 rankings due to the addition and subtraction of so many players this off-season.

1. Kyle Beach (LW)
Date of Birth – January 13, 1990
Team – Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

If a general manager praises a player for his tenacity after jumping then injuring a five-foot something Norwegian at prospect camp, thus knocking him out of commission for about four months, things become very clear. Beach is a Stan (and Scotty) Bowman favorite, no matter how dense he is. He’ll spend most of the year in Rockford, with a few trips up and down I-90 this season. (Previous Rank: 1)

2. Jeremy Morin (LW)
April 16, 1991
Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

Looks like Bowman got himself a gem in the Dustin Byfuglien to Atlanta trade. Morin was close to breaking training camp with the Blackhawks, but the experience he will gain playing in the AHL will prove to be beneficial. The kid is a natural scorer, but his skating could improve. Morin was a member of the gold medal winning American team at the World Juniors in 2009, and is a lock to make the team once again this year. (NR)

3. Dylan Olsen (D)
January 3, 1991
Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA)

He’s got all the tools. He is big, physical, skates well and is a natural playmaker from the point. Olsen will spend another season at Minnesota-Duluth, and is a candidate to make the Canadian under-20 national team for the World Juniors. Olsen will compete for a spot on the Hawks’ blue line next fall, at the earliest. (3)

4. Shawn Lalonde (D)
March 10, 1990
Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

He joined the IceHogs for eight regular season and three post season games last year, and will play the majority of his games in Rockford this season. Primarily known as an offensive defenseman, Lalonde provides some pop as well. He has great up-ice vision, skates well and is destined to be a power-play quarterback. (2)

5. Marcus Kruger (C)
March 27, 1990
Djurgardens (SEL)

The Swede is wearing the “A” for Djurgardens at the ripe age of 20. On top of being an on-ice leader, Kruger is a playmaker whose instinct is to pass first. His head is always on a swivel, and is constantly looking for the open man. Kruger is also an asset in the defensive zone. The Blackhawks signed him to an entry-level deal this summer, but missed training camp with a foot injury. (5)

6. Nick Leddy (D)
March 20, 1991
Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)

Despite seeing some improvement from the 19-year-old defenseman in the first four games of the season, on the job training isn’t something you want from a guy playing fifteen minutes a game in the NHL. Leddy could use some seasoning in Rockford to work on his board play, strength and overall decision making. (4)

7. Kevin Hayes (RW)
May 8, 1992
Boston College (Hockey East)

Kevin was drafted out of Noble & Greenough High School in Massachusetts this spring. He accelerated his schooling in order to be draft eligible, as well as join his older brother Jimmy (see below) at Boston College this fall. Kevin was a crowd pleaser at this summer’s prospect camp because of his speed and all-around hockey ability. (NR)

8. Brandon Pirri (C)
April 10, 1991
Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

He left Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute after his freshman year for the bright lights of…umm…Rockford. Pirri happens to be another Bowman favorite, luring him away from collegiate ranks this summer with an entry-level deal. He’s a nice little player (6‘0“ 160), but has a long way to come to be a regular in the NHL. (8)

9. Brian Connelly (D)
June 10, 1986
Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

Connelly was named the IceHogs’ Rookie of the Year last season. In 78 games, the defenseman scored four goals and 31 assists. His 35 points was good enough for sixth best in the AHL among blue liners. Connelly doesn’t have a ton of hype surrounding him like other prospects in the system at the position, but he’s a solid two-way player. (10)

10. Jack Skille (RW)
May 19, 1987
Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)

Yep, Skille is still considered a prospect. It finally looks like the 23-year-old forward found a home on the Blackhawks’ roster. He has been one of the better players on the young season, and provides a nice balance skill and energy as a bottom-six forward. Skille has yet to scratch the score sheet, but if he continues at this pace the ponts will come. (7)

11. Ivan Vishnevskiy (D)
February 18, 1988
Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

Vishnevskiy came to Chicago when Andrew Ladd was shipped to Atlanta, and is now with his third organization. Like many Russians he skates well and is skilled, but it’s been four years since he was drafted in the first round (27th overall; 2006) and the sheen is beginning to dull. Vishnevskiy is part of the deep defensive prospect pool in Rockford, and will have a hard time standing out above the rest. One thing that will set him apart from the rest is experience. (NR)

