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The 2003 Chicago Blackhawk preseason camp is remarkably different from past ones due to the large number of GM Mike Smith draft picks who are finally close to helping the parent club. Some have shown they will be playing in Chicago in the next couple years, while others return to junior or the minor leagues to develop.

This is also the first Blackhawk preseason where an equal number of vets and rookies were given playing time in the games. The lack of veterans in games can result in being outmatched by the opposition, and a grueling schedule of four games in five nights also impacts team play.  But getting a look at the youngsters is more important that winning games.

The Hawks have been averaging nine rookies per preseason game, an unusually high number. This is a contributing factor in team play, and it takes a trained eye to distinguish each player’s individual positive and negative performances. Here is a breakdown the Hawk futures thus far in camp.

Barring injury, Tuomo Ruutu will be wearing Indianhead jersey #15 for a long time. All pre-camp predictions that he could be a Peca or Forsberg seem to be very close to the truth. Ruutu scored four minutes into his first game on his second shot. He continued to play his style, pounding Blues whenever he could. The Blues departed remembering number 15. Jamal Mayers retaliated by using his stick to knock off Ruutu’s helmet, but he refused to be goaded into a fight. He repaid Mayers by nailing him later in the game. Ruutu played with Eric Daze and Mark Bell and his desire to go to the corners to unearth pucks is a good complement to Daze who prefers to stay out of the corners and wait for the biscuit. In the game against Dallas, Sullivan replaced Bell on what looked to be a #1 line. Ruutu was able to make plenty of space for the veteran duo with hard checks and physical play.

The Hawks played an all-rookie line of center Mikhail Yakubov, LW Pavel Vorobiev, and RW Matt Ellison. Although this line didn’t score, and might not be a good fit, plenty of skill and potential scoring savvy was displayed in their performance. Vorobiev is parallel to Ruutu in that he also is an avid cornerman and also has solid movement in high traffic areas. Yakubov also was a lot more involved and worked hard and kept his feet moving shift after shift, but still looked like he needed to get a little more involved along the wall.  Ellison, the smallest of the three, also played with a lot of heart and was active all over the offensive zone.  Ellison was tried on a checking line in a later game, and didn’t look out of place, but didn’t create many offensive chances. All three will be major leaguers at some juncture. Vorobiev probably will make the Hawk squad this year if he continues playing with the tenacity he has shown.

The Hawk organization is auditioning six young rearguards hoping one or more can make the parent club. The first exhibition saw four rookie defensemen in Vladimir Gusev, Anton Babchuk, Michal Barinka, and Duncan Keith. Gusev is a little older and the Hawks hoped he might be able to show enough to make the parent squad. The large amount of rookie errors and poor team play might have hurt his chances as he was put in many unenviable positions on the ice, and didn’t win many of the battles. He may be destined to Norfolk (AHL).

Anton Babchuk was unable to unleash his booming point shot and although he didn’t embarrass himself defensively, he also didn’t stand out as solid in his own zone.  Duncan Keith who some, including this writer, though would never play NHL defense (and that the Hawks should transition to forward), was impressive. At approximately 5’10”, Keith is a player like Pat Stapleton, a midget Hawk defenseman of yore, who played despite his size. Duncan Keith is an amazing skater. There were times when he covered yards of ice in seconds, breaking up plays, covering the attacker, etc.  He has too much speed and agility to be dismissed as unfit for the NHL. When attempting bodychecks, he did bounce off opposing players to the ice, but he got right up and into the play. Weight training might help, but Keith will make the Hawk defense in a year as an undersized offensive defenseman, and there is talk of signing him and making him play his way out of Norfolk.

Michal Barinka is destined to stay with the Hawks either in Norfolk or Chicago. In his exhibition games, he showed he could play as a solid defenseman but still has a lot to learn to guarantee a spot with the parent club. He comes with an impressive size and skill package who has to step it up in each game to get noticed. He lost battles against the boards and he still needs to catch up to the speed of the NHL game in both body and mind.

Another 2000 draft pick, Barkunov is attending his first camp. The Hawks expected him in North America last season, but contract and visa difficulties kept him from attending. The Hawks are hoping he can also rise to the occasion and make this 2003 version, but so far he has brought little attention to himself with his showing. The Hawks are still hoping he shows more and stays in the US. 

2003 first round pick Brent Seabrook played one game and was sent back to Lethbridge for the start of his junior camp. Brent will be brought along slowly so he can catch up to the pace the NHL brings. Pencil him in as possible captain of the Canadian Junior Team. Junior eligible goaltenders Cory Crawford and Michael Brodeur were sent to their junior camps after seeing a period of game action each. Both understand there is a long road ahead. Dmitri Levinski looked a little out of place on the small ice surface. He shied away from the corners choosing to look for the pass to shoot from the perimeter. He was an early cut and is returning to Russia.

One of the wingers who has been given ample opportunities is right wing Matt Keith. So far he has seen action on different lines but all seem to be checking lines. He was part of a couple of horrible penalty-killing units which were scored on in the first game. The Hawk brass feels Keith has a great size and skills package to go around great balance and the ability to bring “jam” in each shift. He is being groomed for a role on the parent club as a checker who can help with a few goals, and it would be no surprise if he is a Blackhawk in the near future.

One of the surprises was Rob Millar, a right handed left wing who also played in preseason game one. He showed significant attack skills and prowess in the corners.

Lasse Kukkonen has looked very impressive, playing a hard nosed style for a six footer. He looked less out of place in all phases of his play than the rest of the auditioning defensemen.

Igor Radulov shows a want for the puck in the offensive zone but he rarely shows much when expected to play defense in his own zone. The Hawks are a team who needs as much scoring as possible and they will probably be willing to keep him in Chicago and teach him to get better in that area.

Impressive 2002 third round pick Alexander Kojevnikov has yet to play in a preseason game after taking a hard hit from Burke Henry during a scrimmage last week.

All the prospects have provided an interesting preseason and as it comes to a close, cuts have come to forwards Rob Millar, Mikhail Yakubov, Matt Ellison, Matt Keith, Yorick Treille, and defensemen Michal Barinka, Vladimir Gusev, and Alexander Barkunov. Barkunov is returning to Russia.

Who will make the final cuts? How many rookies will remain? These question remain to be answered, but so many are so impressive that they most certainly be returning soon to be part of Chicago’s future.