If there may be one trait the Chicago Blackhawks and the followers themselves love, it’s power. It’s the fervour and the exhausting work that pulls followers to the Blackhawks. It’s why names like Andrew Shaw, Dave Bolland, and Jeremy Roenick will at all times be fan favorites for the way they performed on the ice. So, it will make sense for the Blackhawks to proceed in search of gamers that play the blue-collar manner. When trying on the 2023 NHL Draft prospects, the one participant that matches that mould is Gracyn Sawchyn. He’s a favourite amongst draft prospects, and it’s not simply primarily based on expertise alone.
Sawchyn Would Convey Drive to Blackhawks
It has been mentioned in hockey that you could’t educate ability, however you can also’t educate drive, which inserts Sawchyn to a tee. If you happen to have a look at any scouting report of his, the primary phrases that often pop up are “power” and “excessive motor.” By taking a look at his highlights, his recreation jogs my memory of three gamers: Brandon Hagel, Brayden Level, and Taylor Raddysh. He has comparable qualities that make these three gamers harmful.
Let’s begin with the apparent, power. An additional effort to his recreation is clear the second you watch him. If he nearly will get tripped or has three gamers on him making an attempt to make a play? No downside. He nonetheless manages to make a play or rating a objective below duress, which could be very Hagel-like. He’s nice at following his pictures by, which jogs my memory lots of Raddysh. If he takes an preliminary shot and a rebound comes again, he’ll strive once more, and it often pays off. Raddysh is identical manner; he often whacks at pucks till it will get into the web.
Associated: Gracyn Sawchyn – 2023 NHL Draft Prospect Profile
Newest Information & Highlights
One other factor that stands out is he is an effective perimeter passer and finds teammates shortly that manner. One objective he had this season with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League (WHL) discovered Blackhawks’ prospect Kevin Korchinski on the surface for a objective. He jogs my memory of Level within the sense that Level is a grasp at scoring targets within the middle slot, which is the place Sawchyn thrives, too. From a statistics standpoint, he was a constant participant with the Thunderbirds, with 58 factors in 58 video games (18 targets, 40 assists). He additionally netted 11 factors in 17 video games within the playoffs. Total, he appears to be like to be a gritty, extremely pushed ahead lots of upside.
Whereas talking with Logan Horn, our Director of Prospect Protection, his evaluation on Sawchyn was that of pleasure, stating, “Sawchyn could be very fast, has tremendous quick arms, and by no means provides up. He didn’t get tons of consideration this yr as a result of he was a second middle for Seattle till they added Brad Lambert (Winnipeg Jets) and Dylan Guenther (Arizona Coyotes). Then, he spent many of the later half of the yr as a 3rd middle however nonetheless put up roughly some extent per recreation. I believe he’s a first-rounder, however there appears to be probability he falls to the second spherical. I like him as a fan-favourite, middle-six participant.”
Sawchyn has versatility in his recreation as a middle and can be utilized up and down within the lineup, and he thinks and performs the sport at a quick and excessive degree. Nonetheless, he’s a prospect that isn’t extremely talked about, which may very well be nice information for the Blackhawks as a result of he may simply fall to them within the draft, whether or not they keep at nineteenth general or if he falls to the second spherical with their 4 second-round picks.
Blackhawks Already Established Ties With Sawchyn
The Blackhawks have already got robust ties to Seattle as they have already got three prospects in Korchinski, Nolan Allan, and Colton Dach. So, it will be believable to suppose that the group has checked out Sawchyn. Including one other gifted ahead from the group that made it to Memorial Cup Closing this yr is an effective technique for them. It additionally provides already established chemistry within the pipeline with different prospects.
Apart from the chemistry and familiarity with different prospects, his game-style is contagious and would assist the Blackhawks. He’s the kind of participant the group may put anyplace in hopes of discovering a spark, however he is also a invaluable depth participant. He has the potential to develop right into a top-six participant within the NHL, but when not, that may nonetheless be effective. The group can work with him in making him larger to assist his 5-foot-11 and 165-pound body and complement his already zesty play, however he already has a fascinating skillset for the NHL. He appears to be like like the kind of participant the place you’ll at all times know what to anticipate of him. He might not at all times have the strongest recreation each evening, however he’ll give one hundred pc each shift, which each group can profit from. His abilities of pace, playmaking, offense, and energy can solely enhance because the 18-year-old grows. He may very well be a steal within the draft.
If Chicago picked Sawchyn, I agree with Horn; he can be an prompt fan favourite. Gamers like him — being extremely motivated and expert in addition — assist win video games, particularly in a rebuild setting. Certainly, Chicago shall be taking a look at these points when taking a look at somebody like him. The group has at all times succeeded when buying high-motor gamers like him, leading to many success tales, most lately as Sam Lafferty or Cole Guttman final season. They’re hoping prospects like Paul Ludwinski and Samuel Savoie observe go well with, and who higher so as to add to that group than Sawchyn? Control him; he looks as if a first-rate Chicago goal.