12. Jimmy Hayes (RW)
May 8, 1992
Boston College (Hockey East)

Kevin’s older brother was acquired by the Blackhawks during the 2010 draft weekend from the Maple Leafs. The fact that Brian Burke let a big forward (6’5” 210) such as the elder Hayes go, should raise a few eyebrows. Toronto’s general manager drools over these sorts of players. Jimmy is a big, physical power forward with an offensive upside. (NR)

13. Ludvig Rensfeldt (LW/C)
January 29, 1992
Brynas J20 (SuperElite)

Rensfeldt is tearing up Sweden’s 20-year-old junior league. In eight games so far, he has seven goals and eight assists. It’s only a matter of time before he gets called up to the SEL. Rensfeldt is a player to keep an eye on. The 18-year-old is a talented player, and it will be a couple years before he’s ready to cross the Atlantic for good. (NR)

14. Bryan Bickell (LW)
March 9, 1986
Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)

Bickell is a tough, physical winger, but he doesn’t have much in the way of skill. He has a nose for the net, but won’t be anything more than a bottom-six forward. Not that there is anything wrong with that… (NR)

15. Byron Froese (C)
March 12,1991
Red Deer Rebels (WHL)

He is very raw in appearance, but gets the job done with his physical and offensive play. In nine games played for the Rebels on the young season, Froese has netted three goals and tallied twelve assists. His numbers so far this season are a little deceiving – the kid can score. Froese had 29 goals with the Everett Silvertips in 2009-10. (NR)

16. Igor Makarov (RW)
September 19, 1987
Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

Makarov caught the eye of fans at training camp, but just fell short of making the Hawks’ roster. The Russian winger has been an enigma in his short career. He is quick and a great level of skill, but needs to be stronger on his skates and battle harder along the boards. For the last two years in the KHL, he was an unproductive bottom-six forward. I have my doubts whether Makarov will stick in the NHL, if he ever gets there. (NR)

17. Philippe Paradis (C)
January 2, 1991
Prince Edward Island Rocket (QMJHL)

Of the prospects that came over in the Kris Versteeg trade, Paradis performed better at prospect camp and training camp, which isn’t saying much. He was selected in the first round (27th overall; 2009) by the Hurricanes solely on potential. Paradis might make it to the NHL one day, but it will be a long and bumpy road that gets him there. (NR)

18. Ben Smith (RW)
July 11, 1988
Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

The former Golden Eagle doesn’t necessarily have all the tools, but his work ethic is second to none. Smith was important cog in the Boston College machine, which national championship in 2010. He was named the Frozen Four MVP. He has a nice career ahead of him as a bottom-six forward, and a penalty kill unit specialist. (NR)

19. Joe Lavin (D)
July 17, 1989
Notre Dame (CCHA)

Lavin is already half-way to becoming a hockey legend. The 21-year-old was arrested for supplying alcohol to minors at a party in his honor. He was not disciplined by the team, however. Lavin is a strong skater, plays the position well and has a wicked shot from the blue line. (NR)

20. Justin Holl (D)
January 30, 1992
Minnesota (WCHA)

The tools are there, but the 18-year-old could be more refined. He is an offensive minded defenseman, skates well and likes to jump in as the fourth forward. Holl’s overall defensive play needs a lot of work, and he’ll get the necessary playing time at Minnesota. The Blackhawks will give him a few years to fill out his frame (6‘2“ 170) before they come knocking. (NR)

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More cuts, and notes from the underground

October 1st, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

In the latest round of roster cuts, the Blackhawks assigned forwards Kyle Beach, Igor Makarov, Brandon Pirri and Ben Smith with defenseman Brian Connelly to Rockford (AHL). Yep, this is the second time this fall that Pirri will make the 90 mile drive to join the IceHogs training camp. He was re-called for last night‘s exhibition game in St. Louis, while goaltender Alec Richards was demoted.

As it stands the training camp roster sits at 26 players, and the Hawks’ brass will need to trim four more players from the roster before the season starts. Jassen Cullimore and Hannu Toivonen are as good as gone, but prospects Jeremy Morin and Nick Leddy have a fighting chance to stick around when camp breaks.

