Marko Dano, Kyle Baun, Stephen Johns headline prospects camp

Marko Dano, the 20-year-old winger acquired from Columbus in the Brandon Saad trade, is one of the potentially NHL-ready players who will attend Blackhawks prospect camp starting Sunday at Johnny’s IceHouse West.

Typically reserved for players who are still years away from the NHL, there are a handful of players on the camp roster, announced Thursday, who could play for the Hawks this season. Dano is almost a lock to be on the opening-day roster after posting eight goals and 13 assists in 35 games last season for the Blue Jackets.

Also attending is defenseman Stephen Johns, who will be making his fifth and surely final appearance at prospects camp. The bruising defenseman is expected to contend for one of the open defenseman spots after four years at Notre Dame and one full season in Rockford. He might even have played in the postseason this spring had he not been injured.

Among the other notable names are Kyle Baun, the college free agent (Colgate) who was very impressive in four regular-season games just before the playoffs began (he was ineligible for the postseason); center Mark McNeill, a former first-round pick who had 23 goals and 21 assists in 63 games with Rockford last season; and Tanner Kero, another college free agent (Michigan Tech) signed by the Hawks this past spring.

Other familiar names and recent high draft picks include Vincent Hinostroza of Bartlett, Roy Radke of Geneva, Garrett Ross, Nick Schmaltz, and defenseman Gustav Forsling. Six goaltenders will be at camp, hoping to make a run at the Hawks’ No. 4 goalie position behind Corey Crawford, Scott Darling and Michael Leighton.

The most intriguing name is Yushiroh Hirano, a 19-year-old winger out of Japan, who played in Sweden last season.

NOTE: The Hawks also agreed to terms on a one-year contract with center Dennis Rasmussen. Rasmussen was briefly with the Hawks last season, but did not play in any games. He had 13 goals and 14 assists in Rockford. The only restricted free agents the Hawks have yet to sign are Marcus Kruger, Joakim Nordstrom and Viktor Svedberg.

Here’s the full schedule of events:

Sunday, July 12

10:30-11:45 a.m. Practice: Team C

12:30-1:45 p.m. Practice: Group 1 & 2

2:00-3:15 p.m. Practice: Group 3 & 4

Monday, July 13

9:45-10:15 a.m. Practice: Team A

10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Scrimmage: Team A vs. Team B

12:30-1:00 p.m. Practice: Team B

1:15-2:30 p.m. Practice: Team C

Tuesday, July 14

9:45-10:15 a.m. Practice: Team B

10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Scrimmage: Team B vs. Team A

12:30-1:00 p.m. Practice: Team A

1:15-2:30 p.m. Practice: Team C

Wednesday, July 15

10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Scrimmage: Team A vs. Team B

1:15-2:30 p.m. Practice: Team C

Thursday, July 16

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Practice: Forwards

12:45-1:45 p.m. Practice: Defensemen

Friday, July 17

10:00-11:30 a.m. Scrimmage