What to watch for at the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase

This is a big sports weekend in Chicago. Sure, there is the Ben Johnson revenge game tomorrow, and the Chicago Cubs are chasing down a playoff spot. But the Chicago Blackhawks return to action tonight as their rookie camp squad takes the ice at the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase. Hockey nuts and Blackhawks fans around the globe have had today’s date circled on their calendars for quite some time.

So, now that the Kurvers Showcase is here, what should you be on the lookout for? I’m glad you asked that question!

“Veterans” Need to Dominate

When you look at the rosters for this weekend, the Blackhawks have more National Hockey League experience than the groups the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues are sending. Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel, Oliver Moore, and Ryan Greene all got a taste of the NHL last season. They should not only be the best four players for the Blackhawks, but the best players of the weekend.

The foursome did precisely what you wanted to see during the three-day rookie camp leading up to the tournament. They stood out. They dominated their drills and led by example. Levshunov and Rinzel looked like they were doing different drills than the rest of the bunch. Everything looked smooth and effortless. They should have huge weekends at 5-on-5 and the power play.

Moore needs to use this weekend as a springboard into training camp. He has a legitimate chance to make the NHL roster out of training camp, so any momentum he can gain this weekend will go a long way. Last year, we all thought Frank Nazar was a shoo-in to make the opening night roster, but he struggled in the preseason and started the season in the American Hockey League. Ultimately, that could be the best plan for Moore, but there is a spot for him if he forces the front office to keep him in Chicago.

“I think I can be a difference maker if I can put the puck in the net,” Moore said. “I’m getting in the right areas and finding the soft spots. Anything I can do to help the team along the wall will be huge.”

Greene was never considered a top prospect and won’t be a flashy player like Nazar or Connor Bedard. However, he brings a vital element to the table. His size, smarts, and 200-foot game will be a welcome addition to the bottom six. The 21-year-old forward is hoping to use those two NHL games last season to his advantage.

“It was a good opportunity for me to get a taste of what it's like at the NHL level, and see how those guys handle themselves,” he said. “It was helpful, and all the things I learned from that I’ll put into training camp and everything going forward.”

First Chance for Nick Lardis to Shine

Nick Lardis enters his first professional season with a lot of excitement. Blackhawks fans really got hyped for him during his 71-goal season in the Ontario Hockey League. With the lack of scoring in Chicago over the past few seasons, his ability to put the puck in the net is needed.

“He’s a super good kid,” Rockford IceHogs head coach Jared Nightingale said. "Obviously, his talent is through the roof. It’s an adjustment when you’re playing against men and bigger D-men. He’s going to be a great project for us. We know it’s a process for younger forwards, but I’ve got a lot of high hopes for Nick.”

However, it’s not his scoring that has me intrigued about his weekend. To steal a phrase from former Blackhawks head coach Derek King, he’s going to need to get the junior coached out of him. There were moments during rookie camp where he was easily taken off the puck and was attempting passes that would never work at the pro level. It is going to take some time for him to learn these lessons. Spending the summer working out with some top-level NHL players certainly won’t hurt.

“Juniors is a different game than pro hockey,” he said. “You have to be a lot stronger going against bigger and tougher guys. Doing those skates in the summer, I learned what it takes with the battle drills and the skill that they have. Working with those guys was really good for my confidence.”

Bring the Physical Presence

These prospect games usually see some big hits and scraps on the ice. There are a lot of players looking to make an impression on their respective coaching staffs, and one way to do that is by being physical on the ice. While today’s game relies heavily on speed and skill, every team still wants guys who can check opponents into the third row.

The two prospects I want to see lead the charge in this category are AJ Spellacy and Aidan Thompson. We already know that they aren’t afraid to mix it up, as they got into it with each other earlier this week.

“When you look at Aidan and AJ, that’s how their games are built,” Nightingale said. “They are highly competitive, and they’re trying to showcase themselves to the staff what they bring. There’s a fine line between going too far, but I’d rather have those guys who are overly competitive and reel them in.”

Spellacy and Thompson both have plenty of skill and speed, but embracing the physical elements of their games could fast-track them up the organizational depth chart. I want to see them asserting themselves on the ice early tonight.

How to Watch, Probable Lines

The Blackhawks will play the Blues tonight at 6 pm CT, before taking on the Wild on Sunday at 3 pm CT. Both games will be streamed live on the team’s official website and app. IceHogs play-by-play announcer Dana Gray and Charlie Roumeliotis of WGN Radio will be on the call.

Here are the lines the Blackhawks have been running in rookie camp:

Forwards

Marek Vancacker-Oliver Moore-Nick Lardis
Adian Thompson-Ryan Greene-Jack Pridham
Nathan Behm-AJ Spellacy-Martin Misiak
Parker Holmes-Ryan Gagnier-Harrison Israels
Owen Robinson

Defensemen

Taige Harding-Sam Rinzel
Dmitry Kuzmin-Artyom Levshunov
Ashton Cumby-Jeremie Bucheler
Andrew Perrot-Ryan Mast

Stanislav Berezhnoy and Owen Flores are the two goaltenders for the weekend.

The Blues beat the Wild 6-4 last night in the weekend’s opening game. Here are the lineups they skated: