After a 31-33-6 season ended in a five-game playoff series against the Milwaukee Admirals, the Rockford IceHogs look toward the 2025-26 season as another year of opportunity. Change came in bunches for the organization, but the goal still remains. This team intends to contend, and will do so with young Chicago Blackhawks prospects.
New man behind the bench
Jared Nightingale was named as the Rockford IceHogs’ new head coach this summer. (Photo courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)
Shortly after the season ended, Rockford hired their new head coach. On May 30, Jared Nightingale was named the head coach of the IceHogs. Nightingale takes the job from interim coach Mark Eaton. Nightingale, a former captain of the IceHogs, returns to Rockford after serving as the head coach and director of hockey operations for the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays. With the Stingrays, Nightingale led the team to a 52-15-5 record, setting a single-season record for points and wins. He led the Stingrays to the Brabham Cup and won the ECHL Coach of the Year award.
A leader both as a player and as a coach, Nightingale looks to bring familiarity and experience to a young Hogs roster.
Saying goodbye
IceHogs’ all-star Cole Guttman left the organization in free agency. (Photo courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)
Rockford’s roster saw a lot of change in the summer, but no change was more impactful than the loss of the team’s leading scorer, as Cole Guttman, who led the Hogs with 57 points in the 2024-25 regular season, signed with the Los Angeles Kings in the offseason.
Guttman was not the only loss to the top six. Trade acquisition Aku Raty signed a two-year deal with Karpat in Finland. In 15 regular season games with the Hogs, Raty scored six points.
Along with Raty, forward Zach Sanford signed with HC Lugano of the Swiss league. Sanford was second on the team in regular-season points with 43.
It is not just the Hogs’ first- and second-highest scorers leaving, but fourth-highest scorer Gerry Mayhew has not re-signed and remains an unrestricted free agent. Along with Mayhew, restricted free agent Jalen Luypen did not receive a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent.
In all, the Hogs have seen a combined 155 regular-season points leave in the offseason. Rockford will need to replace an extensive amount of forward talent going into next season.
Saying hello (or welcome back)
Cavan Fitzgerald (No. 20) returns to provide the defense with veteran leadership. (Photo courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)
All is not lost for the IceHogs, as key pieces were brought back or acquired during the offseason.
The biggest re-signing was the captain. Forward Brett Seney re-upped with Rockford on a two-year deal. Seney, 29, looks to continue leading this young team toward the playoffs. Coming off a 39-point season, Seney looks to regain the scoring touch he had in previous years.
Along with Seney, Rockford re-signed left-handed defenseman Cavan Fitzgerald. Originally brought in last season on a PTO, Fitzgerald proved valuable as a defensive anchor for the young defensive unit Rockford deployed last season. With a young chorus of defensemen like Kevin Korchinski, Nolan Allan, Taige Harding and newly acquired Ryan Mast, Fitzgerald looks to continue his veteran leadership with the Hogs for the next two seasons.
To add to the forward depth, the Blackhawks signed former Manitoba Moose captain Dominic Toninato to a two-way contract. Toninato, 31, tallied 36 points in 60 games in the AHL last season. With 189 career NHL games, Toninato provides Rockford with NHL experience and leadership. Time will tell if he spends more time in the NHL than in the AHL this season.
There were many other skaters brought back or signed for the upcoming season. However, it would take too long to provide details on all of them. What follows is a list of players re-signed or signed to one-year contracts.
Jackson Cates (F) (re-signed)
Marcel Marcel (F) (re-signed)
Kevin Lombardi (F) (re-signed)
Ryan Gagnier (F) re-signed)
Dillon Boucher (F)
Harrison Israel (F)
Jamie Engelbert (F)
Connor Mylymok (F)
Joe Carrol (F)
Andrew Perrott (D)
Jeremie Bucheler (D)
Tyson Feist (D)
Owen Flores (G)
Season outlook
Aidan Thompson looks to build upon his short time with Rockford last season. (Photo courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)
Last season, Rockford was the launching point for a few skaters now with the Chicago Blackhawks. Players like Frank Nazar, Ethan Del Mastro, Landon Slaggert and Artyom Levshunov utilized their time with Rockford to become regular NHLers by the end of the season.
The trend looks to continue this season. Chicago has emphasized Rockford as an important stage for prospects getting into the professional game. When asked about his time in Rockford, Aidan Thompson praised his short time with Rockford last season.
“That’s one thing the coaching staff and the program does so well is preparing you for the next level, and I think it went really smoothly,” Thompson said.
“I have nothing but good things to say … they’ve been great so far in the process … we get treated so well just as prospects and coming into the program.”
When further asked about the difference between the college game and the professional game, Thompson emphasized the age and size of the opposition.
“Guys are a lot stronger, they have a lot more years of development … a little bit bigger, a little bit stronger,” Thompson said.
Thompson, who only has four AHL games to his name, looks ready to take advantage of a wide-open depth chart.
Thompson is not the only prospect looking for Rockford roster spots. Prospects like Harding, Ryan Greene and Nick Lardis look to join a roster filled with young skaters looking to make their way to the Blackhawks.
Final thoughts
Colton Dach, Frank Nazar and Landon Slaggert started last season with Rockford before establishing themselves with the Blackhawks as the season went on. (Photo courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)
The IceHogs, like their NHL counterparts, sees their young players as their lifeblood. Rockford wants their roster teeming with youth, and want to provide them with a lot of runway. Bringing in a 41-year-old coach emphasizes this thinking. Rockford is a garden, and every garden needs the right amount of care to encourage growth.
IceHogs color commentator Dana Grey lent his thoughts on the upcoming season.
“These are really exciting times in both the IceHogs and Blackhawks organizations,” Grey said. “Two fresh faces behind both benches and a plethora of young talent that is [champing] at the bit to take the next steps. I can’t wait to see games back at the BMO Center and get this season going.”
Grey reflects the belief around the organization. Rockford is the land of opportunity; the garden in which young players can dig their roots and grow.
The chance for growth begins on Oct. 11 when the IceHogs’ regular season starts at home against Milwaukee.