Jack Skille is day-to-day with an arm injury he suffered against the Blues, and Nick Boynton is suspended for one game because of his throat-slash gesture. Morin will be skating with Jonathan Toews Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane in tonight’s game vs. the Penguins.

Training camp roster –

Forwards (14) – Bryan Bickell, Dave Bolland, Troy Brouwer, Jake Dowell, Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane, Tomas Kopecky, Jeremy Morin, Fernando Pisani, Ryan Potulny, Patrick Sharp, Jack Skille, Viktor Stalberg, Jonathan Toews

Defensemen (9) – Nick Boynton, Brian Campbell, Jassen Cullimore, Jordan Hendry, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Duncan Keith, Nick Leddy, John Scott, Brent Seabrook

Goalies (3) – Corey Crawford, Hannu Toivonen, Marty Turco

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Twelve cut by Blackhawks this weekend

September 26th, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

Twelve players were cut from the Blackhawks’ training camp roster this weekend. Forwards Brandon Bollig, Chris DiDomenico, Rob Klinkhammer, Brandon Pirri and defensemen Jonathan Carlsson, Simon Danis-Pepin, Shawn Lalonde, Ivan Vishnevskiy, Ryan Stanton were assigned to Rockford. Forwards Nick Tarnasky and Ratislav Pavlikovsky were released along with fellow non-roster camp invite, defenseman Wade Brookbank.

In related news, today was the first day of the IceHogs’ training camp.

Training camp roster as it stands –

Forwards (21) – Kyle Beach, Bryan Bickell, Dave Bolland, Evan Brophey, Troy Brouwer, Jake Dowell, Marian Hossa, Hugh Jessiman, Patrick Kane, Tomas Kopecky, Igor Makarov, Jeremy Morin, Fernando Pisani, Ryan Potulny, Ludvig Rensfeldt, Patrick Sharp, Jack Skille, Ben Smith, Viktor Stalberg, Jeff Taffe, Jonathan Toews

Defensemen (10) – Nick Boynton, Brian Campbell, Brian Connelly, Jassen Cullimore, Jordan Hendry, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Duncan Keith, Nick Leddy, John Scott, Brent Seabrook

Goalies (4) – Corey Crawford, Alec Richards, Hannu Toivonen, Marty Turco

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Can the CHL keep Jeremy Morin from playing in Rockford?

September 14th, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

If only he could walk on water. (Morin pictured above)

I came across this article a few weeks ago regarding an investigation into Jeremy Morin’s eligibility to play in the AHL this season. The issue brought up in the article is whether the CHL – made up of the OHL, WHL and QJMHL – has the authority to block the Blackhawks from assigning him to Rockford. Morin, who turned 19 on April 16, with one season in the OHL under his belt with the Kitchener Rangers, signed an entry level deal with the Atlanta Thrashers weeks before he was traded to the Blackhawks.

“The umbrella league which governs the OHL, WHL and QMJHL has an agreement in place with the NHL where players drafted out of the CHL can only play in the AHL if they turn 20 years old by Dec. 31 or have played in the CHL for four seasons.”

There appears to be a loophole within the CHL-NHL agreement. Morin was drafted by the Thrashers out of the U.S. National Team Development Program (NTDP) in the 2009 entry draft before he joined the Rangers. There is no such by law in existence between the NHL and any American developmental hockey league, such as the NDTP.

Neate Sager, of Buzz the Net, points out that Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson left the OHL at 19-years-old to play for the Hershey Bears last year. Carlson was drafted out the United States Hockey League (USHL) in 2008.

The CHL has their best interest in mind, wanting to keep players around so they have a relatively high talent level with their on-ice product. Because other players have taken the same route to the AHL, it doesn’t appear as though they can get in the way of the Blackhawks’ will. The CHL is taking issue with Morin jumping to the AHL at 19-years-old to bring light to their situation, and this could be something to include in the next version of the collective bargaining agreement.

Here comes the youth

Nick Leddy and Brandon Pirri signed entry-level contracts with the Blackhawks this summer, and will be vying for a spot on the IceHogs’ roster at 19, too. The CHL-NHL agreement that could keep Morin from playing in the AHL doesn’t have any effect on both Leddy and Pirri. They are coming from collegiate programs, but they are eligible to play in the CHL if they chose to. Leddy’s rights belong to the Tri-City Americans (WHL), and Pirri’s to the Saginaw Spirit (OHL).

