Blackhawks Vlasic's Strong Rookie Season & 3 Maple Leaf Prospects Who Could be Traded
If a top team wants to compete, they're going to have to sell some of the future, meaning that there could be some very interesting prospects on the trade board.
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In today’s edition, we have a look at Alex Vlasic’s impressive journey to becoming a standout rookie with the Chicago Blackhawks, three Maple Leafs and one Red Wing prospect who could find themselves on the move soon, and much more!
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Now on to the good stuff…
Blackhawks’ Vlasic Removing Doubt With Strong Rookie Season
February 10, 2024 by Brooke LoFurno
“I think they’re going to be studs, both of them.” Rockford IceHogs head coach Anders Sorensen said this quote about defensemen Alex Vlasic and Isaak Phillips in April. This statement carried weight as a couple of prospects whom Chicago Blackhawks fans were high on.
When coaches say things like this about any player, you know it’s something you want to keep in your back pocket because coaches see what fans don’t. Now, 10 months later, this quote seems pertinent, especially to Alex Vlasic, as he flew under the radar and came out with a bang as one of the team’s best as a 22-year-old rookie. Even better? He flipped the script on criticisms that have followed him since he got drafted. Let’s take a look back at how this came to be.
3 Maple Leafs Prospects Who Could Get Traded This Year
February 11, 2024 by JP Gambatese
With the NHL trade deadline less than a month away, the Toronto Maple Leafs will likely make a couple of moves to try and make a deeper playoff run than they’re used to. With that in mind, they’re going to be looking to trade away future assets and draft picks to get some depth pieces. The Maple Leafs’ prospect pool isn’t particularly strong — we have them ranked at 23rd in the NHL — but they still have some quality pieces that should warrant some eyes from teams looking for young players.
It’s been reported that two of the club’s best prospects — Fraser Minten and Easton Cowan — are off the table in negotiations. Minten, the 38th overall selection from the 2022 NHL Draft, has seen a few games at the NHL this year but has mostly stayed put in the WHL, where he’s put up 37 points in 28 games. Cowan, who hasn’t seen the NHL, leads the OHL in points per game, potting 24 goals and 69 points in just 38 games so far this year. It’s easy to see why Toronto is hesitant to move the two. Still, there are a few prospects that fans should keep an eye on as potential casualties to the trade deadline.
Islanders Should Call Up Ruslan Iskhakov But It’s Complicated
February 11, 2024 by Anthony Russo
Ruslan Iskhakov has had an interesting career journey and is in a position to earn a call-up at any moment. However, the New York Islanders are in a tough position where they might have to make a move to make it happen. And there are other concerns surrounding the top prospect, including his size and recent scoring slump.
While Iskhakov isn’t guaranteed to have success in the NHL, there isn’t much left for him to prove in the AHL. In the near future, the Islanders need to decide if he can play in the NHL or not. And the only way to tell is by giving him a chance inside in the top nine. The Islanders can, of course, hold off until the end of the season and try to make the playoffs with its current group, but the longer the organization waits, the more it risks not knowing what it has in Iskhakov.
Egor Sokolov Facing Uncertain Future with the Senators
February 11, 2024 by Nicolas Ferrari
The Ottawa Senators’ prospect pool is as deep as the Rideau Canal. Though many prospects have graduated from junior or the minor leagues and now log regular minutes with the Senators, Egor Sokolov often finds himself on the outside looking in. Sokolov, the 23-year-old from Yekaterinburg, Russia, was drafted by Ottawa in the second round (61st overall) in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
Most second-round picks get playing time by the time they are 23, and some even end up having long and illustrious careers. Sokolov, however, has only suited up for 13 games with the Sens (split between two stints in 2021-22 and 2022-23). Since he is set to become a free agent this summer (July 1st, 2024), this begs the question, does he have a future in Ottawa?
Should the Red Wings Trade Jonatan Berggren?
February 12, 2024 by Tony Wolak
It’s been an interesting year for Detroit Red Wings prospect Jonatan Berggren.
Detroit’s 2018 second-round pick has dominated in the AHL this season—14 goals and 36 points in 33 games—but that hasn’t been enough to warrant a full-time NHL role. When he has been called upon to contribute at the NHL level, he has – Berggren has five points in nine contests, averaging just over 10 minutes of ice time per game.
On top of this, there has been speculation that Berggren could be on the trade block. Given the AHL production, lack of NHL ice time, and the rumors, you have to wonder what’s in store for Berggren. Does he have a future in Detroit? Or is he, in fact, a trade chip? Let’s explore this further.
More Draft & Prospects stuff from THW:
Maple Leafs - Maple Leafs Should Deal Their 1st-Round Pick with Caution
Draft History - The Sedin Twins and the 1999 NHL Entry Draft
Around the AHL - Bridgeport Islanders Drop 3rd Straight to Phantoms
Prospect Rankings - The NHL’s Top 100 Prospects - Midseason Rankings
Draft Coverage - Horn’s Top 100 for February
2024 NHL Mock Draft - Horn’s Early Top-16 Mock Draft