Not since 2007 has there been this much excitement among the Chicago Blackhawks over a teenager who is still a long shot to start the season in the NHL.
Back then it was Patrick Kane. Now it’s Alex DeBrincat.
Listed at 5’7″ and 165 pounds, the 19-year-old forward recently helped the Erie Otters to an OHL title. He is unequivocally Chicago’s most exciting prospect. At the team’s annual training camp festival on Saturday (sold out, I might add), he impressed at left wing alongside captain Jonathan Toews and returnee Brandon Saad.
On Sunday, he appeared on Kane and Nick Schmaltz’s line, and earned rave reviews from the coach for his weekend’s efforts.
Will the Chicago Blackhawks Resist the Temptation of Alex DeBrincat?
“I think we want to see him do what he does best,” Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said via the Washington Post.
”I think he’s got great instincts offensively and he finds the puck in dangerous areas.
“He comes up with loose pucks because he’s got the hockey sense of how he handles and uses his stick, and he’s playing with a couple of guys who are the same.
“Around the net he’s got a great finish. I don’t think we want to see him do anything different than how he’s played in junior; and his whole life.
“The reading and anticipation of plays, communicating without having to communicate, they know where it’s going to go next and that’s something that will only get better as they get accustomed to playing together.”
Chances of Making the Team
Does the latter part of that quote signal DeBrincat may be soon for the team?
Originally long money to do so, DeBrincat has beefed his claim to a spot somewhere among the ‘Hawks lines for opening night. Some sites already have DeBrincat as high as the second line, alongside Kane and Schmaltz, his scrimmage partners on Sunday. The comparisons here are obvious.
Artemi Panarin, a similarly small winger (5’11″, 170 pounds) started in that position the previous two seasons for Chicago, and capitalised massively on the kind of attention Kane draws. However, Panarin already had five professional seasons in the KHL under his belt before signing with the Blackhawks. DeBrincat has just three major junior seasons.
That situation would also see DeBrincat playing on a small line. Kane (5’11, 177 lbs) and Schmaltz (6’0, 176 lbs) are slender customers also. They would be at risk of their opposition deploying a bully-line to attempt to keep them out.
Would DeBrincat work on a lower line, tasked with producing the bulk of the scoring? Potentially, alongside the powerful, defensively-minded Tommy Wingels, and steadily improving Tanner Kero. The ‘Hawks could also consider a combination of DeBrincat with the experienced Artem Anisimov and Patrick Sharp.
With Marian Hossa out, and with the annual salary cap crunch coming to roost, Chicago needs to find offensive production somewhere. An ideal world sees DeBrincat wait it out another year with the Rockford IceHogs. However, “ideal” is not the situation the Blackhawks find themselves in.
Will the club resist the urge to open the season with DeBrincat dressed and ready to go; on whichever line it may be?
