The Future of The Chicago Blackhawks’ Blue Line in 2021 and Beyond

As we continue reviewing the Blackhawks and the decisions they need to make this offseason, one of the biggest deficiencies on the ice has been the play of their Defensemen as a group. In this review, we will take a look at the future of that position group, and whether they are prepared to field a playoff-caliber defensive roster.

When the ‘Hawks won their 3 Stanley Cups, there were a number of reasons for their success. But without solid play from their defense, those Cups would have been a lot harder to win, if they were to win them at all. There were high-end defensemen on those teams. The names are discussed in reverent tones: guys like Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, and Niklas Hjalmarsson.

There were several players who filled key roles, guys like Johnny Oduya, Dustin Byfuglien, Brian Campbell, and I am sure others who I am leaving out. Having 3 capable pairs of defensemen is critical to maintaining competitiveness. But you also need that “shutdown” pairing, that can frustrate and limit the top lines of your opponents.

As an example, let’s look at the defensive pairings of the Tampa Bay Lightning, last year’s Stanley Cup Champion, and a favorite to repeat this season. Their 3 LD all played over 21 minutes per game this season, while alternating partners in some cases, while their RD ranged from 13:33 (Rutta) to 19:40 (Cernak) of ice time

Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonough, and Mikhail Sergachev anchor this defensive unit. Any one of the three could be considered a top 4 Defenseman on most teams, and one of them is always on the ice throughout the game. All 3 of them contribute in all 200 feet of ice and make the Lightning extremely tough to play against.

Their counterparts on the right side are not nearly as well-regarded. Jan Rutta, Erik Cernak, David Savard, Cal Foote, and Luke Schenn have all played a role this season, plus a few other short call-ups. None of them would be players that other teams would seek out to bolster their Defensive group, but it helps illustrate the point that if you have an elite D-man, their partner can be average, and the pairing can still perform at a high level.

To get back to perennial contention, the ‘Hawks need to have 2-4 very good-to-elite defensemen on their team. Right now, they would struggle to meet that criteria. So what do they have on the roster currently, and what’s coming through the pipeline that can help them get to this level? Or will they need to bring in more talent to the organization to get to that level?

We will take a look at all of the key Defensemen in the Blackhawks organization, and determine whether they are future building blocks, future role players, or if they will find themselves elsewhere, either in Rockford or with another organization.

Main Roster Defensemen (cont’d)

Wyatt Kalynuk, LD: Kalynuk was signed as a free agent when his rights with the Philadelphia Flyers expired back in July 2020. The ‘Hawks saw something in him and were convinced he could be an NHL Defenseman. He is a solid puck-mover, and clearly shows some offensive skill (4 goals, 9 points in 21 games), but like most young D, he is still developing in the defensive zone.

Kalynuk was a solid point producer in the NCAA, scoring at least 25 points in each of his 3 years at Wisconsin. He also served as a team captain in his final year, which speaks to his character and leadership potential.

The ‘Hawks do not have much offensive firepower from the left side of their defense. Keith is slowing down in that regard, and Zadorov and Stillman are both defensive-minded D-men. Kalynuk has a place on this team on the left side, and can also contribute on the offensive side.

I see Wyatt Kalynuk as a Role Player on this team moving forward, probably best suited to the third pairing for now, and depending on how things shake out, could be a 2nd pairing left-shot D-man when needed.

Nikita Zadorov, LD: Zadorov, brought over in the Brandon Saad trade with Colorado this past offseason, is a big-bodied defenseman who has the ability to deliver the big hit and intimidate the ‘Hawks opponents in the defensive zone.

He is somewhat of a rarity in the organization; a monster physically, who can affect the game by his presence on the ice alone. This type of defenseman should be defensively focused, and responsible in his own zone. However, Zadorov is inclined to want to join the rush and frequently takes himself out of position in an effort to deliver the big hit.

The role he should play with the team is different than what his salary dictates. Zadorov is reportedly looking for in excess of $5M per season, which is commensurate with a 2nd or 1st pairing D-man, but Zadorov is really more suited to be a 3rd pairing player.

I believe the Hawks need a more physical presence in their D-corps, but I do not believe Zadorov is a fit for the organization moving forward (addressed here). I believe he should be playing elsewhere next season.

Ian Mitchell, RD: Mitchell was drafted in the second round (57 overall) in the 2017 Entry Draft. The team had high hopes for him coming into his first professional season this past year, after playing for 3 seasons at the University of Denver (NCAA). He improved each season in Denver, and appeared to be ready to take the next step to professional hockey in 2020-2021.

He is built like the “offensive-minded” defensemen that have become popular in the modern NHL. Slightly under 6’0″ tall, and a solid skater and puck mover. He earned a spot on the ‘Hawks roster this past year, and played 39 games. He did get sent down for a stint in Rockford, due to some inconsistent play later in the season.

As a young defenseman, he played reasonably well, as well as experiencing significant growing pains as a professional hockey player. It is way too early to make a determination on Mitchell as a player, but he certainly raised some questions about his potential, and place within the organization.

Mitchell probably would have benefitted playing more minutes nightly in Rockford than the 15 minutes per game he averaged on the main roster. That being said, he showed some good things on offense, while struggling in his own end at times. I believe Mitchell is a future Role Player for the Hawks, a second or third pairing RD that can support on the Power Play.

