The Chicago Blackhawks concluded their 2026-27 prospect showcase on Tuesday. They played two games in USG Arena against the St. Louis Blues, splitting the meetings.
It was extra physical, with tons of hard hits and dropped gloves. Game 1, a 3-1 Blues win, had its share of punches thrown. The 5-2 Hawks win in Game 2 featured several fights.
Hawks coach Jeff Blashill watched the young skaters compete in a semi-audition before training camp begins. Here are the prospects who made noise this week.
AJ Spellacy, right wing/center
The 20-year-old speedster arrived at prospect camp as the fastest player on the ice. It seemed to have caught the Blues’ hopefuls off guard, as he skated on the top line with Sacha Boisvert and Ryan Roobroeck.
Spellacy used his size and suave skating to create a plethora of scoring chances, leaving Blues defenders wondering what happened. He didn’t score in Game 1 — one of his many shots dinged the crossbar — but earned his due in Game 2 with two goals.
The forward’s physicality was on full display. Whenever there was a hit to be laid, Spellacy was there to make a Blues skater pay.
“It’s a big part of my game, that’s what I try to do,” Spellacy said. “I try to fly out there, play the body, make it hard to play against me.”
Blues prospect Colin Ralph took exception and hit Spellacy late in Game 1. Defenseman Ashton Cumby stood up for his skatemate by dropping the gloves and winning a back-and-forth scrap.
To the delight of Spellacy.
“That was awesome, that just shows how good of a teammate he is,” Spellacy said. “That was an unreal job from him, I was grateful for that.”
It was a near-perfect audition in front of Hawks staff. Perfectly timed, too, as he prepares for his first professional season with the Rockford IceHogs.
“He’s taken a big step, it’s always another season of maturity,” IceHogs coach Jared Nightingale said. “I think a guy like Spellacy can stand out.”
Martin Misiak, wing
Chicago Blackhawks right wing Martin Misiak (68) practices Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, at Fifth Third Arena. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Misiak’s first IceHogs season didn’t go as planned. It’s always a big step to go from juniors to the professionals, but the offense he displayed with the OHL’s Erie Otters was absent.
In 2024-25, the 21-year-old wing scored 59 points (23 goals, 36 assists) in 60 regular-season games in Erie. That number decreased to just 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in Rockford.
He’s looking to get his flair back in his second professional season. Multiple goals in the prospect showcase should help with that.
The forward sounded the horn three times — twice in Game 2 — while skating in the second line with Jiri Felcman and Marek Vanacker.
“I feel like I play a 200-feet game now,” Misiak said. “I can protect my puck (and) play more pro-style hockey.”
Added Nightingale: “(Misiak) did a really good job in collecting the fruits of his labor. It’s good seeing kids like that get rewarded, but it’s only the beginning of the journey for him.”
Taige Harding, defenseman
Taige Harding is a big defenseman. The 24-year-old towered over prospects from both teams.
The 6-foot-7, 236-pound blueliner skated in the top pair alongside Jake Furlong. Nightingale focused on active sticks in the prospect group’s practices, and it’s safe to say Harding learned a thing or two.
He blocked multiple shots from the Blues while using his large frame to push through defenders when he had the puck. On top of his first pairing, Harding helped on the top penalty kill unit.
Harding is the most experienced player in prospect camp, hence his donning of the captain’s patch. He’s set for his third season in Rockford in 2026-27.
“Wearing the crest is an honor, so to be captain of the rookie team was something I didn’t take lightly,” Harding said.