The Blackhawks have been celebrated throughout the offseason and the start of this campaign as having one of the deepest and most talented prospect pools in the entire NHL. On Wednesday, though, they were informed that the group would be getting a bit thinner.
After suffering an upper-body injury last Friday, it was announced that Dominic James of the University of Minnesota-Duluth would undergo season-ending surgery for a dislocated shoulder and torn cartilage in the joint.
As he entered his junior season, James was headed for a make-or-break year. The 2022 sixth-round pick of Chicago has yet to be signed but was putting together an impressive tenure in the NCAA ranks. He posted career highs last year in goals (10), assists (18) and points (28) in 35 games while missing some time with an injury.
James came to life last year at the 2022 World Juniors, where his all-around great game was highlighted by being the top faceoff man for the United States.
This year, James was clearly primed for a big campaign. He was an alternate captain this season, and as a sixth-rounder, he’s already a nice win for Kyle Davidson’s regime. He’s a versatile forward with impressive defensive instincts who keeps his head on a swivel and is extremely responsible on the ice. With the revamped offensive unit at the NHL level led by Connor Bedard, the team still needs a bit of help defensively, and James seemed like just the man for the job in the long run.
Now, though, his ascension to the professional ranks will be pushed back another year. He’ll be able to apply for a medical redshirt, but he’s already 21 years old and is still a long way from the NHL. A season-ending injury at this point is obviously a big blow for his rise to the top.
Though the 21-year-old was primed for a big year, he’ll have to push his progression back to next season.
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