Chicago Blackhawks Trade 23-Year Old Son of NHL Legend Ryder Rolston to Nashville Predators

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Joshua Deeds
November 27, 2024 (4:29 PM)

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Chicago Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson and Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotz are cooking up something odd. It's a trade involving one depth forward from the Blackhawks organization.

The Forward in question is Ryder Rolston, who only recently turned pro, arriving in Rockford after signing with the team in March of 2023.

Rolston was traded to Nashville today, for future considerations, which could be better than they hoped for.

Before the 2023-2024 season, Rolston played with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during his collegiate career. He played 93 games with the Irish, scoring 53 points( 17 G, 35 A) in his three seasons there.

The former Blackhawks prospect was originally drafted 139th overall, in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Draft by the Colorado Avalanche. In 2021 Rolston was moved with Josh Dickinson to the Blackhawks for depth defenseman Carl Soderberg.

Despite playing 68 games in the AHL, Rolston has yet to find his way up the depth charts to get a look in the NHL with the Blackhawks.

In 2023 the Blackhawks signed Rolston to a three-year ELC which had an AAV of $925K, through the 2025-2026 season.

Anders Sorenson spoke highly of the prospect after his performance in 2023-2024:

"Very positive. He had some habits that he corrected, and I thought he was an effective player for us throughout most of the season. I was talking to him after the season, and he would like to see more ice time if it was down the stretch or in the playoffs. But I feel like he took a big step."

On if Rolston can become a consistent goal-scorer in the AHL:

"Yeah we believe so. I mean he showed us a little bit last year when he got an opportunity for us on the power play or even five-on-five. I think he does have a shot that you're aware of, right? And if you're a the other team, and you're looking at it, it's like, 'Okay, we've got to make sure we're taking that away,' and that opens up ice for somebody else at times. But for him, that's a super strength for sure."

In 62 games with the Rockford IceHogs, he scored 19 points( 9 G, 10 A), and perhaps the Nashville Predators won this trade?

There's no telling, as the Blackhawks' prospect pipeline is one of the best in the NHL, so it looks like GM Kyle Davidson wasn't concerned with losing Rolston.