Though it’s been a brutal season for the Blackhawks on the NHL degree, a lot of the staff’s focus is on the long run and its spectacular prospect pool, which frequently ranks among the many finest in hockey. That pipeline has flexed its muscle tissues this week on the IIHF’s World Junior Championships, the place an unimaginable six Blackhawks prospects have discovered their manner onto two squads. Now greater than midway by means of this yr’s group play, the children are making huge impacts on their respective groups.
Adam Gajan
After incomes final yr’s finest goaltender honors on the event, Gajan made a return to Workforce Slovakia with excessive expectations. The netminder has been stout in aim all through his first three appearances. He kicked off the event by stopping all however two objectives in his first recreation, certainly one of which was deflected into the online by his personal teammate. Gajan adopted that efficiency simply in the future later with a 36-save shutout, together with a handful of unimaginable stops. Though he gave up 4 objectives in a win towards Norway early Friday morning, the goalie has guided his staff to a 3-0 begin in group play.
Frank Nazar III
One other prospect with excessive expectations getting into the event, Nazar has been prolific within the scoring column with six assists in three video games. He was some of the notable skaters in Workforce USA’s 11-3 rout of Switzerland Thursday, choosing up 4 major assists. Loads of Blackhawks followers shall be maintaining a tally of Nazar all through the event — he’s Chicago’s prime prospect after being drafted thirteenth total in 2022. As Workforce USA’s second-line middle, he’ll play a giant function of their struggle for a possible championship.
Martin Misiak
Workforce Slovakia’s different skater making an impression to this point is Martin Misiak, who finds himself in his third straight season with the U20 squad. This yr’s second-round choose of the Blackhawks has made essentially the most of his excessive expectations with three assists in three video games. The all-around ahead has performed effectively with the OHL’s Erie Otters this season and has definitely caught the eye of Chicago’s entrance workplace.
The three younger skaters are removed from the one Blackhawks making an impression on the worldwide stage — Oliver Moore, Gavin Hayes and Sam Rinzel are all having a optimistic impact on Workforce USA. The Blackhawks’ intensive record of high-caliber prospects on this event additional show the expertise and depth of their spectacular pipeline.