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Pirri entry-level deal official with Blackhawks

August 31st, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

The news broke last week that prospect Brandon Pirri signed an entry-level deal with the Blackhawks, but it wasn’t officially announced by the organization till this morning. He finished his freshman year with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in 2009-10 with 11 goals and 32 assists (43 points) in 39 games at the collegiate level. Pirri’s contract is worth $1,945,000 over three years – a $648,333 salary-cap hit. He is no longer eligible to play for RPI.

The 19-year-old center will likely join a talented Rockford IceHogs’ roster this fall, but can opt to play in the CHL where the Saginaw Spirit (OHL) hold his rights. Pirri’s decision sign a professional deal with the Blackhawks this summer comes on the heels of Jerry D’Amigo – his line mate at RPI – signing his own entry-level deal with the Maple Leafs.

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Notes from day one of prospect camp

July 10th, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

So, I get to Johnny’s Icehouse-West just in time for the beginning of drills with the first group of camp invitees to realize I forgot to print off a roster, and there was a coffee stain on my shorts. Not many people were there at 10am, so it wasn’t hard to get a seat. Pulled out a pad and pen, and noticed I was the only one in attendance taking notes. It didn’t take long for me to feel the pressure from the leering eyes to hide them in my backpack (could have been the big brown coffee stain).

The camp roster was broken down into four teams, and there were two separate sessions. Each session began with a series of drills, and that was followed by a 60-minutes scrimmage with an intermission half-way through. Anyways, here are a few first impressions from day one of prospect camp.

- The Hayes brothers have on-ice chemistry – almost Sedin-like. Well, not really. At a prospect camp, where familiarity with other skaters is virtually non-existent, the Hayes brothers seemed to have an advantage against their opponents in scrimmage. For the first 30 minutes of play, they controlled the tempo while on the ice. They tried Chris DiDomenico and Brandon Pirri at center with the brothers. I felt Pirri complemented the two more so than DiDomenico. He was aggressive to the net, controlled the puck well and looked more poised.

From what I saw yesterday, Kevin Hayes, the Blackhawks 2010 first round (24th overall) pick, is more skilled and better vision than his older brother. Those in attendance were treated to some of that skill when he beat Palmer on a penalty shot. Instead of attempting to describe it, you can watch this video clip.

- Dylan Olsen showed off his skill-set best during the pre-scrimmage drills. Minus stick-handling, Olsen was the best looking player out there of the first group. His passing was accurate, quick and hard. He skated well, carried the puck well and had great down-ice vision. During the scrimmage, Olsen had dialogue going on with his partner.

- From the get-go, Justin Holl looked nervous/clumsy out there. He’s an awkward looking player – very tall and very slim. During drills he looked lost. At the start of scrimmage he was getting beat while skating backwards into the defensive zone. With the more ice-time he got, Holl did seem to improve. He would jump in on plays in the offensive zone, and made a few good passes. My first impression of the kid wasn’t good.

- The player I was least impressed with was Mathis Olimb. He half-assed every drill, and was only interested in offensive play during the scrimmaging. When it comes to back checking, Olimb makes Patrick Kane look like a Selke finalist. I would think this attitude would have to change if he wants to make the NHL roster this fall.

- Kyle Beach led much of the physical play that took place in the second group. I wish I paid more attention to his performance during drills, but I was reading up on the Sharks’ offer sheet to Hjalmarsson on my cell. Big guys such as Brandon Bollig, Ryan Stanton, Robert Flick and Daniel Delisle joined in on the physical game. Beach and non-roster invitee John Kurtz squared off (clip here). Beach was the victor.

- Shawn Lalonde was one of the more polished guys in the second scrimmage. He was paired with Nick Leddy in the afternoon scrimmage, and Lalonde played the role of offensive defenseman. He looked comfortable joining the rush, jumped in on the play in the offensive zone and has a good, hard slap shot from the point. Leddy stayed at home, and challenged shooters in his own zone.

