The Blackhawks picked up a nice overtime win Friday over the Vegas Golden Knights on the road, but the celebration was hampered slightly by the fact that rookie defenseman Alex Vlasic was sent to the locker room after this hit in the second period:
As Vlasic did not return to the contest, the Blackhawks made a move before Sunday afternoon’s practice in Arizona that seemed to signify that he would be out for a more extended period of time. In their first “dip into the well” of Rockford, Chicago recalled top defenseman Isaak Phillips to take the place of Vlasic Monday night, placing the latter in concussion protocol.
A Deserved Promotion
Bringing Phillips to the NHL is the logical move in this situation, and frankly, he deserves to be in Chicago anyway. The 2020 fifth-round pick of the Blackhawks has been steadily progressing since he was drafted and was one of the team’s fringe members last season. He spent 51 games in Rockford and 16 with the Blackhawks, logging 23 and five points respectively. After a great showing in training camp, he was one of the last players to be sent away from the team, which he admits was a bit of a surprise.
“I was definitely disappointed. I was happy with my camp. It’s just one of those things that you can choose to take it as an insult or take it as a positive and kind of have that chip on your shoulder.”
– Isaak Phillips
The 22-year-old is getting another shot now, and is out to “show that I can be here,” he says. He certainly has the talent to do so. Phillips is a big blueliner who can contribute at both ends of the ice. He has good mobility and does a great job of crowding opposing forwards and forcing mistakes.
Long-Term Outlook
Can Phillips prove himself enough to stay with the club full-time? It’s clear he’s right on the verge of doing so. Nikita Zaitsev is the first name that comes to mind as a player who could be replaced. The Blackhawks knew they were getting him as a cap-dump situation, and he’s performed terribly so far this season. If Chicago is willing to bury him in Rockford, it’d be an opportunity for young players like Phillips to get a shot in a season where the team doesn’t have championship aspirations anyway. Phillips would be able to progress much faster at the NHL level than he would if he continued to dominate the AHL.
While it’s tough to see Alex Vlasic sidelined for the time being, it’s a great opportunity for the Blackhawks to use their best AHL defenseman. Phillips is expected to be paired with veteran Connor Murphy on Monday night, which could offer him an extra learning experience as he hopes to simultaneously prove himself and improve himself.
