The Chicago Blackhawks have drafted and developed very well in terms of their defense, but all of their talent is coming up at once and there just isn't enough room. The only veteran left on the back-end is Connor Murphy, and he doesn't make it past the trade deadline on the Blackhawks.
Beyond that, there is Alex Vlasic, Sam Rinzel, Wyatt Kaiser, Artyom Levshunov, Kevin Korchinski, Nolan Allan, Ethan Del Mastro, and Louis Crevier. Frank Seravalli said, "I think the Blackhawks are probably looking at nine to 10 legitimate, realistic NHL defensemen, and someone is going to have to be on the move."
Everyone got a taste of the NHL last season, even if it was limited because of all of the options. Rinzel played nine games, but he is locked into a top-4 spot this season. Levshunov worked through an injury first, then finished the season with 18 games with the Blackhawks. Korchinski played 16, Del Mastro played 24, Crevier played 32, Allan played 43, and Kaiser played 57.
The Blackhawks can hold seven, maybe eight, defenseman on the roster. It makes more sense to hold seven though so more of them get playing time, whether it's in the NHL or AHL. Now speaking to that, Kaiser and Crevier are the only two younger d-men who will have to go through waivers. As I'd put Crevier at the bottom of the ladder in terms of potential and sticking around, he would be more likely than Kaiser to be sent down at any point. The rest, other than Vlasic and Murphy, can be moved up and down freely, though not all of them will.
Furthermore, where is everyone going to fit when they're signed and the defense is pretty much set? Seravalli added, "I think Kaiser and Allan could be your sort of perfect, ideal, prototypical, third pair moving forward." But at the same time, Kaiser is the only one unsigned. I don't think that is a big deal considering the amount of cap space the Blackhawks have, but it is something to think about.
Korchinski, Del Mastro, and Crevier are the most likely to be moved based on where they fit in the lineup moving forward. I could be very wrong and this season could change a lot, but three names I think are safe are Vlasic, Rinzel, and Levshunov.
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