It has been a competitive and feisty week of practices for Chicago Blackhawks rookies. A long line of prospects, but not enough roster spots to fit them all.
Forward Ryan Greene, in his first pro year, is one of those hopefuls. Rockford IceHogs coach Jared Nightingale said he doesn’t like to single players out, but Greene has caught his eye this week at prospect camp.
“He’s been good, he’s been solid,” Nightingale said. “It’s tough (to do) a lot of these drills (that) get the guys overtaxed, but he’s a solid, complete player. Excited to see him play tomorrow.”
Greene, a center out of Boston University, finished with 38 points (13 goals and 25 assists) in 40 games last season for the Terriers, who advanced to the Frozen Four final. After playing two games with the Hawks in April, he’s quickly acclimating himself to professional hockey.
“Last year definitely gave me a little bit of confidence being able to play a couple of games, meet everybody and get up to the NHL level,” Greene, 21, said. “Anytime I’m on the ice, I try to be confident, but it’s easy to be confident with such a great group of guys.”
In April, Boston U played Western Michigan in the NCAA championship game. The Terriers kept the game in reach through two periods, but a three-goal third gave the Broncos their first title. Greene had an assist in the game.
“It’s a hard pill to swallow, especially the month after, it was really tough,” Greene said. “I still got to stay at my school and be with all my buddies and we talked about it a ton, it was a tough loss.
“It pushes and motivates me to be a winner from here on out. Losing a game like that makes you hate losing a million times more.”
That includes the competition at rookie camp. Greene has felt good at Fifth Third Arena skating with the other prospects.
“It’s been awesome, (it’s) a good opportunity to get in here and see all the guys again after being apart from them for a while,” Greene said. “The skates have been really good, up-tempo, and it’s good to get the hard skates out of the way now so we’re in better shape going into main camps and the games this weekend.”
The Hawks drafted Greene in the second round (No. 57) in 2022. The 6-foot-2, 192-pound forward signed a three-year, entry-level contract in April that carries a $950,000 salary cap hit.
He handles the puck well, and while usually a center, he can play either wing without a decrease in production. That versatility is why he thinks he’ll be useful on an NHL roster.
“I see myself as somebody who plays a 200-feet game, an all-around game and someone you can put in any situation,” Greene said.
Nightingale is emphasizing his system of speed that he used in his one season with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays to the prospects at rookie camp. Greene has noticed a difference.
“It’s hard to replicate in-season pace in the summer, but they’ve done a good job here in the last couple of practices,” Greene said. “It’s been a good pace.”
The prospects are eager to face outside competition at the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase on Saturday and Sunday in St. Paul, Minn.
“I would love to fly back here with a couple on wins in our back pocket,” Greene said. “Outside of that, play as a team and put on my best performance.”
- Injury update: Defenseman Ty Henry, who suffered an ankle injury Thursday, is still being evaluated. Andrew Perrott will replace him in the prospect showcase. The defenseman had 22 points in 44 games with the Stingrays last season.