The Chicago Blackhawks Make a Major Announcement as they recall nine players from Rockford
Ahead of the St. Louis Blues game tonight at 7 PM the Chicago Blackhawks and GM Kyle Davidson have made a major lineup change.
They have recalled nine players from the Rockford IceHogs and have also given defenseman Austin Strand a PTO.
Strand played for the Rockford IceHogs in 2023-2024, scoring 10 points( 5 G, 5 A), and played 10 games for the Chicago Wolves prior to his arrival in Rockford.
Strand has bounced around the NHL, playing for such teams as the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings, but the majority of his career has been played in the AHL.
While the Blackhawks have made major roster moves, as tonight they have added nine players to the lineup.
Those being recalled are Frank Nazar, Kevin Korchinski, Zach Sanford, Samuel Savoie, Landon Slaggert, Ethan Del Mastro, Cole Guttman, and Louis Crevier.
Korchinski, Crevier, and Del Mastro will again get another look in the NHL tonight, with an extra preseason game.
Of course, the notables tonight are Frank Nazar and Kevin Korchinski who should see more NHL time later in the season, and are key pieces in the Blackhawk's future.
Korchsinki's glaring weaknesses showed up during the preseason, which caused him to be sent down to the AHL this season. Whereas as a 19-year-old last season, he wasn't able to be sent down to the AHL. He played 76 games with the Blackhawks in 2023-2024 as a rookie, and held his own but still needs to develop in the minors.
Five of the seven recalled saw plenty of playing opportunities last season in 2023-2024. Only Colton Dach and Samuel Savoie are the prospects who have yet to see an opportunity to play in a regular-season NHL game.
These players have been sent to the AHL once already, and aside from possibly injuries stopping them should see them sent back down to the AHL to continue to develop.
The Rockford IceHogs saw the team in the Calder Cup playoffs last season, and with the star-studded lineup they have this year, should be no different.
