The Blackhawks have signed defenseman Shawn Lalonde to a three-year entry-level deal. Lalonde is currently with the Belleville Bulls of the OHL, and is one of the top prospects in the Blackhawks system (Red Risings #2). On the season he has eight goals and nineteen assists (twenty-seven points) in twenty-eight games.
If you read this blog often you should know Lalonde’s name by now – it might not be that long till we see the defenseman in a Blackhawk sweater.
- Hockey Canada announced their 36-player selection camp roster this morning for the World Junior Hockey Championships. Two defensive prospects, Shawn Lalonde and Dylan Olsen have been invited to the camp that begins December 12. The roster will be trimmed down to a 22-man roster before the tournament starts December 26.
- Swedish prospect Marcus Kruger has been selected to play on Sweden’s World Junior Team. The fifth-round pick in the 2009 draft keeps making waves in homeland. Kruger was nominated for rookie of the year in the Swedish Elite League last month.
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)
News…
- Yep, Jake Dowell has been recalled by the Blackhawks. This indicates that Jonathan Toews will miss another game with concussion-like symptoms. Nothing has been reported on the matter, or whither Brent Seabrook will miss tonight’s game as well – Jordan Hendry would replace him again if that is the case.
Update: Toews and Seabrook are out.
- Once again starting in net for the Blackhawks will be Cristobal Huet. Everyone is hoping that he can build on the shutout victory over the Predators. The Minnesota Wild are winless on the road (0-7-0) and have tallied only twenty-two goals on the season, so if Huet plays like he did on Saturday, another night ending in cheers will be his reward.
…and Notes
- The Belleville Bulls have been without Blackhawks’ prospect Shawn Lalonde (Red Rising’s #4) for the last five games with a shoulder injury. He could miss between 2-3 more weeks. Lalonde played nine games this season totaling thirteen points (5 goals, 8 assists) and nine penalty minutes.
- Patrick Kane received a call from Martin Havlat regarding EA Sports’ FIFA soccer game.
Before the news came out that Adam Burish would miss about six months of the season with a torn ACL, the Blackhawks made seven cuts in the third round of roster trimming in training camp. After one game played, two top prospects were sent back to their junior hockey teams. Defenseman Shawn Lalonde will go back to the Belleville Bulls (OHL) and forward Kyle Beach will return to the Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL).
The other five cut from the training camp roster will head to Rockford to finish out their training camp. They were forwards Bryan Bickell, Mark Cullen and Rob Klinkhammer and defensemen Daryl Boyle – a non-roster invite – and Brian Connelly.
The number of players stands at twenty-eight with Burish and Marian Hossa heading to the injury reserve.
Forwards
Danny Bois
Dave Bolland
Evan Brophey
Troy Brouwer
Adam Burish
Dustin Byfuglien
Jake Dowell
Ben Eager
Colin Fraser
Marian Hossa
Patrick Kane
Tomas Kopecky
Andrew Ladd
John Madden
Patrick Sharp
Jack Skille
Jonathan Toews
Kris Versteeg
Defensemen
Cam Barker
Brian Campbell
Jordan Hendry
Niklas Hjalmarsson
Aaron Johnson
Duncan Keith
Richard Petiot
Brent Seabrook
Brent Sopel
Goalies
Corey Crawford
Cristobal Huet
Antti Niemi
Red Rising decided to rank who we believe to be the top ten prospects in the Blackhawks’ organization. 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) – Beach’s on-ice attitude is well known to those familiar with the prospect. Two years ago he racked up 222 penalty-minutes, but Beach is more than just a brute. He is a skilled power forward where over his four-year WHL career tallying 187 points (82 goals, 105 assists) in 183 games played. He has a way to go when it comes to brains, but his talent level will make it hard to keep him off the NHL roster for long.
2. Niklas Hjalmarsson (D) – Hjalmarsson proved to be a solid defenseman for the Blackhawks at the end of the season when he replaced the great James Wisniewski (sarcasm intended). He found himself paired with Brian Campbell – a combination that worked. He may never be a point producer at the NHL level, but his physical game and two-way play is where his is of value. A roster spot is being held for the Swede.
3. Akim Aliu (C/RW) – Like Beach, Aliu is a power forward with raw talent and little self control, yet he has a longer rap sheet. In forty-one games played last year Aliu scored 18 goals, 26 assists (44 points) and racked up 91 penalty minutes. His eligibility to play in the OHL is over, and should start the season in Rockford with the IceHogs.
4. Shawn Lalonde (D) – Lalonde’s development has progressed nicely in his three seasons with the Belleville Bulls. The Blackhawks were happy to have Lalonde fall to them in the third round of the 2008 entry draft. Last year he posted 54 points (19 goals, 35 assists) in 66 games played last year – that is up from the 31 points (9 goals, 22 assists) he tallied the previous year over the same amount of games. Lalonde should get first pairing minutes this year with Belleville.
5. Dylan Olsen (D) – A lot of people that are high on this year’s first round pick of the entry draft, but I would like to see how Olsen fares outside of junior hockey ranks before I put much stock into the kid. The scouting report on him is that he moves the puck well, plays a physical game, has a strong shot form the point and skates well for his size. Olsen will play for the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 2009-10.
6. Jack Skille (RW) – Skille made the NHL roster coming out of training camp last season, but was sent down to Rockford only a handful of games later once it became apparent he wasn’t ready to compete at the level. His stock as a prospect has fallen since being taken in the first round (7th overall) in the 2005 entry draft. Last season for the IceHogs, Skille tallied 45 points (20 goals, 25 assists) in 58 games. He should be first in line to benefit from the Marian Hossa injury, and could make the roster once again when training camp breaks.
7. Antti Niemi (G) – Last year was the first year Niemi played the North American game after spending several seasons playing in his native Finland. He posted a 2.43 goals-against average and a 0.913 save percentage while in Rockford. Niemi had a cup of coffee at the NHL level were he refrained from embarrassing himself. He will battle with Corey Crawford to backup Cristobal Huet in training camp.
8. Billy Sweatt (LW) – Sweatt saw his point total in his third season at Colorado College drop to the lowest in his collegiate career – 23 points (12 goals, 11 assists) in 37 games. The Illinois native is fast. His speed allows him to be affective on both ends of the ice. Sweatt should return to school to finish out his fourth season with the Tigers.
9. Igor Makarov (RW) – Makarov made an impression in training camp last year by being one of the last cut. He was unable to carry that momentum while playing in the KHL, and didn’t come to the prospect camp this summer. Makarov scored 9 goals and 8 assists to tally a career high in points (17) last season. It could be a few more years before we see Makarov play in North America – if ever.
10. Corey Crawford (G) – In the inevitable battle for backup against Antti Niemi this fall, Crawford just might have the upper hand. He has been within the organization ever since he was drafted in 2003, and has seen a substantial number of starts in net at the AHL level. Last year in Rockford Crawford posted a 2.59 goals-against average and a 0.917 save percentage. Crawford is destined to be a career backup goalie.
Thoughts?
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