New Blackhawks Front Office Doubles Down on Commitment to Improved Prospect Development

โ€œSpeed is going to be a part of our identity.โ€

That was a statement made by Blackhawks’ Assistant GM of Development Mark Eaton on Wednesday afternoon, one he echoed multiple times in his 10-minute conversation with the media after Day Three of the Blackhawks’ Development Camp wrapped up on the ice at Fifth-Third Arena.

It’s also a sentiment that we’ve heard GM Kyle Davidson relate on multiple occasions since the 2021-22 season ended a couple of months ago.

If you watched the opening night beatdown in Colorado last season, you didn’t needed to watch another Blackhawks game all season to know that that roster was not in the same class as a team like the Avs. And speed was the critical difference.

Elite teams skated circles around the Blackhawks last season, and Davidson has seen enough of that. He has said so on multiple occasions, as has other members of his front office including Norm Maciver.

I’m willing to bet that Davidson and new head coach Luke Richardson discussed the speed of teams like the Avs and Lighting and the lack thereof on the Blackhawks when they sat and watched a Stanley Cup game together the night before Davidson formally offered the Blackhawks’ head coaching job to Richardson.

The ice at the Hyundai Rink at Fifth-Third donned multiple tripods with cameras, and almost every coach had an iPad in hand for video recordings as the four groups of prospects made their way through a bevy of drills, most of which revolved around that five-letter word that you’d better get used to hearing – speed.

Straight-line speed, acceleration in and out of the corner, from blue line to blue line, and cross ice. These were the drills that the Blackhawks deployed for the testing day today, all of which was to get an idea of who has it and who doesn’t.

Speed added

We saw as much last week when the Blackhawks drafted Kevin Korchinski and Frank Nazar with the seventh and thirteenth picks in the NHL Draft. Both were dubbed blazers on skates in almost all of their scouting reports. I had a keen eye on Korchinski today as I spent much of my time watching the third group that the seventh overall pick headlined. Let me tell you; he can move as advertised.

Eaton had this to say about Korchinski’s first few days in camp this afternoon:

โ€œKevinโ€™s game in particular, what Iโ€™ve noticed, is just how well he moves around the ice. Heโ€™s a pretty big kid. Looking at him off the ice and seeing the upside of how much he can fill out and continue to get stronger and grow into his frame is exciting, but the way he already skates and can handle the puck and [having his] head up all the time, surveying the surface or the ice, can make plays. The overall quickness of his game has been exciting to watch.โ€

Nazar has looked like the burner he was advertised as, too. He’s been good all three days of camp; Tab noted as much when he wrote about the forward prospects on Tuesday.

Eaton was asked about a timeline for Korchinski, something everyone I’ve spoken with since the draft has asked, naturally. Eaton’s answer to that question was impressive, one that Blackhawks fans should be excited about.

โ€œI donโ€™t think we want to get into the habit of projecting timelines,โ€ Eaton said. โ€œI think weโ€™re shifting to having it [prospect promotions] be merit-based, let these guys tell us when theyโ€™re ready. Weโ€™re not going to rush guys along. I think more harm than good can be done by doing that, so Iโ€™d hate to use that cliche of over-marinating, but letโ€™s let these guys gain confidence at the levels theyโ€™re at and reach the top of that level before we talk about getting to the next level. I think thatโ€™s going to be a philosophical approach.”

Nazar was drafted with the Blackhawks’ pick from the Canadiens last week via the Kirby Dach trade. Dach’s departure signaled the end of a project that some believe was kneecapped by the previous regime and their lack of patience when it came to seeing the development of projects through. As far as Eaton is concerned, gone are the days of rushing prospects to the NHL before they’re ready.

“I think it just gives us more confidence to have faith in the plans that we put together for these guys. Weโ€™re the ones that are dealing with them day in and day out, week in and week out, and we get a sense of how far along they are and things they need to add to their game before it would make sense for them to make the jump to the next level. So, I think that with Kyle [Davidson] and the new management, theyโ€™re going to trust our opinions in those areas.