In The Pipeline Defensemen

Once we start digging into the D-men not on the main roster, we start seeing a lot of different styles and levels of player. However, one thing is clear; there are a large group of Left-Shot Defensemen who are part of the organization, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Not a lot of depth on the right side, which explains the heavy reliance on Boqvist and Mitchell to develop and become long-term contributors to the ‘Hawks.

Nicolas Beaudin, LD: Beaudin came on board in the same draft as Adam Boqvist (2018), and was a similar type player as an offensive-minded D-man, but on the left, where Boqvist and Ian Mitchell play the right side. He made his debut at the end of the 2019-2020 season in 1 game, and then played 19 games in the 2020-2021 season for the Hawks.

Beaudin showed some decent angle use and positioning in his own zone this past season with the ‘Hawks, and showed he could use his body pretty well. He’s never going to be a hitter, but he can close off lanes, and tie up opponents in the D-zone, which when done correctly, can be a very effective disruptor to the opposing teams’ offense.

Beaudin held his own, albeit with some struggles, in his first extended action at the NHL level. I think he needs more time in Rockford to gain confidence and hone his craft, but as an Offensive LD, I see him as a future Role Player for the Blackhawks.

Isaak Phillips, LD: Phillips was a 2020 5th round pick of the ‘Hawks, and he played this past season in Rockford on a minor contract, as the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) faced an uncertain season. He signed his ELC at the end of March of 2021, and will be going into next season on a ‘Hawks contract.

Phillips is a bigger Defenseman, at 6’2″ and over 190 lbs. He is a good skater, very athletic, and can play a 2-way game. The initial thought when he was drafted was that he would spend at least 1 (likely 2) years in the OHL before turning pro. Getting a year of experience in Rockford hopefully got him used to the pro game, without damaging his confidence.

Phillips has the potential to be a contributor over the long haul, especially with the size and athleticism he brings to the ice. I view him as a potential Role Player for the Hawks long-term, starting in 2023 or 2024.

Alex Vlasic, LD: Drafted in the second round of 2019 (43 overall), Vlasic is another big body on the left side that brings a different element to the ‘Hawks blue line. At a towering 6’5″, and nearly 200 lbs, he stands out among ‘Hawks prospects. Drafted out of the US NDTP team, he moved on to Boston University, and has played for them the last 2 seasons.

While the strength of his game is in the defensive end, utilizing his reach and size to full advantage, he has been improving his skating and offensive play. Larger D-men like Vlasic take a little longer to develop because they have to learn to not only use their size, but work with their size to effectively react to much smaller, quicker players. If Vlasic is able to do that, he could be a rare player in the Blackhawks organization.

I believe based on his draft position, and his development, that Vlasic is a future Building Block player for the D-corps. I could see him making his NHL debut in 2022-2023, and competing for a full time role in 2023-2024.

Wyatt Kaiser, LD: Kaiser, a 3rd Round Pick in the 2020 draft (#81 overall), was drafted straight out of high school into the ‘Hawks organization. He has decent size at 6’0″, and a little over 170 lbs. He is currently attending the University of Minnesota – Duluth, where he has quickly gained the trust of the coaching staff, being deployed in all situations, and playing heavy minutes.

Kaiser is strong in his own end, using his strong skating and effective use of angles to make it very difficult to play against him.  On the offensive side, his skating and passing are very good, but he is still developing as a player in the offensive zone.

In 2-3 years, I believe Kaiser will be the top D prospect in the ‘Hawks organization. He has the potential to develop into a top-pairing D-man in the future, and could be a Building Block for the team into the latter half of this decade.

Others In The System

There are others in the pipeline that we either don’t know much about, or are not projected to be in the ‘Hawks plans over the next 3 years. These include:

Michael Krutil, RD: played 21 games in Rockford this past season, as the WHL season was in doubt. Bigger body, still young and developing. Potential Role Player in the future. Not currently on an ELC.

Stanislav (Slava) Demin, LD: Teammate of Ian Mitchell at the University of Denver, acquired in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights. Long term developmental prospect. Not currently on an ELC.

Louis Crevier, RD: 7th round Draft Pick in 2020, great size at 6’8″ 210 lbs. Showed surprising offensive contribution the last two seasons, and needs to improve his movement skills, and not rely on his reach and size too much. Long term developmental prospect. Not currently on an ELC

Final Analysis

The Blackhawks have multiple solid players on the Right Side in the NHL right now in Murphy and the still-developing Boqvist, and some solid young depth behind Duncan Keith on the left side in Kalynuk and Stillman. Their prospect pool is deep on the left, and not so much on the right. There is potential for several of their prospects to develop into regular NHL contributors (Vlasic, Kaiser, Mitchell, Beaudin).

If they are looking for the next Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, or Niklas Hjalmarsson, that list gets considerably shorter.  Because what you are looking for there is an elite D-man who could be in the Norris Trophy conversation in their prime. In my opinion, Kaiser and Vlasic are the only ones who have the potential to garner that level of confidence for the future.

Chicago Blackhawks Grades: Duncan Keith 2021 Report Card

So will the Hawks have the 2-4 very-good-to-elite defensemen on their team necessary to compete for the Stanley Cup? I believe they will in 2023-2024, and if they can add a piece in the short term, maybe sooner. The future is is bright on the Blue Line, but patience is necessary to see it come to fruition.