Chicago Blackhawks: Dominik Kubalik pushes close for the Calder Trophy

The Chicago Blackhawks rookie sensation Dominik Kubalik has been lighting up teams as of late. He is a top-five rookie and is pushing close for the Calder Trophy each game.

Dominik Kubalik came out of nowhere for the Chicago Blackhawks. Even though Kubalik is 24, he is considered a rookie under the NHL rules. He’s only played 44 NHL games, all during the 2019-20 NHL season.

This is the team’s oldest rookie to be in this conversation since Artemi Panarin in 2015-16. In Panarin’s case, he did play in the KHL. That is a pro-league in Russia. Again, under the NHL rules, he was considered a rookie.

Kubalik is tied for most goals for rookies this season with 16. He has 26-points during his amazing 44 game stretch this season. Kubalik has scored five goals during the last four games. He scored in all of them.

He is on a five-game point streak, which consists of five goals and three assists for a total of eight points. Kubalik was inches short of his first career hat trick last Saturday night against the Ducks. He missed an empty net by inches.

He has pushed himself in the conversation for Rookie of the Year. He is tied for first in goals and fifth in points. If leading score Victor Olofsson slows down or if Kubalik keeps scoring at will, he might steal the trophy.

Even though the team has struggled, it’s nice to see younger players stepping up and having fun. Whether Kubalik wins the Calder trophy or not, his future is bright. The Blackhawks have him, Kirby Dach, and Adam Boqvist to look forward to in the future. Phillip Kurashev and Ian Mitchell are also guys to look forward to.

The next generation of Blackhawks could bring glory back to the city. We were spoiled during the first half of the previous decade. It’s important for the front office to develop these young stars so they can repeat the same success during the 2020s.

Playoffs or not, this team will be a playoff-hopeful for next season. Hopefully, very soon they’ll become a contender. It seems more likely than not looking at the team’s top prospects.