For us as a development staff, itโ€™s just reassuring because the last thing you want to do is do great work with a guy for a year or two, and then maybe heโ€™s not quite ready, but we put him there anyway, and it kind of kills the previous couple of years and itโ€™s kind of a two steps forward one step back. It feels like weโ€™re getting away from that, and weโ€™re going to take the patient approach and let these guys tell us when theyโ€™re ready.โ€

Not only didn’t Eaton spell out the end of the Blackhawks’ short-sighted prospect development under the previous regime, but he also made it clear that the organization is ready and willing to walk away from a prospect that isn’t fitting into their vision for the future of this team.

โ€œWeโ€™re letting the players tell us when theyโ€™re ready and who fits into the identity weโ€™re trying to build,โ€ Eaton said. โ€œIf we recognize that players weโ€™ve signed in the past arenโ€™t going to help us strengthen that identity, then weโ€™re not afraid to move on.

Itโ€™s one of the things we tell the guys on the first day: itโ€™s great that youโ€™ve been drafted into the NHL, itโ€™s a milestone, but itโ€™s only the beginning. Being drafted doesnโ€™t mean that youโ€™re going to play, that youโ€™re even going to earn a contract someday. It just means that youโ€™re going to have access to the recourses that the Blackhawks have to offer, and itโ€™s going to be up to them to show us that they deserve to be signed. Whether weโ€™ve signed guys in the past that didnโ€™t earn it or not, I think weโ€™ve learned from that, and weโ€™re moving on from that.โ€

Davidson said at the end of the season that the Blackhawks’ rebuild would focus first on replenishing a baren cupboard of talent within the pipeline. His vision for the rebuild centered around sustained success. With the Blackhawks adding 11 new prospects to the pipeline in last week’s draft and more surely to come in next year’s draft, it’s refreshing to know that the organization is committed to sticking to their vision for the surplus of young talent that Kyle Davidson and his front office are committed to adding.

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Patrick grew up in Chicago's Bridgeport and Garfield Ridge neighborhoods before moving to the Western Suburbs of Chicago before eventually relocating to the Las Vegas area with his family in 2023. He started with Bleacher Nation in 2021 and has spent time as a Staff Writer and on the Chicago Blackhawks beat. He is currently a writer and editor at Bleacher Nation covering the Chicago Bears and the NFL at large and the author of the Bleacher Nation Newsletter. Patrick is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).

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The Blackhawks lost a hard fought game to the Oilers in overtime last night. They showed a lot of mettle, battling back from a two-goal deficit in the third period to tie the game late. But a bad penalty in...

Blackhawks 3, Oilers 4 (OT) โ€” Three Stars, Key Takeaways

The good news when a game starts at almost 9 PM local is the first period flew by and neither team scored. With a little under eight minutes left in the first period, this ridiculous sequence by Arvid Sรถderblom and...

Blackhawks Assign Levshunov AND Dach to Rockford, Activate Smith

Before Wednesday's game, the Blackhawks announced a few roster moves. The team formally activated veteran forward Craig Smith from IR. To make room on the roster, they needed to assign at least one player to Rockford. The Blackhawks sent both...

Blackhawks vs Oilers โ€” Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

Yes, the Blackhawks are back on national television. And yes, it's against a really good team with legit championship aspirations. And yes, they're sitting a couple young guys in the press box again. But... this one's at home? And... yeah....

New NHL Players Poll Offers Interesting Results

On Wednesday morning The Athletic released the results of their informal, anonymous NHL player poll. They asked the usual range of questions, from coaches players would/would not want to play for, which cities would be on a no-trade list and...

Smith Returns, Mentor Martinez, Nazar’s Defense, Prospect Rankings, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

The Blackhawks are back in action tonight with Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers in town. Based on practice the last couple days, it appears Craig Smith will return to the lineup and the Blackhawks will hope to rekindle the...

