NHL: Blackhawks Development Camp - Defensemen

The notable chink in the armor of the Chicago Blackhawks system is on defense, where they tried to patch this hole by selecting five defensemen at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. McKeen's correspondent Max Giese was in Chicago for their development camp and files notes on several of their defensemen prospects.

Joe Gleason (Chi), D, Edina HS

Turned heads with his ability to come straight out of High School Hockey and perform well against players from the NCAA, CHL, and the AHL .. was always identified as an elite skater amongst his peers and Gleason's fabulous mobility has transitioned seamlessly to this level of play .. blessed with a powerful stride, rapid acceleration, and quick feet, Gleason possesses the ability to carry the puck up-ice and make a few opponents miss in the open ice .. his outstanding lateral mobility aides in his ability to defend in one-on-one situations against the rush .. his hands are above-average and he displays the ability to execute the headman pass .. his lack of size at 5-foot-9 and 178 pounds is a glaring flaw that is hard to ignore, as it prohibits him from being an effective defender .. often overpowered to the net by larger opponents and can get caught on the outside looking in during goalmouth scrums .. playing in the USHL this season for the Des Moines Buccaneers before attending the University of North Dakota in the fall of 2009, Gleason looks like a solid gamble in the seventh round.

Shawn Lalonde (Chi), D, Belleville OHL

The Chicago Blackhawks' second selection of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, the hope is Lalonde can provide an offensive punch to the Hawks' blueline down the road .. an elegant skater that can accelerate with the puck to get out of trouble, Lalonde is an agile puckcarrier that can make a good first pass .. definitely needs to add some serious muscle before attempting to leave the CHL for the pro-game and he was not involved or effective in physical battles here .. despite his mobility and skill, Lalonde wasn't assertive with the puck and was unable to successfully generate offense .. he has some tools to work with, but still has a long road ahead of him before challenging for an NHL roster spot.

Teigan Zahn (Chi), D, Saskatoon WHL

Has the attractive combination of size and mobility on the backend that all teams covet .. his mental approach to the game impressed, as he was assertive and composed .. a prosperous skater with good acceleration and a strong stride that aides in his ability to swallow up a lot of ice quickly .. was confident and eager to make a play by putting some zip behind his passes and attempting to stretch the ice with a long distance outlet pass .. was too cute with the puck at times and was guilty of trying to play beyond his skill on occasion .. possesses the strength and mobility to close off the attacking forwards streaking down the wing .. developing a mean streak and finishing his man with more authority would benefit his game .. not an offensive defenseman, but you can't pigeonhole him as a stay-at home type either, as Zahn possesses intriguing two-way ability.

Jonathan Carlsson (Chi), D, Brynas IF SWE

Displayed glimpses of both intriguing ability and defensive meltdowns .. his size and mobility are both above-average, but he does struggle to defend speed and can allow the attacking opponent to gain a step on him to the outside .. can also be overpowered to the net at times and will need to get stronger on his man while defending .. his decision-making and poise with the puck leaves much to be desired, as currently he just throws the puck away if pressured .. has some tools but every aspect of his game needs large upgrades before challenging for an NHL roster spot.

Braden Birch (Chi), D, Oakville OPJHL

Has good size and strength while playing a dependable stay-at-home game, although he needs to work on his mobility and become more assertive physically .. not the fleetest of foot, as he appears heavy on his skates .. displays nothing to write home about offensively and appears limited with the puck .. he is however, solid defensively and can effectively neutralize his man along the wall, however he plays too complacent and needs to develop more of a physical side and a take charge attitude to take his game further.

Mike Brennan (Chi), D, Boston College NCAA

Signed as an unrestricted free-agent this summer after captaining the Boston College Eagles to a National Championship as a senior .. interjects any lineup with toughness and character, although he lacks an offensive touch .. his pivots and backwards mobility are adequate .. not the type to stretch the ice with flashy puck movement, Brennan likes to buy himself time with a few escape moves before moving the puck to his partner .. a sturdy defender that doesn't panic, Brennan is also a capable open-ice hitter that isn't afraid to send the opponents a message through the physical game .. a solid prospect that is ready to handle the AHL workload this season.

Joseph Lavin (Chi), D, Providence NCAA

At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Lavin's only other strength worth writing home about is his skating, as he can really accelerate briskly for a big man .. struggles mightily with the puck on his stick, as his vision, decision making, and skill are all of bad quality .. he's guilty of trying too many low percentage plays both with and without the puck .. a prospect that must overly simplify his game to be effective.