The Chicago Blackhawks have plenty of talent vying for spots on the team in training camp, both veterans and young players. As a rebuilding team, it is good to have some veterans, but not block the young players or prospects at the same time. GM Kyle Davidson has hopefully learned from the past two seasons and will do it right this time around, but I am still skeptical.
Frank Nazar came out of the NCAA and had a few games in the NHL to end 2023-24, but he didn't make the Blackhawks out of training camp and had to prove himself in the AHL before getting the callup. He could have made the Blackhawks, but there were too many veterans brought in and in the way. Once he arrived in Chicago after dominating the AHL for the first 21 games of last season, he never looked back and signed a great contract for how much NHL experience he has.
I think that Oliver Moore, another first-round pick of the Blackhawks, will follow the same path, but maybe with a smaller contract offered to him as the result.
Moore also came out of the NCAA last season and played nine games for the Blackhawks, not just three like Nazar. Moore put up four assists, but there is more competition at the beginning of this season again and he is able to be sent down without going through waivers.
The logical thing for the Blackhawks to do is play him in the AHL in a top-6 role while also getting power-play time unless he is given an everyday role in the NHL. A recent first-round pick with as much talent as he has can't be messed around with in his developmental years.
Sam Lafferty was one veteran that didn't need to be brought in and is taking up a roster spot, but as it looks right now, Ryan Greene and Colton Dach are ahead of Moore when it comes to making the team and opening night lineup. If he isn't traded, Lukas Reichel will also be on the 23 man roster too as he would be picked up if placed on waivers.
Moore hasn't played an AHL game and it would be beneficial for him to play on the third line or higher in the NHL. Players can be shifted around for this to happen, but there also isn't a ton of pressure on him to come in and be impactful right away. He has time to develop at the AHL level and prove he's too good to stay before coming up at some point this season.
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