Alex Vlasic has shown significant progress in the current NHL season, establishing himself as one of the Blackhawks' best defensemen.

He’s one of the bright spots beyond the blinding ray of hope Connor Bedard has provided fans in an otherwise bleak season for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Vlasic didn’t come with the same fanfare as Bedard. He didn’t make the same immediate impact as Bedard. I remember Vlasic struggling in his cup of coffee with Chicago in the spring of 2022 and spending almost all last season in Rockford.

But I also remember Vlasic oozing confidence last summer at the Blackhawks developmental camp. He was always on my list of players to watch in the Blackhawks’ growing pool of prospects. He’s never been short on confidence that he would become a legitimate contributor at the NHL level, and this season, he’s doing just that.

Vlasic has been a wiz in breaking up plays in the Blackhawks defensive zone this season. But he’s always been good at that. Vlasic has taken it a step further this season and has become better at turning his defense into offense with his speed, skating, and passing ability.

“[He] reads the play well, and he’s got good mobility for a big guy and a long reach, so he separates guys from the puck, or steals pucks on the pass,” coach Luke Richardson said last month. “And then, he just smoothly takes off. He doesn’t look like he’s skating that fast, but he takes a couple of strides, and he’s gone.”

Vlasic’s zone exits are above league average, and his zone entry passes are too.

At the midway point of a non-competitive season, questions about what the Blackhawks might look like next season have begun. Alex Vlasic’s next contract should be high on Kyle Davidson’s list of things to get done.

His entry-level contract expires after this season, and negotiations for a new deal are on the horizon. Vlasic's impressive performance has bolstered his negotiating power, with arbitration rights and the potential for a significant raise.

General manager Kyle Davidson is open to considering a long-term contract for Vlasic but emphasizes ensuring it aligns with the team's salary cap constraints. The Hawks have recently extended contracts for forwards Nick Foligno and Jason Dickinson.

Yesterday’s Best

CHICAGO BEARS

• Bears tackle Darnell Wright was named to the PFWA All-Rookie team on Tuesday.

• What should the Bears do with the ninth pick in the NFL Draft? There’s been plenty of discussion about what they should do with the first pick, so I spent some time discussing some options for the Bears at No. 9.

• Are the Raiders really interested in Luke Getsy, or is there more to their interview with the former Bears OC?

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

• The 2024 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will take place on Wednesday, allowing fans to see many of the players considered first and second-round players in the 2024 NHL Draft.

CHICAGO BULLS

• Wow! According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Milwaukee Bucks have fired first-year head coach Adrian Griffin. Assistant coach Joe Prunty will reportedly serve as the interim coach.

CHICAGO CUBS

• The folks at MLB Pipeline put out another top-ten prospect list, and the Cubs have a prospect on that list for the sixth time in a row!

• With a vacancy at first base and DH, the need for more offense/power (wherever they can find it), and an abiding interest in short-term deals, the Cubs have been paired in rumors with free agent Rhys Hoskins. But he signed with the Milwaukee Brewers last night.

• Another potential Cubs target, free agent reliever Matt Moore, signed with the Angels. The clock is ticking on the Cubs.

What’s on deck?

• The Blackhawks are back in action tonight, and it’s another Pacific time zone puck drop. This tilt with the Seattle Kraken starts at 9 PM CT and can be seen on TNT.