Here’s a look at how some of the Chicago Blackhawks' prospects are doing throughout the world:
Michael Leighton, goaltender, Rockford IceHogs (AHL), signed as a free agent in 2014
Before you gripe that the 33-year-old Leighton isn’t a prospect, everyone in the Blackhawks’ system who isn’t in the NHL is technically a prospect. They’re prospective Blackhawks. Considering how well Leighton has played in the last month, he’s certainly a prospective Blackhawk if anything were to happen to Corey Crawford or Antti Raanta. They could opt for him instead of Scott Darling. Leighton was named the CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month for January on Tuesday. He was 4-0-2 with a 1.05 goals-against average and .967 save percentage in January. He’s tied for fourth in the AHL with a 2.01 goals-against average and tied for second with a .931 save percentage.
Mark McNeill, forward, Rockford IceHogs (NCAA), drafted first round in 2011
McNeill, 21, had a goal and an assist in the IceHogs’ 3-2 overtime win over the Chicago Wolves on Friday. He has 13 goals and 12 assists and is plus-9 in 33 games this season.
Mac Carruth, goaltender, Indy Fuel (ECHL), drafted seventh round in 2010
Carruth, 22, continued his hot play with a 41-save, shutout performance against the Elmira Jackals on Saturday. He went 7-2-0-0 with a 1.45 goals-against average and .951 save percentage in 10 games in January.
Vince Hinostroza, forward, Notre Dame (NCAA), drafted sixth round in 2012
Hinostroza, a sophomore, had a goal and an assist in a 5-2 loss to New Hampshire on Friday and two assists in a 5-3 win on Saturday. He’s tied for a team-leading 25 points. He has four goals and 21 assists in 28 games this season.
Anthony Louis, forward, Miami Ohio (NCAA), drafted sixth round in 2013
Louis, a sophomore, had a goal and an assist in Miami Ohio’s shootout win over Western Michigan on Saturday. The teams play again at Soldier Field next weekend. He has five goals and 14 assists and is a plus-9 in 22 games this season.
Gustav Forsling, defenseman, Linkoping (SHL), acquired from Canucks in 2015
Forsling, 18, had an assist in Linkoping’s 5-3 loss to MoDo on Saturday. He was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks for Adam Clendening last week. Forsling has three goals and three assists and is a plus-5 in 36 games this season.
Fredrik Olofsson, forward, Chicago Steel (USHL), drafted fourth round in 2014
Olofsson, 18, accumulated three assists in two Steel wins last weekend. He has seven points over the last three games. He has 17 goals, 19 assists and is a plus-10 in 34 games this season.
Drew LeBlanc, forward, Rockford IceHogs (AHL), signed as a free agent in 2013
LeBlanc, 25, snapped an 18-game goalless streak by scoring against the Wolves on Saturday. He has four goals and one assist and is a minus-4 in 34 games this season.