- There were three Swedes at camp, and the one that impress me most was Marcus Kruger. He has great vision and his head was always on a swivel looking for a good pass, which he made many of them. His highlight moment from day one of camp was a cross-ice pass he made on a fast break that led to a goal. His lowlight was when Jeremy Morin picked his pocket in the neutral zone as he searched for an outlet. Morin skated into the offensive zone and scored.

- Joe Palmer and Kent Simpson were in net for first group’s scrimmage, and neither were really challenged or stood out. In the second group, Mac Carruth showed off the goods. He looks small out there compared to Palmer, and is a quick, butterfly goaltender. He did well taking away angles from defenders shooting from the point, and has a relatively quick mitt. Carruth was a little chippy in his crease. He was tapping and pushing opposing skaters with his stick. He came out of a 6-on-5 situation unscathed.

- Mitch Versteeg looks nothing like his older brother. He did put someone over the boards and into the bench. Friday’s crowd loved it.

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Draft Day 1: Blackhawks select Kevin Hayes

June 26th, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

Kevin Hayes (Getty Images)

The Blackhawks went into the first day of the draft with two picks – the #24 and #30 overall. They attained the #24 pick from Atlanta in the Dustin Byfuglien trade a few days ago, and with it the Blackhawk selected forward Kevin Hayes out of Noble & Greenough H.S. in Massachusetts. He was just one of the record tying 10 American-born players drafted in the first round.

The Blackhawks made some noise by trading the #30 overall pick to the New York Islanders for the #35 and #58 overall picks. Bowman must think the player he wants will be there five picks later. The Blackhawks will start day two with a total of five picks in the second round, and a total of 12 picks in the 2010 draft. Don’t be surprised if that number changes tomorrow.

Kevin Hayes – RW – Noble & Greenough

Kevin Hayes (born May 8, 1992) was drafted out of high school, and will begin his collegiate career this fall at Boston College (Hockey East). He will join his older brother Jimmy who was selected by the Maple Leafs in the second round of the 2008 draft. Kevin finished his junior year at Nobles, but is taking an accelerated summer program in order be eligible for the college ranks and increase his draft value.

Hayes has the build of a power forward (6’2” 201lbs.) and should add more to it before he gets a cup of coffee in the NHL. That won’t be for a couple years. The organization has the luxury to let him develop at one of the better collegiate programs in the nation, much like they’re doing now with 2009 second round selection Brandon Pirri at RPI. Coming off a Stanley Cup victory, a young core locked up for at least five more years and deep prospect pool at the precipice of cracking the NHL roster waiting in Rockford, the Blackhawks are in the driver seat when it comes to decisions as to player developement.

The 18-year old forward is skilled with the stick as well as on his skates, which is a rare find in a player of his stature. Hayes is also quite the playmaker. In 28 games played last year, he scored 25 goals with 42 assists (67 points). He has some international experience, playing in two games with Team USA in the 2009 Ivan Hlinka Tournament.

Changes have been reflected on our In the Organization page above.

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Top ten Blackhawk prospects: Spring 2010

June 3rd, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

Welcome to Red Rising’s fourth seasonal top ten prospect rankings at ranking the top ten prospects in the Blackhawks system. Age doesn’t factor into these rankings, only the number of games played at the NHL level. Skaters with more than 40 games played in the NHL and goalies with more than 20 appearances are exempt from the list. Swedish forward Marcus Kruger keeps climbing the list, and Brian Connelly cracks the top ten. Enjoy.

1. Kyle Beach (LW) – Beach had the best season of his junior career with the Spokane Cheifs in his last year of junior hockey eligibility. In 60 regular season games, he scored 52 goals and 34 assists (86 points), and in seven post-season games he scored seven goals with two assists before the Chiefs were eliminated from the playoffs by the Portland Winterhawks. Beach joined the IceHogs when his WHL season was over, and played four regular season games and four post-season games. Of Rockford’s five playoff goals, Beach scored three. He has a real shot to make the team out of training camp, but will need to cut down on the penalties to be productive at the next level. (Previous Rank: 1)

