3 storylines to follow for the Chicago Blackhawks during training camp

Which young defender steals a spot?

The Blackhawks have no shortage of young defensemen in their system and a good problem for the team is that there might be a few of them pushing for a roster spot.

Among their crop of defenders, Alex Vlasic made the jump to the NHL full-time last season and was fantastic in his first full season. Many others will look to do the same this year.

Wyatt Kaiser, Ethan Del Mastro and Nolan Allan are all expected to be knocking on the door of becoming a full time NHL'er and could make a very interesting internal competition throughout camp and preseason.

The Blackhawks signed veteran free agent defensemen Alec Martinez and TJ Brodie this summer who will both provide veteran leadership to the back end, but both are likely not to be in the lineup every game. This will give more opportunity to one of the young players trying to make the jump.

Wyatt Kaiser began last season on the Blackhawks, but was sent down after showing he was not fully ready for the NHL. He played 37 games with the IceHogs before coming back up to Chicago where he looked much better. Kaiser has proven that he can play in the NHL, but the question will lie in whether or not he can remain consistent.

Ethan Del Mastro saw an NHL call-up in early April after being one of the IceHogs best players throughout the season as a rookie. He was named to the AHL all-star team and played on the team's top pair as his game kept developing as a two-way defender. His growth in recent seasons has made him an exciting player who could earn a roster spot to start the year.

Nolan Allan was close to making the Blackhawks out of camp last year after being one of the last cuts for opening night. He had a strong rookie season in Rockford and plays a very poised and consistent defensive game. After showing he can be effective at the pro level, Nolan Allan is expected to leave the Blackhawks with yet another tough decision at this year's camp.