NHL: The Good and Bad Aliu-tenant

The Blackhawks secondary wave of offensive talent was on display in Chicago at their development camp. McKeen's correspondent Max Giese was on hand to file notes on several prospects including former second round selections Akim Aliu, Igor Makarov, and Bill Sweatt.

Akim Aliu (Chi), C/LW, London OHL

During the development camp, Aliu simultaneously showed the attributes that have the Blackhawks thinking they found a second round gem and the character flaws that had most teams afraid to touch him with a ten-foot pole .. Aliu has all the tools to be a power forward that can contribute offensively if he can conquer his personal demons .. disrespected the Blackhawks organization, future teammates, and the game with his on-ice antics here in Chicago .. routinely went out of his way to hurt other players with dirty hits and habitually picked fights with players half his size .. Aliu does not need to resort to this type of thuggery because he is blessed with special physical traits and the rare combination of size, skill, and speed that all NHL teams covet in a power forward .. more physically assertive this summer and can be a punishing hitter when he applies himself properly .. a swift skater for a big man with strong acceleration and the ability to slip away from defenders with either his surprisingly agile feet or powerful frame .. boasts excellent hands, power on the puck, and a long reach making him a headache for any opponent to defend .. still lazy and lethargic defensively, Aliu is guilty of taking stupid stick infractions behind the play .. lazy on faceoffs and careless with the puck defensively, Aliu's future is definitely on the wing.

Igor Makarov (Chi), LW, SKA RUS

Having no interest in playing for their AHL affiliate in Rockford, Makarov is an exciting offensive talent that has stated he will either spend this year in the NHL or back home in Russia .. displays some majesty with the puck and is a strong skater that is fast in possession .. difficult to defend one-on-one, but his problem is that he customarily over handles the puck and tries to beat all five opponents before eventually being dislodged from the puck .. physically well constructed and assertively applies himself in bodily confrontations, as he even will look to catch the opponent with his head down to land an open ice hit .. caught the larger Akim Aliu with his head down, but was an unwilling combatant when the angry big-man asked him for a fight .. his defensive game is terrible and he displays zero interest in getting involved on the own side of his redline .. plays too high in the defensive zone and will need to become extremely regimented in working on his play away from the puck to become an everyday NHLer .. he's only worth hanging onto if he's in your top six playing in an offensive role, however he's not there yet and will likely not make the NHL this year.

Ben Smith (Chi), RW, Boston College NCAA

After scoring 50 points last season for the National Champion Boston College Eagles, Smith impressed at this camp while looking very promising and mature for a sixth round draft choice .. lacks great size at just 5-foot-10, but he is a stock 195 pounds and is a willing physical combatant that will throw his weight around to give a hit when needed .. his skating is one of his strongest assets, as he quickly accelerates in all-directions and possesses a speedy top gear .. an intuitive offensive catalyst with a keen sense of timing inside the opponents blueline, as he innately knows when to attack and put the defenders on their heels or when to trail behind and allow the play to develop properly .. he is decisive with the puck and passes it like a pro, with the ability to execute crafty plays at full speed .. decent on defense, Smith is not far away from applying his trade in the AHL.

Bill Sweatt (Chi), LW, Colorado College NCAA

A fast and hard-working winger with a mature two-way game, Sweatt still needs to strengthen his frame before turning pro .. not a naturally skilled offensive dynamo, but he is a smart and solid offensive contributor thanks to his spellbinding mobility .. wins the majority of footraces he takes on and innately utilizes his great wheels as an offensive asset away from the puck .. drives hard to the net in the process catching the attention of and gaining a step on multiple defenders .. displays some crafty playmaking ability and can execute nice one-touch passes to move the puck up ice efficiently .. struggles to finish at times because of his slow release and inaccurate shot .. has the defensive conscious of a seasoned veteran and impresses with his established defensive reads, such as staying back to cover for pinching defenders .. still thin and lacking strength, Sweatt can get physical but will need to add significant muscle mass before being able to withstand the physical rigors of the pro game.

Maxime Tanguay (Chi), C, Victoriaville QMJHL

A talented hockey player much like his older brother and current NHLer Alex Tanguay, Maxime's skill-set is not the question mark, but his lack of strength and his hesitation to play in traffic are .. he is a very slight 5-foot-11, 175 pounds and seems scared to engage in physical confrontations .. Tanguay is a highly skilled and quick puckcarrier that can emerge as a creative playmaking threat if given open ice to operate .. however, he lacks a separation gear and is often neutralized and kept to the perimeter by opponents .. has improved on the defensive side of the puck since last year, as both his awareness and commitment are much better than a year ago .. his lack of size and inability to play in traffic remain the pitfalls in the way of this prospects potential NHL career.

Dan Bertram (Chi), RW, Boston College NCAA

Was signed to an entry-level contract after aiding the Boston College Eagles in securing a National Championship as a senior .. his uncompromising speed remains his most notable asset, as he is a fast skater with the puck that can really burn to the outside down the wing .. utilizes his speed well to be an aggressive forechecker that willingly throws his 5-foot-11, 190-pound frame around to disrupt the opposition's breakouts .. he is small, but he is tough and oozes character .. Bertram came to a teammate's aide when the much larger Akim Aliu boarded him from behind, as Bertram confronted Aliu and eventually dropped the gloves .. his character is commendable, but he simply has not developed much since his sophomore season three years ago and remains prone to lapses of invisibility.