Blackhawks forward prospect Aidan Thompson enjoyed an excellent junior year at the University of Denver, and he’s now ready to turn pro.
The Hawks on Saturday signed Thompson, a relatively old prospect at age 23, to a two-year entry-level contract that kicks in next season. He will finish out this season on an AHL tryout contract in Rockford.
Thompson’s college season ended Thursday with Denver’s loss to Western Michigan in the Frozen Four. He becomes the fourth college player to sign with the Hawks in the last few weeks, joining Minnesota defenseman Sam Rinzel, Minnesota forward Oliver Moore and Providence defenseman Taige Harding. After the NCAA championship game Saturday between Western Michigan and Boston University, BU forward Ryan Greene will likely become the fifth.
The Hawks drafted Thompson in the third round in 2022, his third year draft-eligible. But he largely flew under the radar until this season, when he exploded for 55 points in 44 games with Denver — making him the second-leading scorer in the entire NCAA.
“He’s getting a great opportunity at Denver and taking advantage of it,” Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson said in February. “His production has been outstanding. … He’s getting closer to the net, and he’s getting more into those scoring areas.”
At 5-11 and 180 pounds, Thompson is on the smaller side, but he showed more strength and stamina this season. His shot also noticeably improved.
Considering his age, he’ll be expected to produce at a decent clip in the AHL next season. He has work left to do to prove he has NHL upside — and exactly what that upside is. But in signing him, the Hawks have added another intriguing prospect to their pro mix.
James’ mystery
Minnesota-Duluth senior forward Dominic James is another Hawks college prospect on the older side who enjoyed a breakout season. His path, however, has taken a surprising turn.
Duluth’s season ended back on March 15, but James still hasn’t signed a contract with the Hawks. The Athletic’s Scott Powers reported Friday a two-year entry-level contract (identical to Thompson’s) has been on the table, but James has not accepted it.
That’s worrying news since the Hawks’ rights to James expire in August, at which point he would become an unrestricted free agent.
It’s a strange situation considering James told the Sun-Times in February that he did plan to sign with the Hawks at season’s end. He praised the team’s hands-on developmental approach, saying they “treat you like a pro in college,” and he mentioned he’s “really close with a lot of people in the organization.”
When college players wait out their draft rights, it’s often because they believe their path to the NHL will be easier — or faster — with a different organization. Given the Hawks’ abundance of prospects, it’s possible that’s an issue here, but James’ personal motivations are unclear. He did not respond to a text message Saturday.
A sixth-round pick in 2022, he bounced back from a shoulder injury that cost him almost all of the 2023-24 season to lead Duluth with 30 points in 35 games this season.
Maroon’s finale
Retiring veteran forward Pat Maroon will play his 848th and final NHL game Saturday in the Hawks’ home finale against the Jets. He will be a scratch for their last two away games against the Canadiens and Senators.
“It sank in last night,” Maroon said Saturday morning. “You sit there and think about it a lot: the good times, the bad times, the adversity you go through and [the] emotions. … The thing I’ve been thinking about the most is just going to dinners with the guys. That’s something I’ll miss a lot.”
The Chicago chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association nominated Maroon for the Masterton Trophy to recognize his perseverance and dedication to hockey.