Chicago Blackhawks: David Kampf could be an important piece

The Chicago Blackhawks have a lot of guys that could fill the role of a center effectively, and there is one player that is often forgotten.

You already know which direction that the Chicago Blackhawks are going to go in when it comes to their centers at the top. Jonathan Toews will get the top line while Dylan Strome mans the second line. After that, there are a few guys that can fill the role of the third and fourth center spots. They traded away Artem Anisimov, which creates a little bit of a competition to see who gets what spot. It is a good problem to have because the center is the most important forward position.

The Blackhawks have some wings that can play center in case some injuries pile up, which is good, but for now, we will focus on the players who are true centers. There are three guys fighting for two spots, but there a few different ways it could go.

It would be very fun if Kirby Dach makes the team out of training camp after being the third overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. He isn’t a lock to be in the NHL this season like the two players taken before him, but he will be given the opportunity. If he doesn’t make the team, he will go back to juniors where he will grow and develop for another year.

If Dach doesn’t make the team, that makes David Kampf a very important player. He would almost surely assume the role of third-line center behind Toews and Strome in that case. It wouldn’t be a bad spot for him either. In 2018-19, he had four goals and 15 assists for 19 points in 63 games played. That is a 24 point pace over 82 games, which is decent for a guy who only averaged 13:55 of ice time. It was also only his second year in the league and he only played 46 games in his rookie year.

If he can get some more ice time and contribute just a little more offensively, he could be a really good third-line center. He also has a career average of 49% in the faceoff circle, which is really good. He can help in the possession department and if he gets himself some good wingers, it could be a really good third line.

Look for David Kampf to have a big training camp and preseason, to show the management team that he belongs in the NHL full time. If he does get the opportunity, then you can expect that the 24-year-old will be a solid player for this bottom six. It is up to him to earn it.