CHICAGO – The past four seasons the Chicago Blackhawks have not finished as they would have hoped. The team missed the playoffs the last two seasons and haven’t won a playoff round since 2015 enroute to a Stanley Cup title.
When it comes to the NHL Entry Draft, Hawks General Manager Stan Bowman had three first rounds picks the past two drafts and all of them were defenseman. It is no secret the team has an aging defensive core and needs to reload their blueline if they want to get back to championship glory.
After firing former Head Coach Joel Quenneville and hiring the young Jeremy Colliton in November, the Hawks spiral continued through December. The second half of the season the team learned their new coach’s systems and played better hockey.
Leaders like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews showed they have plenty left in the tank. Toews scored a career high 35 goals and played in all 82 games for the second time in his career. Kane also had a career year with 110 points, 34 more than the previous season.
Alex DeBrincat took a huge step to becoming one of the next core players to lead Chicago. DeBrincat had a career year with 41 goals and 76 points. Still, depth is needed up front if the Hawks want to return to Stanley Cup glory.
Sometimes when it comes to the draft looking in your own backyard is the best place to look. Alex Turcotte fits that mantra especially considering he once played for the Chicago Mission, a AAA youth program, the same system where three former Blackhawks draft picks cut their teeth. Turcotte even skipped school one day to watch the 2019 Stanley Cup Parade. Turcotte is ranked as one of the top 6 by most prospects rankings and happens to be the son of a former NHL player Alfie Turcotte.
Alex is built very similar to his dad at 5’11”, 180-pounds. He has great speed and plays a 200 foot game according to the scouts. The 18-year-old is expected to keep his commitment to the University of Wisconsin this fall.
The last three years he has been in the US National Development Program. This past season he scored 62 points in 37 games good for sixth best. His teammates included Jack Hughes, Cole Caufield and Trevor Zegras, names expected to get the draft call as well in the first round.
Center depth is always needed in the NHL. The Blackhawks system is void of it currently. Adding a player with Turcotte’s pedigree and local connections would excite the fan base who is clamoring to get back to their recent glory.
“With the third pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks selects from Island Lake, Illinois from the US National Development Team, Alex Turcotte.”
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