Blackhawks' Top Goalie Prospects Makes NHL Debut Against New Jersey Devils Saturday
The Chicago Blackhawks are starting prospect Drew Commesso in the net against the New Jersey Devils today, his first career NHL start.
Drew Commesso has been in the AHL since he started his professional hockey career with the Blackhawks. He was drafted 46th overall in the 2nd round of the 2020 NHL draft by then-GM Stan Bowman and the Blackhawks.
He's played three seasons in the NCAA, with the Boston University Terriers, each season sporting a save percentage above .900.
Now, after 48 games played in the AHL, he'll be set to face off against one of the top teams in the Metropolitan Division, the New Jersey Devils.
With Petr Mrazek out, the Blackhawks are in a rough spot and have relied upon Arvid Sodberblom to be a makeshift starter. Thanks to his improvement he has, but he also needed to rest.
That's the entire purpose of Commesso starting today.
In the last ten games with the Rockford IceHogs Commesso has a 4-6-0 record, with a .879 save percentage.
Commesso will be facing off against Jesper Bratt, Jack Hughes, Luke Hughes, Nico Hischier, Stefan Nosen, and Jacob Markstrom.
A team that's running hot under Head Coach Sheldon Keefe, so the Blackhawks defense will have to do their best to limit high-danger chances in the defensive zone.
While keeping the Devil's offense stunted, and limiting their shots to the perimeter.
This will require a huge team effort from players like Kevin Korchinski, Frank Nazar, and Philipp Kurashev. A two-hundred-foot game is vital against potential playoff contenders like the Devils.
The Blackhawks step foot into the arena as an underdog today, a verifiable Apollo Creed vs Rocky Balboa match-up.
Can the Blackhawks go a full 60 minutes today?