2. Shawn Lalonde (D) – Lalonde will join the Blackhawks at some point next season, and has the speed and vision to be a dynamic blue-liner (see clip below). He led the Belleville Bulls in points this season at 56 in 58 games played with 13 goals. Nine of Lalonde’s goals happened on the power play. He joined the Blackhawks AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, when the Bulls’ season ended. In eight regular season games, Lalonde scored a goal and an assist with 11 penalty-minutes, but didn’t notch a point in three post-season games with the IceHogs. (Previous Rank: 2)  

3. Dylan Olsen (D) – Making the jump from AJHL to the college ranks wasn’t a problem for big-bodied defenseman. Olsen scored one goal and helped on ten others in his freshman year at Minnesota-Duluth, and worked his way onto the first defensive pairing before the season was over. He should continue to see plenty of playing time with the Bulldogs, which of course will only aide his development. At best, Olsen is about two years away from getting his cup of coffee. (Previous Rank: 3)

4. Nick Leddy (D) – Leddy was selected by the Minnesota in the first round of the 2009 entry draft (16th overall) straight out of high school. His rights came over from the Wild with defenseman Kim Johnsson at the pre-Olympic trade deadline this year. Leddy finished his freshman season at Minnesota with three goals and eight assists in 30 games. Reports stated that the Wild began to sour on the defenseman because of the lack of offensive production. He skates well, but needs fill-out his 5’11” frame. If he pans out, Leddy is two or three years away from cracking an NHL roster. (Previous Rank: 4)

5. Marcus Kruger (C) – Kruger had quite the year in Sweden. He was a rookie of the year nominee in the SEL, and was selected to his national team for the World Junior Hockey Championship. The Swedes won bronze. The 20-year old possesses leadership qualities, and accumulated 31 points in 36 games in one of the better hockey leagues in the world. Kruger played a pivotal role in Djurgardens’ second place finish with ten points (three goals and seven assists) in 16 games. Impressive for a player drafted in the fifth round (149th overall) of the 2009 entry draft. It will be another year before he comes stateside. (Previous Rank: 7)

6. Akim Aliu (RW) – Aliu started the season in Rockford, but was reassigned to Toledo (Blackhawks’ ECHL affiliate) for his lack of on-ice production. He finished the year with the Toledo Walleye on a high note – scoring five goals with nine assists in 13 games. Aliu will rejoin the IceHogs out of training camp this fall, and should stay there for the season. He has the raw talent to be a top-six forward in the NHL one day, but Aliu will need to curb the attitude and temper if he ever wants to live up to his potential. (Previous Rank: 5)

7. Jack Skille (RW) – All you really need to know about the former first-round draft selection (7th overall) out of the University of Wisconsin is that he’s a bust at 23. That being said, Skille will be on the Blackhawks roster once training camp breaks this fall. (I felt like a broken record just then). He is a restricted free agent at the end of the season, and will be retained by the organization because he’ll come cheap. With the current state of the Blackhawks’ 2010-11 payroll, cheap is good. (Previous Rank: 6)

8. Brandon Pirri (C) – Like Dylan Olsen, Pirri’s transition from the junior ranks (OJHL) to a collegiate hockey program was seamless. He scored 11 goals with 32 assists in 39 games with the Engineers, and was second on the team with 43 points in his freshman season. The Blackhawks will want him to bulk up – which he’s been doing – and could play out his collegiate career at RPI. (Previous Rank: 9)

9. Billy Sweatt (LW) – In 39 games with the Tigers, Sweatt scored 15 goals with 33 points in his senior season at Colorado College, which was his best. He doesn’t have a professional contract, and wasn’t assigned to Rockford with the group of players whose junior or collegiate eligibility expired. If the Blackhawks don’t sign him his off-season, they will have to relinquish his rights. The fact that he has yet to sign probably the Blackhawks have soured on the second round draft pick. Sweatt’s greatest asset is his speed, but needs to improve in other areas of his game at the next level. (Previous Rank: 8)

10. Brian Connelly (D) – Connelly was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Colorado College last spring, and played 78 games with the IceHogs this season. He was second among defenseman with 35 points in his first year in the AHL. Connelly is small for a defenseman (5’10” 167lbs.), but his skating and playmaking abilities supersede any short-comings (pun intended). He has the inside track to win a spot on the Blackhawks blue line out of training camp this fall. (Previous Rank: NR)

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