Reports confirm that the Chicago Blackhawks have acquired a top pairing NHL defenseman in rookie Alex Vlasic

Well, the Blackhawks have one surefire defenseman, and it's Alex Vlasic.

Vlasic was drafted in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft. In his last year with Boston University in 2021-22 with the «A» on his sweater, he had eight points in 32 games with a +3.

Alex then dipped his toes in the NHL, scoring his first point in six games in the 2022-23 season. However, last year, he had a breakout year.

Vlasic received high praise for his defensive play last season. Vlasic was one of the few bright spots outside of Connor Bedard. He was always there when they needed him in the defensive zone, but also provided a lot of help in the offensive zone. He had two goals and 14 assists, tallying up to 16 points in 76 games with a -4. His play earned him a six-year extension over the summer.

This season, though, he's taking more of a role and continues to improve. Luke Richardson has thrown him on the power play, and it's paying off. Last game against the Colorado Avalanche, Vlasic had the puck at center ice. He carried it in deep, got past two defenders, and got a shot away that bounced off the pad right back to him. Alex circled around the net then made a centering pass to Kurashev. Kurashev then ripped it home for a goal.

Alex also has a little bit of a connection with Bedard, as seen during the game against Nashville over the weekend. Vlasic got the puck near the left board and sent a beautiful centering pass to Bedard, who tapped it home. That's very exciting for Hawks fans to see, as the two of them are going to be here for a very long time.

Vlasic already has five points in ten games, and is still working on his game. He's only 23, so once he hits his prime, he's going to be dangerous. It's unknown who his linemate will be, but all signs lead to either Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel, or Kevin Korchinski.