Over the past few months, the Blackhawks’ everyday lineup has suddenly been flipped upside down. A team that started the season as one of the oldest in the entire NHL has flooded its roster with young skaters, making its lineup more fun to watch on a nightly basis. Frank Nazar, Landon Slaggert, Colton Dach and Ethan Del Mastro are part of the stream of youngsters providing fans and the franchise with a glimpse of the future.
The last time I wrote this column, I projected Nazar, Dach and Slaggert to be the next to crack the NHL. By the end of February, the skaters “closest to the NHL” will be college stars like Oliver Moore, Sam Rinzel and Ryan Greene. Before the Blackhawks’ college skaters transition to the NHL, the team will add a few more young stars to its big-league roster.
Kevin Korchinski
The Blackhawks have recently made a habit of rewarding their top AHLers, like Del Mastro, with time in the NHL. The same should happen soon for Korchinski, who was recently added to the AHL All-Star roster for his efforts this season. He’s struggled at times with the IceHogs, but lately, Korchinski has shown Chicago everything it needs to see. He’s picked up 17 points in 32 games and should get another crack at the big show before the season is over. Korchinski will likely be in the NHL full-time this fall, so it’d be best to get him as much time at that level as possible to build his confidence.
Cole Guttman
Perhaps the most likely player to join the NHL before the season is over, Guttman has deserved and needs a chance at the next level. He became the IceHogs’ other All-Star as a result of an ongoing fantastic season in which he’s picked up 38 points in 40 games. After scoring 40 in 39 contests a season ago, the 25-year-old needs to get a crack at the league this season. His contract is set to expire this summer, and Chicago would love to have a big of extra intel before making a decision on his future.
Samuel Savoie
He may not be as likely to join the Blackhawks as the other two, but there’s a decent chance Savoie spends at least a few games in Chicago before the season is over. A hard-hitting power forward, Savoie is one of the most unique prospects in the system and, despite being a third-round pick in 2022, figures to play a major role in the Blackhawks’ full-fledged roster a few years from now. Chicago might as well give him his first taste of the NHL – what do the Blackhawks have to lose?
