The Blackhawks’ prospect pool has by no means been bigger — at the least in current instances, and maybe in franchise historical past, though that’s conjecture — than it’s now.
Beneath the glimmer of the Sam Rinzels, Anton Frondells and Nick Lardises of the group, it’s inevitable that some gamers get ignored — gamers who can be very notable in the event that they resided in a few of the league’s weaker swimming pools.
Left winger John Mustard, one of many Hawks’ three 2024 third-round picks and one in all 16 forwards collaborating in Hawks’ improvement camp this week, falls in that class. He’s 6-1 and possesses elite NHL-caliber velocity, however other than his perfect-for-Chicago identify, he has acquired restricted fanfare from Hawks reporters and followers thus far.
“We’ve made so many picks currently — and so many picks excessive within the first spherical — that a few of these gamers don’t get the shine they deserve,” basic supervisor Kyle Davidson stated Tuesday. “John is a type of guys. He in all probability ought to get extra love than he’s getting.
“For a freshman at his age, stepping from the USHL to NCAA in a program like Windfall, to place up the factors he did, [it] was actually spectacular and thrilling for us.”
Mustard tallied 20 factors (seven targets in 13 assists) in 37 video games for Windfall, which put him simply 4 factors off the group lead.
And he simply might’ve tallied extra. He led the group with 108 photographs on aim, however his taking pictures proportion was simply 6.5%, whereas the Friars’ different high 5 scorers have been all above 11%.
“He had a extremely good freshman yr,” Windfall coach Nate Leaman stated. “He was adjusting to the larger, stronger guys and fewer area. He did a great job with it. Normally it takes the freshmen a few month to determine issues out, and I believed he did that.
“The again half of his season, he was producing loads of scoring possibilities. The following step in his recreation is studying to complete off a few of these possibilities. However he’s dynamic, he can get on you quick and he has a extremely good shot launch that’s misleading and fast.”
His scoring-chance technology elevated as a result of he diversified his offense. Through the fall, most of it got here off the push. Through the winter and spring, he turned more practical on the forecheck and biking the offensive zone, along with taking over a bigger power-play position. He improved at creating separation down low and penetrating the slot.
When Mustard and Leaman reviewed video after the season, they recognized “three or 4 totally different areas the place he acquired constant possibilities” however realized he wanted extra particular plans for what to do in every space.
“He can get to these areas so shortly that he surprises himself generally,” Leaman added. “He can get proper on high of goalies after which not be fairly positive what his choices are at that time, whether or not it’s [shooting] short-side excessive or five-hole or taking it to the far submit.”
That’s much like what Hawks ahead prospect Oliver Moore handled at Minnesota, too. The Hawks’ emphasis on drafting elite skaters means they should dedicate loads of improvement sources usually towards educating these speedsters the best way to end.
It stays to be seen if Mustard will reach doing so, however he’s definitely attempting.
“This summer season, I’ve put an emphasis on scoring in tight,” Mustard stated. “I do loads of three-on-three tournaments in the summertime. Clearly, it’s not probably the most critical coaching. However scoring on the goalies, it offers you loads of confidence. You be taught loads of issues.”
Leaman additionally plans to make use of Mustard on the penalty kill subsequent season, which will likely be a brand new accountability for him and may assist him enhance defensively. He’s anticipated to be one in all Windfall’s high gamers.
“I wish to take that subsequent step into dominating the sport,” Mustard added.
New teammate
Becoming a member of Mustard at Windfall will likely be Julius Sumpf, the 20-year-old German ahead whom the Hawks drafted within the fourth spherical (as an overager) final week.
Sumpf will likely be a part of the primary wave of gamers leaping from Canadian junior hockey to American school hockey, which simply turned allowed by the NCAA. He’s coming off a QMJHL championship run whereas enjoying alongside eventual No. 4 decide Caleb Desnoyers in Moncton, New Brunswick.
“When this rule opened up, schools have been clearly attempting to get a really feel for what major-junior guys are school,” Leaman stated. “He had some curiosity in school, and we have been one of many first schools to achieve out and do a Zoom with him. … We stayed in contact with him and he just lately determined that, ‘Yep, school is what I wish to do.’”
Sumpf principally performed on the wing subsequent to Desnoyers, however Leaman expects him to play heart for Windfall. He’s 6-2 and 190 kilos proper now, however they’re hoping to get him as much as round 197 to “convey out some heaviness in his recreation.”
It wouldn’t be stunning if Leaman and Mustard performed fairly a bit collectively, Leaman stated.
Extra updates
Hawks ahead prospect Jack Pridham, one other 2024 third-round decide, has decommitted from Boston College and determined to return to OHL Kitchener this coming season. He performed very nicely after becoming a member of Kitchener throughout this previous season, and staying there additionally permits to signal an NHL entry-level contract at any time.
First-round decide Sacha Boisvert, transferring from North Dakota to BU this summer season, stated the firing of North Dakota coach Brad Berry — who had recruited him since age 14 — was the only real cause he left his unique faculty. However in Boston, he will likely be nearer to his household in Quebec.
Hawks basic supervisor Kyle Davidson has made 4 Lafferty trades — three wherein he has acquired the speedy ahead.
Wyatt Kaiser, Louis Crevier and Arvid Soderblom will stay restricted free brokers, whereas Philipp Kurashev will hit the open market.
