AHL demotion could be incoming for defensemen following a regrettable signing by the Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks brought in T.J. Brodie with high hopes, expecting his veteran presence to steady the team as it goes through the early stages of a rebuild.
But so far, Brodie hasn't quite been the impact player Chicago hoped for.
In a season already toughened by injuries with Laurent Brossoit and Alec Martinez on IR, the spotlight has shifted to the team's new faces, and Brodie's start has been far from 'decent'.
He onced logged over 21 minutes per game with the Maple Leafs, Brodie's ice time in Chicago has dropped to just hardly over 15 minutes.
The rationale here might be about giving younger players more chances, but it's surprising for a seasoned pro like Brodie to see such a drop.
He's constantly lunging, falling, and diving.
Brodie has spent significant time on the ice, but the numbers haven't favored him. Out of Chicago's main defensemen, only Nolan Allen plays less per night.
Through 13 games, Brodie's been on the ice for nine goals against at even strength, setting him on a pace that could be costly if it continues.
Offensively, his impact has been limited too. In fact, he's been out there for only three goals so far.
While these early stats don't define his whole season, they do hint at challenges ahead and a possible AHL demotion arising.
With the Blackhawks in a full rebuild, there's still room for Brodie to adjust and add value- if done properly. If his struggles persist, though, this might go down as a gamble the Blackhawks wish they hadn't taken.
