Veteran Andrew Ladd is listed on the third line is also the threat, taking the team deep on scoring ability and add a little of Ben Eager to rouse things up on the checking line. Patrick Sharp who is also a left winger by trade but has been moved to center on the first line and that helps the team’s leading goal scorer. Troy Brouwer now in first full season playing with the parent club has now proven himself to play on the top “Patrick” line with Sharp and Kane.
Today we look at a few of the players at left wing who have the ability to play the position at any instant, but they need to be wary that there are those moving up the ranks that can easily displace them because the competition is tough.
Pascal Pelletier (AHL – Rockford IceHogs) Pelletier in his first season in the Blackhawks organization has already paid his dividends to help his team. He ranks 5th in goals in the AHL and has already has a 4 and a 3 goal game this year. He has his chance to play with the “Big Club” as the Blackhawks have recalled the 5’-11’ winger to start the second half of the season.
Bryan Bickell (AHL – Rockford IceHogs) Bickell’s numbers have fallen a bit from the past years but they are holding steady.
Nathan Davis (AHL – Rockford IceHogs) Normally a center, Davis has been placed on left wing due to the fact that the IceHogs are rich in centers. His output matches that with Bickell just slightly but the big difference in the plus/minus column.
Adam Berti (ECHL – Gwinnett Gladiators) After two full seasons in the AHL, and 2 games in the NHL, Berti this season has been relegated to the ECHL. He started with the Fresno Falcons before they folded and played fairly well. Then the Blackhawks signed an agreement with Gwinnett to farm out some of their players and one that has shown a huge improvement is Berti. In the first seven games, he has accumulated three goals for six points where in Fresno he had nine points in 29 games. Look for Berti to move up quickly up to Rockford and probably pass Bickell and Davis on the depth chart if he continues to play like he is doing now.
Kyle Beach (WHL – Lethbridge Hurricanes) Beach, the first round, eleventh overall pick in last summer’s draft, was traded this season in the WHL from Everett to Lethbridge and is playing well in his first nine games, tallying a goal average per game while also increasing on his points per game average. As his numbers rise, one number seems to be slowing shrinking but not by much, are his penalty minutes. Look for Beach to finish the rest of the season in juniors and possibly get a look in the AHL late.
Bill Sweatt (WCHA – Colorado College) Sweatt is a definite threat who can give the Blackhawks organization instant results as he begins his career. This year, Colorado College isn’t living up to their past expectations with a subpar season, but Sweatt, in his junior year is keeping pace. This season he has turned more into a goal scorer than the playmaker in adjusting to the mechanics of the team.
Contact the author at matt.chin@prohockeynews.com
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