Is this Wyatt Kaiser's Best Chance at Staying in the NHL?

Yesterday it was announced that Rockford Icehogs defenseman Wyatt Kaiser was getting recalled to play in the NHL with Chicago. While not a stranger to getting his chance with the Blackhawks (he has played 32 games over the past 2 seasons already), this does appear to be one of his best opportunities to actually make an impression on the Hawks' organization.

While not the typical narrative one would take with a 21 year old prospect, Blackhawk Up is thinking ahead to the upcoming draft as a clear sign that any young defenseman in the organization needs to start showing their best overall skill traits before the season is over. As of right now, the Blackhawks are locked into getting a top 4 pick. If it isn't #1 and Macklin Celebrini then the odds of it being a defenseman go up dramatically. Artyom Levshunov, Anton Silayev, and Sam Dickinson are all considered top picks and Kyle Davidson could be eyeing any number of them.

The draft at the end of June is defensive prospect heavy, most of the prospects in the system were drafted by Stan Bowman, and it looks like at least 2 of those top 4 (future) spots are locked up with 19 year old Kevin Korchinski and 22 year old Alex Vlasic. This should signal warning signs to players such as Isaak Phillips, Michael Krutil, Louis Crevier, and Wyatt Kaiser. These are players that weren't highly drafted and more to the point not drafted by the Hawks current General Manager Kyle Davidson.

By all accounts, Kaiser has had a solid development path as he played 3 seasons of NCAA hockey for Minnesota-Duluth and has followed it up with a good first season in Rockford. Thus far in 31 games he has tallied 15 points (3g, 12a) for a late surging Icehogs crew. Working against him however are his average measurables at just 6-0 173lbs while being a left shot defender (something the Blackhawks have alot of).

Turning 22 years old just after the draft, a former 3rd round pick by a former GM, and playing a position in which the orgnaization has alot of assets invested into.... Yes, Wyatt Kaiser the time is NOW to show the Blackhawks you intend to stay in the NHL.