Wednesday’s episode begins with another left-handed defenseman’s 2026 NHL Draft Profile, as host Jack Bushman breaks down the strengths, weaknesses, stats, NHL projection, and everything in between for 18-year-old Albert Smits. Then, Bushman dives into 24-year-old defenseman Alex Vlasic’s 2025-26 season recap and dishes out a grade for his performance in his third full season with the Chicago Blackhawks. The episode concludes with Corey Pronman’s 2026 NHL Mock Draft 2.0 for The Athletic, where he projected the Blackhawks to draft Ivar Stenberg with the fourth overall pick. All that and more on Locked On Blackhawks. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day.
Smits Draft Profile (1:05)
Vlasic’s Season Recap (19:25)
Pronman’s Mock Draft 2.0 (31:40)
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QUESTION OF THE DAY — Do YOU Think The Blackhawks Should Consider Albert Smits With The Fourth Overall Pick?
Watched some of his games. Some insights:
1. Might be the most "battle tested" draftee in the class and "highest floor": men's league in Finland (great league), men's DEL league playoffs (good league), Olympics (absolute best-on-best tournament), WC (usually best available men's players (maybe except Canada and USA))
2. Some analysts talk about his lower hockey IQ, but I don't think it's the case: he is entrusted being in top D pairs, PKs and PPs. Maybe the coaches then also have low IQs…
3. Decision making: yes, sometimes suboptimal plays and turnovers based on his over eagerness, however often also because of his teammates. He makes the correct play, but his team is not there or has no support – avoidable with higher level teammates.
4. Agressive yet disciplined: doesn't rack up penalties.
Overall, I think he is a project but a very promising one – possibly highest floor in draft class with basically the same potential as others (same age although he has already racked up extensive experience), big and strong, very mobile, middle of the pack D offense, good defense.
Smits in my opinion would be a fine pick , any one of these defenseman after Chase Reid are a crap shoot on who will be the best of the bunch . Anyone saying different is full of shit . Personally I think Reid is and will be the best player not just d man in this draft and if he falls to the Hawks you run the pick up and don't think twice or over think because you have 3 very good RD already but if he is gone along with the two top forwards the Smits works for me and actually is a great fit at left shot D and gives you the physical presence we don't have in any of our d men . I prefer Carels but like I said it's a crap shot after Chase and have no problem with Mr. Smits he reminds me of a left-handed Levshunov who is a bull in a China shop and the thought of those two on the same pairing could be a beautiful 😍 🤩 thing
Vlasic is durable because he isnt physical, he is kind of soft for his size. Nobody on the other team is afraid to cross the blue line because the worst thing that will happen will be a stick check. With his size I would like to see him and the other members of our defense to steamroll over anybody crossing the blue line. Make the other time think about that. It can slow down the other team, especially if they are in our zone. My final grade is a C-.
I agee that a LH dman would fit better with our team. But haven't we learned our lesson that drafting for fit / need going to backfire again. If Reid is the best prospect and is available , we need to pull the trigger. We drafted for need and passed on Demidov , let's not do that again. He will not be ready for a couple years ( most likely ) and our young d might look a little different. If Carels and Malhotra are there and not Reid / Stenberg , that will be a tough choice.