As we make our way toward the last month of calendar year 2020, the NHL is still undecided on when it will start the season.
The AHL has set a projected start date of February 5. Drilling down one more level, the
ECHL is starting up in less than two weeks.
Some ECHL teams began camp the day after Thanksgiving. The season opener is coming up on December 11. However, only 13 teams will play the standard 72-game schedule.
* Allen Americans (Wild)
* Florida Everblades (Predators)
* Greenville Swamp Rabbits (Panthers)
* Indy Fuel (Blackhawks)
* Jacksonville Icemen (Jets)
* Kansas City Mavericks (Flames)
* Orlando Solar Bears (Lightning)
* Rapid City Rush (Coyotes)
* South Carolina Stingrays (Capitals)
* Tulsa Oilers (Ducks)
* Utah Grizzlies (Avalanche)
* Wheeling Nailers (Penguins)
* Wichita Thunder (Oilers)
Then, according to the ECHL website:
"Additionally, remaining ECHL teams will begin their season on January 15, 2021, competing in a 62-game season upon jurisdictional approval.
"The Atlanta Gladiators have elected a voluntary suspension for the 2020-21 season due to COVID-19 restrictions, returning to play in the 2021-22 season. All Atlanta Gladiators players are immediately free agents for the 2020-21 season."
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As the Blackhawks ECHL affiliate, the Indy Fuel could be a training ground for some prospects -- whether under ELCs or AHL deals -- who will ultimately play in Chicago or Rockford once NHL and AHL training camps commence.
Of course, this possibility depends on how the rest of the Fuel roster shakes out as they have been actively signing players over the past few months and as recently as a few days ago.
Also, the structure of each prospect’s contract needs to be taken into consideration as well.
Putting these caveats aside, of those prospects on AHL deals, a vast majority won’t advance far (i.e. career minor leaguers) but there are a few to keep an eye on.
Plus, there are some prospects who are locks to start in Rockford yet could benefit from playing in Indy first in order to get their skating legs and timing up to snuff.
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Forwards
AHL Contracts: D.J. Busdeker, Liam Coughlin, Mitch Fossier, Gabriel Gagne, Riley McKay, Dylan McLaughlin, Garrett Mitchell, Mathew Thompson, Chris Wilkie
The forward prospect who may have what it takes to impress and push up the ranks toward the NHL is Busdeker. Excellent defense, tenacity, endless motor, and electrifying skill. Played 4 years of juniors at Saginaw.
Busdeker has also played quite a bit -- and quite admirably -- as a defenseman. Last season he was voted as the best penalty killer in the OHL and was a league leader in shorties.
As a comparable for Busdeker, think high-octane energy grinders like Matthew Highmore and Brandon Hagel but with the mini wrecking ball style of Tim Soderlund.
Sure, Busdeker could easily be a career minor leaguer but he could also impress and climb up the depth chart if he plays up to his potential.
He has in spades what the Blackhawks are seeking as far as a team identity: a relentless compete level to go along with skill and intelligence.
Kirby Dach’s former Saskatoon teammate McKay could be fun to watch yet I really can't see him earning an NHL cup of coffee. McKay isn’t talented enough to warrant a spot as strictly an enforcer and yapper who racks up the PIMs.
Two others who are question marks but could be interesting to see what they can contribute are Fossier and Wilkie. Both were NCAA free agents. Fossier was never drafted while Wilkie was originally a Panthers pick.
The rest of the forward bunch -- Coughlin, Gagne, McLaughlin, Mitchell, and Thompson -- are career minor leaguers so nothing noteworthy.
Hog Hopefuls: Andrei Altybarmakyan, Evan Barratt, Matej Chalupa, Mikael Hakkarainen, Cam Morrison, Tim Soderlund, Michel Teply
This will be Altybarmakyan’s first season on North American ice so it would be good for him to get some reps in early on the smaller surface. He’s also not on loan in Russia so presently not playing.
The same could be ideal for Barratt and Morrison despite not being strangers to North American ice as former NCAA student athletes. They’re not on loan in Europe so they have also been idle.
Chalupa and Teply have been released and downgraded, respectively, from their original loans in the Czech Republic so it may be in their best interest to head to the U.S. instead and log minutes.
Hakkarainen and Soderlund each did rehab stints in Indy last season and played exceptionally well. Kicking off with the Fuel then reintegration with the Hogs may be in order again.
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Defensemen
AHL Contracts: Cody Franson, Jack Ramsey, Jake Ryczek
None of the blueliners are worth tracking.
Franson, of course, isn’t a prospect and is the top choice to be the Hogs next captain and perhaps an eventual player/assistant like Derek King was before becoming a full-time coach.
Hog Hopefuls: Wyatt Kalynuk, Chad Krys, Alec Regula
This will be Kalynuk and Regula’s first season at the pro level so it wouldn’t hurt to get their feet wet at a notch below where they are expected to play this season.
Krys seems to have fallen in the D depth chart -- even below the aforementioned Kalynuk and Regula -- so a jump start with a brief stint in the ECHL could boost his stock.
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Goalies
AHL Contracts: Tom Aubrun, Cale Morris; Chase Marchand (status undetermined)
After a solid NCAA career at Notre Dame, Morris may be the lead candidate to play 3rd string in Rockford behind two of Collin Delia, Kevin Lankinen, and Matt Tomkins.
Expectations are low as an NCAA Division III goalie but Aubrun could surprise and outduel Morris. There is little to no pressure on them as college free agents.
Marchand had his chance last season and really didn’t prove to be anything more than ECHL material.
Hog Hopefuls: none
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Loan Updates
Chalupa started the fall on loan and is no longer with Mountfield HK in the Czech Republic. Even while on loan, he rarely cracked the roster to play even though this was his 3rd season with them.
Pius Suter has moved up from GCK Lions (2nd tier) to ZSC Lions (1st tier) in Switzerland. He is teammates with Marcus Kruger who helped talk up the Blackhawks to Suter over the past year.
Teply has moved down in the Czech Republic from Mlada Boleslav (1st tier) to Stadion Litomerice (2nd tier) which is the same team as 2020 draft pick Michael Krutil.
Krutil is expected to join the Kelowna Rockets once the WHL starts its season in January.
Other players on loan:
* Brandon Hagel, Thurgau (Switzerland), loaned
* Dominik Kubalik, HC Plzen (Czech Republic), practicing only
* Philipp Kurashev, HC Lugano (Switzerland), loaned
* Tim Soderlund, Almtuna IS (Sweden), loaned
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See you on the boards!
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