Blackhawks Send Only One Young Defenseman to Rockford During Four Nations Break

The Chicago Blackhawks won't see NHL action on the ice until after the Four Nations Face-Off has concluded on February 20th.

The Blackhawks will take on the Columbus Blue Jackets on February 22nd.

During the lengthy break, this could give GM Kyle Davidson enough time to examine the lineup and find a way to make optimal roster moves for the team.

One of those moves was to send defenseman Ethan Del Mastro to Rockford, to spark what could be a flurry of moves later down the road.

The team will need the left-shot defenseman to get the most reps on the ice he can in the AHL.

Del Mastro played a total of six games in the NHL and posted a point (1 Assist) while staying on the positive side of the +/- as a Blackhawk.

Why Del Mastro instead of Nolan Allan, Frank Nazar, or Landon Slaggert?

So why was Ethan Del Mastro sent back down to Rockford instead of someone like Nolan Allan who has been a consistent scratch in the NHL?

With TJ Brodie taking over his spot in the lineup, it couldn't hurt to give Allan more playing time in the AHL.

Allan could get more reps, and mature his game more while Interim Coach Sorensen prioritizes someone like Brodie, a move we disagree with.

For the IceHogs, Allan would clog up the left which already has Kevin Korchinski, Dmtri Kuzmin, Wyatt Kaiser, and Ethan Del Mastro.

The 2021 fourth-round draft pick will have to settle with being the odd man out in Chicago for the time being.

Del Mastro has played 39 games for the IceHogs this season and scored 8 points (8 A) and could find himself back in the lineup when the Four Nations Face-Off ends.

For now, it's quite opaque to see what GM Kyle Davidson is doing with one of their best defensive defensemen.