Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sport

Coming into the season, the only surprise on the roster was the fact that the Chicago Blackhawks began the season with prospect Brandon Saad up with the top club.

After sitting out for the first game of the season, Saad made his way into the lineup after an injury to Dan Carcillo. Even after Carcillo returns, it looks like Saad has locked up a permanent spot in the lineup.

Saad had a bit of experience with the Hawks prior to this season. He started and finished the year with the Blackhawks last year, with another brilliant year in juniors sandwiched in between. He didn’t make too much noise last year, but projects as an impact player in the long term for the Blackhawks.

Playing on the top line next to the likes of Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa makes life easy for pretty much anyone, but particularly for a 20-year-old rookie.

In his five games, though, Saad doesn’t have a point to his credit. That goose egg comes while Toews and Hossa are tearing the rest of the Western Conference to pieces. That doesn’t necessarily mean that Saad has been performing poorly though. In fact, it’s been quite the opposite.

Saad has done a solid job creating chances and helping to generate the offensive rush. When that top line is on the ice, you get the feeling that they could put it in the back of the net every time. Saad’s speed has also been on display a couple times and it has led to a couple of scoring chances.

No, Saad does not have a point to his credit yet this season or his Blackhawk career. But with his play early on, it should only be a matter of time before we see Saad become a regular on the stat sheet.