As I re-watched the last 5 games of the Blackhawks season last year, I was focusing on each shift by Dylan Sikura for my last
"Will He Make the Team" blog .
However, I was drawn to the play of another newcomer that laced them up on the backend for 4 games at the end of the year as well. I watched a 22-year old defenceman play like he was a 10-year vet out there. It was the confident and solid 2-way play of Blake Hillman.
Blake Hillman was really a nobody in the Hawks 2016 draft. Overshadowed by Alex Debrincat and Chad Krys at the time, Hillman was a 6th rounder selected 173rd overall.
Hillman has never been an offensive defenceman, even in Elk River, MN, where he grew and played high school hockey.
To be honest, guys with Hillman's skillset – a shutdown defenceman – rarely hear their name called very high on draft day unless they are 6'3+ / 215 lbs+. However, don't kid yourself, NHL scouts know the importance of drafting these types but know that they can afford to wait until the later rounds when their respected team has drafted for an abundance of skill and can take a chance on more role/positional players.
Hillman, coming out of his first season with the University of Denver was drafted at 6'1 and 180 pounds. So, not exactly the bruiser that those big, menacing shutdown prospects, but that's not the Hawks modus operandi. He's a more mobile, stick-heady defender with really high hockey IQ.
The way this offseason has panned out, coupled with my recent review of his short stint in the NHL, has shot Hillman up my list of defence who will make an impact this season.
It's been well-documented that Stan Bowman has done very little to improve this team from the outside this summer, therefore, he must be really banking on internal help to take this team from a 76-point performance to the playoffs in 2018-19.
He will need guys like Sikura, Ejdsell, Kahun, Hayden, etc. up front to show they can be consistent factors in winning when they are in the lineup.
On the backend, they will need the same, because while the top 6 D appear to be set, there are also injuries that occur. Also, this is the year that someone could surprise to steal a spot in that top 6.
So, will Hillman make this team?
I will say that Blake will make an impact at some point during this season but will start the year in Rockford.
With the injury to LHD, Gustav Forsling, which will keep him out until November, this could open up a spot for the lefty Hillman, although prediction is Henri Jokiharju will beat him out for that last spot.
If no other moves are made from now until opening night, I envision a combination something like this:
Keith-Jokiharju
Manning-Seabrook
Gustafsson-Murphy
… with Jan Rutta in the press box.
Don't get too caught up on the pairings and who's the odd man out. I think that will vary from game-to-game (as we know).
The only way I see Hillman sneaking in at this point is if Jokiharju completely blows it in Traverse City or in pre-season.
Also, one thing to note is that after watching Hillman closely in his first few performances in the NHL, he has the ability to play the LD or RD. Coach Q even had him on the right side playing with Oesterle for a while.
This would make Hillman even more valuable and could be a steady and appetizing partner for someone like Duncan Keith.
Hillman played under one of the best in NCAA in coach Jim Montgomery (now the Dallas Stars head coach) and will be 23-years old come January this year.
Hillman proved to be a winner as well playing a key top pairing role on the 2017 National Championship winning Denver Pioneers team (which was playing at the United Centre).
Then last year he was paired with future Blackhawk, Ian Mitchell on the top pairing. The 2 really seemed to complement each other and Hillman's leadership qualities really showed playing with the freshman. They might be a pairing in Chicago in a few years.
It's qualities like this that led the Hawks to sign Blake to an early deal, burning a year off his contract for just 4 games. They really wanted to get a look at him and see him as a part of their future. They should too! While the Hawks fans are anxiously waiting for the likes or offensive dmen like Jokiharju, Boqvist and Mitchell, they will need a ‘Hillman' to play next to them.
See ya out there!
JL
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(courtesy of Elite Prospects)
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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