Blackhawks place defensemen on waivers and all 32 NHL teams can claim him for free

PUBLICATION

Joshua Deeds
October 6, 2024 (3:16 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

The Chicago Blackhawks made a cold move today, as they placed prospect Isaak Phillips on waivers.

This was after the announcement that defenseman Nolan Allan had made the team, after last night's performance.

The youth movement in Chicago is alive and well, and the walloping the team put on the St. Louis Blues was anything but a confirmation that the pipeline is ready to go when need be.

However, while there's always a promotion, we're happy to see Allan get promoted.

The Blackhawks have made a calculated decision to place Isaak Phillips on waivers. It seems, that Phillips won't get the chance to make a crowded roster this season, despite his stellar NHL performance during his call-ups to the regular lineup last season.

Phillips split his time between the AHL, and NHL as he played 33 games for the Blackhawks last year, posting 6 points. While in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs, scoring 14 points( 4 G, 10 A) in 29 games with the Blackhawks affiliate.

The young defenseman has a lot of qualities many NHL teams would love to have on their roster, and many rebuilding teams could use the salary to hit their cap floor.

I wouldn't be surprised if someone like Calgary, Columbus, San Jose, Utah or Seattle find a way to augment their roster with Phillips in some way, whether in the AHL or NHL.

He needs to play with more of a physical edge at the NHL level to bring out the best in his other attributes. He is a good skater and can contribute some offense, but his future lies in his ability to defend and make life uncomfortable for opposing forwards. Long Range Potential: Solid puck-moving defenseman.

Source: Sportsforecaster
Isaak Phillips

Unfortunately, he is a casualty of this season's veteran-heavy roster, and we think he could've been utilized as a callup. But that isn't our decision, as we're not GM Kyle Davidson.

«You can just see how calm they are out there,» Phillips said on Monday. «When you've been around so long, they just know the game. They think the game so well, they don't overcomplicate things and it just makes them, maybe you feel like you don't notice them out there, but that's the best thing. They're being efficient, so I'm just trying to pick up little things like that.»

Isaak Phillips Making A Strong Impression in Blackhawks Training Camp