3 players to watch: Chicago Blackhawks face tough calls on Isaak Phillips and Wyatt Kaiser

The Chicago Blackhawks have a lot of training camp battles to settle, but right now the back end is taking on greater significance.

Several young defensemen have been making the case to make the final cut, but the path is much more narrow this year.

Alex Vlasic established himself as an everyday player last season.

The Hawks have a lot invested in Kevin Korchinski, but hes not a roster lock after a shaky rookie season.

And free agents Alec Martinez and T.J.

Brodie joined the D-corps in the offseason, further complicating the picture.

So, a lot is at stake for prospects Isaak Phillips and Louis Crevier, who manned the third pairing against the Minnesota Wild during the preseason game Tuesday night while Martinez and Brodie sat.

Meanwhile, defenseman Wyatt Kaiser, another contender, has been sidelined by an unspecified injury since Sept.

23.

Goalie Drew Commesso doesnt have to worry about challenging for a roster spot right now, but he still found himself in the spotlight.

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Weve got Commesso playing 60 minutes, coach Luke Richardson said before the game.

The Tribune talked to three of the prospects Phillips, Kaiser and Commesso about their stakes coming out of training camp, as well as their development on and off the ice.

Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Isaak Phillips takes a shot in the first period of a game against the Seattle Kraken at the United Center on Nov.

28, 2023.

Phillips signed a one-year contract extension (cap hit of $775,000) on July 29 and will become a restricted free agent after the season.

After playing parts of three seasons with the Hawks, the 23-year-old is waiver-eligible, meaning the Hawks would have to expose him to other teams in order to send the big blue-liner to the Rockford IceHogs for a fifth season.

Maybe its in the back of my mind, Phillips said.

It doesnt give me any sense of security.

Im here to make the team.

I dont want to be on waivers.

I want to show that, yeah, I dont want them to lose me.

I want to be here for a long time, and I want to contribute to this team, and thats first and foremost on my mind.

Phillips changed his approach to his training this offseason.

I worked on a lot more game-scenario stuff than I have in the past, he said.

Maybe it was more boring for me this summer, picking up pucks off the wall, retrievals, things like that.

But thats 90% of my game on the ice, getting the puck and making a first pass.

So it might have been more of a boring offseason for me, but I think it was more productive.

Overall, he says he believes hes ready for the NHL if he gets the nod after playing 33 games with the Hawks last season, and 20 games over the prior two seasons.

Just another year being around and maybe not as much anxiety, going out there for your first preseason game, stuff like that, Phillips said.

So hopefully that translates on the ice.

Trent Sprague/Chicago Tribune Blackhawks defenseman Wyatt Kaiser looks for an open teammate against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the United Center on Nov.

16, 2023.

(Trent Sprague/Chicago Tribune) Kaiser and Commesso play different positions (defenseman and goalie) but they have at least one thing in common: They journal.

You kind of reflect on the day or whatever.

Youre not wasting the day not thinking about anything, Kaiser told the Tribune last week.

For Commesso, its part of a morning motivational routine that he started halfway through last season.

Ill wake up, make my bed, get everything set, and then I read the Bible for 10 to 15 minutes.

I think it just sets my head space in the right place, the goalie said.

...

And then I have a meditation and motivational quotes app.

So Ill spend about 10 or 15 minutes reading that, and then I just like to journal on some things that I took away from it that morning, whether its a good quote, something that I listened to, some advice that someone said.

I look at goaltending so mentally, and youve got to do some extra mental work just to get into the right mind frame going into the day.

It hit me like a train: Chicago Blackhawks great Jeremy Roenick still gets choked up about Hall of Fame nod Kaiser has that in common with Commesso too: He adds Bible verses to his journal.

His guiding principle from Proverbs 3:5: Trust the Lord with all your heart, and dont depend on your own understanding.

A lot of times your thoughts will kind of go crazy, he said.

Dont depend on them.

...

People should seek His will and do the things that (are) His principles: serve others, dont think so highly of yourself.

Commesso said, Wyatt and I are close, and we know what each other does.

I think in that aspect, we get along very well because I would say we have a very similar approach and mindset.

I think its been helping both of us.

Its great.

We like to talk about it and do Bible studies and stuff together.

Kaiser said the inspiration for journaling comes from his grandfather, Blane Comstock, an American Olympic goaltender.

Hes got a ton of stories, but (sometimes) hes like, I dont remember a ton of stuff, it kind of all blends together.

I remember here and there.

But daily stuff, he recommended, You might as well start a journal.

Hes like, write down what you did in the day.

Now you look back 20, 30, 40, years and recall what you did and who was there.

Its kind of peaceful, writing that down, Kaiser said.

Kaiser said that since he started journaling a year ago, it helps keep him grounded.

It keeps me in the present a little bit more.

Your brains not going way forward or backward.

That skill should be useful with an injury sidelining Kaiser from camp.

Richardson said Kaiser has been cleared medically, though he didnt offer a timeline for his recovery.

Hes good to go, Richardson said.

Hes back in the gym and going to make his way back onto the ice.

...

Were hoping (that with) a young guy, hes in great shape, (and) hell recover pretty quick.

Kaiser hopes he has shown enough on tape.

Not bad, he said of his camp.

Theres still a few things to clean up.

Kaiser said the Hawks front office will make the best decision for the team, whether that means he makes the roster or not.

Hes not concerned about what he cant control.

Youre never going to have the past.

Youre never going to have the future, really.

All youve got is right now.

...

If youre worried about tomorrow, it might affect you right now.

Blackhawks right wing Martin Misiak and goaltender Drew Commesso practice on Sept.

11, 2024, at Fifth Third Arena.

(Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) To hear Commesso talk about his game, youd be convinced he has taken a quantum leap in his development.

I feel much more comfortable, confident this season.

I think I got a lot stronger and quicker in the offseason, and it allowed me to be ahead of plays in training camp here, he said.

I just feel really, really comfortable in the net this year.

I feel like I really belong, and I feel like so far Ive had a great training camp.

Commesso credits Boston University goaltending coach Brian Daccord and IceHogs developmental goaltending coach Matt Smith for helping him drastically improve his footwork, scan the zone and make better reads.

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I really worked on reading the ice this summer, and reading plays, and a big part of goaltending is what you do before the save to put yourself in the best position to make the save.

Sometimes youll get lucky bounces, pucks will go off guys shooting pads or sticks.

You cant control that.

What you can control is giving yourself the best chance.

And by doing that, youve got to be able to read the play and sometimes see things before they happen.

Commesso is set to play a second full season with the IceHogs this fall.

He has personal goals in mind but hes keeping those to himself.

I try just to focus on the task ahead and not look too far ahead, he said.

Whats important is doing the little things that lead up to success and not worrying about the outcome.

...

I feel like when Ive done that, Ive had great success..

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