Will Alex Vlasic Make An NHL Impact Next Season?
Alex Vlasic is one of the most intriguing prospects the Blackhawks have in their system. Vlasic, a 20-year-old defensemen, made his NHL debut at the tail end of last season after signing his entry level contract upon the completion of his season with Boston University. Vlasic is one of the most intriguing prospects in the system because unlike most of the others, he is a true defense-first defenseman. In his 15 games played after joining the Blackhawks, Vlasic had one goal and one assist, as well as a +/- 2. Praised by coaches for his poise with the puck, high hockey IQ, smooth skating, and ability to shut down the opposition on the rush, Vlasic made a great first impression on the coaching staff. The question is, will Vlasic make an impact next season at the NHL level?
I would love to say that Vlasic will immediately make the leap to the NHL full time and play some big minutes next season, but I do not believe that will be the case. As of right now, the most likely scenario for Vlasic is to begin the season in Rockford to lay his foundation. The Kyle Davidson regime and Derek King have said on numerous occasions that they will not rush their prospects to the NHL, which is a completely different approach than Stan Bowman and co. used in the past. Rushing prospects to the NHL was always a big problem with the franchise, ruining the confidence of prospects like Adam Boqvist, Ian Mitchell, and Nicolas Beaudin. Vlasic could benefit from having a full season in Rockford to work on his offensive game and play with a little more physicality, priming him to compete for a roster spot for the 2023-24 season.
Another reason why Vlasic may not begin the season with the Blackhawks is because, although he is 6'6, he weighs only 198 pounds. As we have all seen throughout the playoffs and the regular season, defenseman must be able to take hits and dish them back out to make a play or stop a play from developing. Derek King has also stated in the past that Vlasic needs to bulk up this offseason to add some physicality to his game. There are players in the league who get away with being smaller (Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat are perfect examples) because they can keep out of trouble with their speed and skill with the puck. In his 15 games last season, Vlasic used his height and long reach to break up plays and block shots but was often forced off the puck by bigger opposing players.
Vlasic has the potential to be a special player. Shutdown defensemen are rare and always in high demand due to the NHL beginning to shift towards skill players instead of the big men like we have seen on all our Stanley Cup winning teams. Vlasic will undoubtedly take Derek King's advice and add some mass this season, which will truly help make him a better overall player. Although Vlasic may not make an impact at the NHL level this season, look for him to gain some valuable playing time and experiences in Rockford to propel him to the NHL in 2023.
| POLL | ||
Do you think Alex Vlasic should play in Rockford, Chicago, or a some combination of both next season? | ||
| Rockford | 68 | 26.2 % |
| Chicago | 115 | 44.2 % |
| Rockford with a few NHL games | 77 | 29.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
