Chicago Blackhawks: Brandon Pirri and Other Young Forwards May Soon Be Back

The Chicago Blackhawks have utilized some of their young talent in Rockford in the season's first three months. A trio of forwards may factor into the club's plans as the season wears on.

Marcus Kruger, Ben Smith, Jeremy Morin and Brandon Pirri have all seen action at the NHL level so far. It's a safe bet that one or more of these players are going to contribute to Chicago's fortunes in 2012.

That doesn't necessarily mean that contribution will come on the ice.

It's easy to forget that Kruger was a call-up himself, as Pirri began the season on the 'Hawks roster. Following Chicago's first game in Dallas, in which Pirri logged an assist, the Blackhawks flip-flopped their two center prospects.

Pirri was sent to Rockford while Kruger, who had yet to skate a game as an Ice Hog, was brought to the United Center for the rematch with the Stars. Kruger has skated in 33 games this season and has three goals and seven assists. He has recently been centering Chicago's second line.

Smith and Morin have both been up for looks, though both are currently back in Rockford. Smith played in seven games in his month on the roster with a lone goal to show for it. Morin was pointless in Chicago's last three games.

Smith and Morin both had impacts on last season's team. Concussions have proved to be setbacks for both players.

Morin missed about nine months due to a concussion he suffered in January with Rockford. Smith appeared to have made the team in camp before a hit suffered in Detroit kept him out of action for a month.

Smith failed to click on the lower two lines and was often a scratch, while Morin has two uneventful games on the top line before playing mostly fourth line minutes. Morin skating needs to improve for him to continue to develop. He is also ill-suited as a power forward candidate, as he's more of a scrappy sniper that physical dominator.

Concussion issues have also befallen Kruger, having been knocked out of Tuesday's game in Pittsburgh by Deryk Engelland. Pirri was recalled to take Kruger's place between Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp.

Both Pirri and Morin were sent back to Rockford following the 'Hawks 5-1 victory over Montreal. How long they stay in Rockford remains to be seen.

The move seems to suggest that Daniel Carcillo is ready to come off the IR from his own head issues, and that Kruger is preparing to take part in Monday's game with Columbus. Or does it?

GM Stan Bowman has executed the Rockford shuffle in the past. Maybe he just wanted to save a few cap dollars since everyone's off until Monday anyway. I have a suspicion that Pirri could be coming back east on I-90 Monday morning.

If Kruger did, in fact, suffer a concussion, which was confirmed in Brendan Shanahan's suspension video where Engelland received three games off, then it's hard to believe the 'Hawks would rush him back less than a week following the injury. Not when Pirri looked as comfortable as he did Wednesday night.

Pirri is the far more offensive center at this stage of his career compared to Kruger. Coach Joel Quenneville may in fact prefer the smart, defensive style Kruger brings to the second line, but Pirri is more than capable of filling in for another week or so.

With Alexander Salak currently injured and Chicago carrying eight defensemen keeping Brian Connelly with the Ice Hogs for the foreseeable future, it is at forward where Rockford's prospects will factor the most.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Pirri, Smith and Morin all get another spin with the 'Hawks before the season is out. It also would not shock me to see one of them sent elsewhere in a trade to shore up Chicago's roster.

Either way, expect to hear the names of Pirri, Morin and Smith in team news sometime in the next few months.