Blackhawks Prospect Pool Climbing Rankings

At The Athletic, Scott Wheeler has been providing his mid-season pipeline rankings of the 32 NHL franchises. What I like most about the prospect evaluation that takes place at The Athletic is the very different views and evaluations of prospects...

Blackhawks College Prospects: Ranked Matchups, Beanpot Championship on Tap

We're now into February, and Blackhawks prospects continue to put up solid numbers across college hockey. There are some really good ranked matchups this weekend, with Denver and Providence both playing important conference matchups. And, Monday night, Boston University will...

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How to Watch VCU Rams vs. Dayton Flyers: Live Stream or on TV

The Dayton Flyers (16-7, 6-4 A-10) aim to build on a three-game home win streak when they host the VCU Rams (18-5, 8-2 A-10) on February 7, 2025.VCU won its most recent game versus La Salle, 96-66, on Tuesday. Joseph...

How to Watch Princeton Tigers vs. Pennsylvania Quakers: Live Stream or on TV

The Princeton Tigers (15-6, 4-2 Ivy League) will try to build on a three-game road win streak when they visit the Pennsylvania Quakers (6-13, 2-4 Ivy League) on February 7, 2025 at The Palestra.In its most recent game, Princeton beat...

Saint Joseph’s (PA) vs. Saint Louis: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

The Saint Joseph's (PA) Hawks (13-9, 4-5 A-10) host the Saint Louis Billikens (14-9, 7-3 A-10) in A-10 play at Michael J. Hagan '85 Arena, tipping off at 9:00 PM ET on Friday, February 7, 2025.In its most recent game,...

Boise State vs. San Jose State: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

The Boise State Broncos (16-7, 8-4 MWC) will try to build on a three-game win streak when they host the San Jose State Spartans (12-12, 5-7 MWC) on February 7, 2025 at ExtraMile Arena.On Tuesday, in its most recent game,...

Purdue vs. USC: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

The Purdue Boilermakers (18-5, 10-2 Big Ten) will attempt to continue a three-game winning streak when they host the USC Trojans (13-9, 5-6 Big Ten) on February 7, 2025 at Mackey Arena.In its previous game, Purdue beat Iowa on Tuesday,...

How to Watch UConn Huskies vs. St. John’s Red Storm: Live Stream or on TV

The St. John's Red Storm (20-3, 11-1 Big East) will attempt to build on a three-game road winning streak when they visit the UConn Huskies (16-6, 8-3 Big East) on February 7, 2025 at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.In its previous...

NHL Anytime Goalscorer Bets and Odds Today – February 7

Anytime goal-scorer odds for players from across the NHL are available here, with five games on the NHL calendar Friday.Watch the NHL on Fubo!Today's Top Anytime Goal OddsLeon Draisaitl (Oilers) +100 to scoreOilers vs. AvalancheGame Time: 9 p.m. ET on...

FC Nantes vs. Stade Brest 29 Prediction, Picks, Live Odds – February 7

The upcoming fixture list in Ligue 1 includes 14th-place FC Nantes hosting eighth-place Stade Brest 29 -- coming off a win and a loss, respectively -- on Friday, February 7 at 1:00 PM ET. Our game prediction can be found...

Cocciaretto vs. Bronzetti Prediction at the Winners Open – Friday, February 7

Elisabetta Cocciaretto (No. 60 ranking) will take on Lucia Bronzetti (No. 72) in the quarterfinals at the Winners Open on Friday, February 7.Bronzetti is getting -140 odds to bring home a victory versus Cocciaretto (+110).Winners Open InfoTournament: The Winners OpenRound:...

Alcaraz vs. Martinez Prediction at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament – Friday, February 7

On Friday, Carlos Alcaraz (No. 3 in the world) takes on Pedro Martinez (No. 44) in the quarterfinals at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament.Alcaraz is favored (-2500) in this match, compared to the underdog Martinez, who is +900.ABN AMRO...

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