Rob Grabowski-USA Today Sports
The Chicago Blackhawks will once again be looking to repeat as NHL Champions, this time with a full training camp now behind them and full-length regular season looming two weeks away. For the first time, the Blackhawks held camp at the University of Notre Dame, and for the first time, fans and media alike got a long look at both goaltender Antti Raanta and center Tuevo Teravainen .
With regards to goaltending, Corey Crawford will be the main net-minder with a veteran goaltender once again backing him up, this time in the form of Nikolai Khabibulin. However, in AHL Rockford, the IceHogs will have a new goalie in Antti Raanta as the young Finn looks to solidify himself as a legitimate option going forward.
Farther down the ice, 2012 first round draft pick and Hobey Baker award winner Drew LeBlanc displayed excellent on-ice vision in scrimmages according to ESPN.com. With Brandon Saad’s grooming to be a second line center going smoothly and Brandon Pirri teetering on the verge of the AHL and NHL, the ability for someone like LeBlanc to move up the hypothetical preseason depth chart in coach Joel Quenneville’s mind is prevalent. Yet, if Saad struggles, expect changes to be made and LeBlanc’s named be tossed around for promotion along with Pirri at what has now become a stacked position for the team.
Lastly, and most optimistically for the future of the team, 2012 NHL Draft first rounder Tuevo Teravainen looked incredible and according to some is NHL ready despite being only 19 years old. Perhaps due to depth, but more than likely simply for the sake of experience, Teravainen will be returning to Finland for a third season with Jokerit of the SM-liiga. Expect to see the versatile Teravainen later this year as the Finnish season ends and NHL rosters expand adding to the pool of hungry prospects looking to get playing time soon for the defending champions.
Follow Mike Guzman on Twitter @Mike486
