Blackhawks prospects roundup: Goalie Adam Gajan staying busy in USHL

Publish date: 2024-04-28

Chicago Blackhawks goalie prospect Adam Gajan is getting in his share of reps in the USHL this season. That’s for sure.

Gajan, who was drafted in the second round this past summer, has faced a league-high 341 shots this season for the Green Bay Gamblers. That is 47 shots more than the next goalie.

The 6-foot-3, 181-pound Gajan has stopped his fair share of them, too. He has 313 saves, giving him a .912 save percentage, which ranks seventh in the league.

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Gajan has especially had to step up over the last few weeks. In his last five games, he has stopped 187 of 201 shots for a .930 percentage. He faced 33 or more shots in all of those games. His impressive performance was making 50 saves on 51 shots in a game against the Des Moines Buccaneers on Oct. 13.

The Blackhawks drafted Gajan with a long-term picture in mind — especially with Arvid Söderblom and Drew Commesso ahead of him in the pipeline. Gajan will play in the USHL this season and attend Minnesota Duluth next season. He probably spends two or three seasons in college and then turns pro.

Here was one of his more spectacular saves in that 50-save game:

And here are some other Blackhawks prospect updates:

Sam Rinzel, defenseman, 2022 1st round: I watched most of Rinzel’s shifts from Minnesota’s two-game series against Wisconsin last weekend. There were some highs and lows for him over the two games. Among the positives was the amount of ice time he’s getting for one of college hockey’s best teams as a freshman, how quickly he’s moving the puck out of defensive zone on exits, his reads with the puck in all zones and his improved physicality. On the other side of the coin, he’s still learning where and how to be aggressive at both blue lines, reading the play in the defensive zone and getting comfortable with his frame around the boards. Like Gajan, the Blackhawks drafted Rinzel knowing it would probably take some time for him to reach his ceiling.

It’s these types of plays that have to get the Blackhawks excited about Rinzel’s potential:

Landon Slaggert, forward, 2020 3rd round: Slaggert scored four goals for Notre Dame last weekend against Mercyhurst and now ranks second in college hockey with seven goals on the season. That also matches the number of goals he scored all of last season in 35 games. Slaggert was optimistic he could bounce back if he returned to Notre Dame for a senior season and he’s off to a great start.

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Nick Lardis, forward, 2023 3rd round: The Blackhawks drafted Lardis because he can score goals. He hasn’t let them down this season. He already has nine goals in 12 games for the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs. He has scored in eight of those 12 games and has 61 shots on goal.

Gavin Hayes, forward, 2022 3rd round: Hayes extended his points streak to nine games with a goal for the OHL’s Flint Firebirds on Wednesday. He has seven goals and four assists in 11 games this season.

Ryan Greene, forward, 2022 2nd round: Greene had a goal and two assists in Boston University’s two-game set against Massachusetts last weekend. Greene has two goals and three assists in his six games as a sophomore this season.

Martin Misiak, forward, 2023 2nd round: After his slow start, Misiak has continued to accumulate points for the OHL’s Erie Otters. He had one point in his first five games. In his last eight games, he has picked up 11 points. He has five goals and seven assists on the season.

Ryder Rolston, forward, acquired in trade: Rolston is one of the Rockford IceHogs’ more interesting forwards this season. He has NHL speed and a terrific shot. It’s partly a matter of him figuring out skating routes at the pro level. He had a goal and an assist in the IceHogs’ 6-2 win over the Iowa Wild on Friday. He has two goals and an assist in five games this season.

Paul Ludwinski, forward, 2022 2nd round: Ludwinski extended his point streak to four games with a goal and an assist for the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs on Saturday. He has three goals and three assists during the streak. For the season, he has four goals and six assists in 10 games.

Frank Nazar, forward, 2022 1st round: Nazar picked up three assists in Michigan’s 10-1 win over Lindenwood on Saturday. Nazar has decent numbers on the season with three goals and four assists in eight games, but they’re noticeably lower than that of some of his teammates. His production hasn’t been helped by playing down the Wolverines lineup.

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Oliver Moore, forward, 2023 1st round: Moore was held without a point in both of Minnesota’s losses to Wisconsin last weekend. He has one goal and five assists in six games as a freshman this season.

Jiri Felcman, forward, 2023 3rd round: Felcman has been producing at a high rate for Langnau’s U-20 team. He has six goals and nine assists in 13 games in Switzerland’s younger division. He has played two games for the SCL Tigers in the National League, Switzerland’s top division.

(Photo: Courtesy of the Green Bay Gamblers)

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