The Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers completed a trade Thursday afternoon. Pierre LeBrun first reported this deal. In Brett Connolly, the Blackhawks are getting another former first-round pick. Connolly has four points this season and carries a $3.5 million dollar cap hit through 2022–23. Connolly was drafted by Tampa Bay sixth overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and signed a four-year contract with the Panthers in 2019.

Riley Stillman has appeared in eight NHL games this season and is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of this season. The former fourth-round pick has only appeared in 43 NHL games for his career and is still only 23 years old.

Henrik Borgstrom is currently playing in Finland after appearing in four NHL games last season. The former first-round pick has 19 points in 27 games for HIFK of Liiga. After being drafted No. 23 in 2016, Borgstrom has appeared in 59 NHL games.

The Blackhawks sent back Lucas Wallmark and Lucas Carlsson. Wallmark had signed a one-year deal with the Blackhawks prior to this season and cleared waivers earlier this week. In Carlsson, the Panthers are getting a 23-year-old defenseman. He has 18 NHL games under his belt and hopes the change of scenery will yield more results at the NHL level.

With over $20 million in long-term injured reserve cap space, the Blackhawks are able to take on Connolly’s $3.5 million dollar cap hit along with potential future assets in Borgstrom, Stillman and a draft pick. The expectation is that the Blackhawks will continue to user their LTIR cap space to acquire younger assets for the future as part of their rebuild.

Connolly and Stillman were assigned to the taxi squad by the Panthers prior to the trade being finalized, and will remain on the Blackhawks’ taxi squad while quarantining. By Connolly being on the taxi squad, his cap hit is reduced to $2.425 million until recalled to the active roster.

Please stay tuned to The Rink for future Blackhawks news.

The Chicago Blackhawks acquired Brett Connolly, Riley Stillman, Henrik Borgstrom and a seventh-round pick from Florida in exchange for Lucas Carlsson and Lucas Wallmark on Thursday. (Photograph courtesy of the Chicago Blackhawks)

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Finishing this season is looking bleak for the American Hockey League as spring rolls around. The above quote came from AHL President and CEO Dave Andrews in an interview on SiriusXM Radio with Gord Stellick and Scott Laughlin on Friday. Andrews called the possibility of the Calder Cup Playoffs happening this summer, alongside a possible NHL resumption of play, “very, very unlikely.”

The NHL is still holding out hope that the 2019–20 season can be salvaged sometime this summer, or, at the very least, the league could hold the Stanley Cup Playoffs or an altered version of the playoffs. But, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues with stay-at-home orders and social distancing in place, the ability to safely return to real hockey games before the fall seems unlikely for all North American leagues.

With the AHL 2019–20 season all but canceled, the Rockford IceHogs would fall short of finishing the year in what would have been a Calder Cup Playoff spot in the Central Division. But, the season was not a waste. First-year head coach Derek King led a young roster in Rockford through an up-and-down year and had the IceHogs fighting down the stretch of the season. Riding the successes from a trio of goaltenders, the Sikura brothers and a number of emerging rookies to name a few, the IceHogs took a step forward from the underwhelming finish of the 2018–19 season.

With that in mind and the 2019–20 season all but put to bed, let’s take a look at the postseason IceHogs team awards as voted on by me, myself and I.

Preseason predictions

Heading into the 2019–20 season, the Rockford IceHogs’ lineup was a promising mixture of veterans and high-end prospects turned professional rookies. Add in Kirby Dach for three games and the beginning of the year was an exciting time. And, it feels like a lifetime ago that these were the Rockford lines and pairings:

#IceHogs lines vs #Griffins tonight:
Versteeg (C)-Nilsson (A)-Wedin
Highmore-TSikura-DSikura
Saarela-Entwistle-Quenneville
Moutrey-Dach-Hagel

Gilbert (A)-Boqvist
Beaudin-Tuulola
Carlsson-Holm

Delia
Tomkins#RFDvsGR #AHL

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) October 12, 2019

Obviously in the AHL, things change nearly every day with recalls, assignments and injuries. But, heading into the season back in October, here’s how I thought the season would play out by this time of year, and who would be the postseason award winners.

• Most Valuable Player: Matthew Highmore (Dark-horse picks: Collin Delia, Kris Versteeg)
• Rookie of the Year: Adam Boqvist (Dark-horse picks: Brandon Hagel, Philipp Kurashev)
• Defenseman of the Year: Adam Boqvist (Dark-horse picks: Chad Krys, Dennis Gilbert)
• Unsung Hero: Jacob Nilsson (Dark-horse picks: MacKenzie Entwistle, Tyler Sikura)
• Heavy Hitter Award: Dennis Gilbert (Dark-horse picks: Reese Johnson, Joni Tuulola)
• Most Improved Player: Kevin Lankinen (Dark-horse picks: Alexandre Fortin, Nick Moutrey)

I was right on zero of these predictions.

My “dark-horse” picks gave me a bit of saving grace. But, with Adam Boqvist emerging as an NHL-ready defenseman in his rookie season, Kris Versteeg leaving the team and eventually retiring and a three-quarters-of-a-season recall for Matthew Highmore, my “locks,” if you will, were way off.

2019–20 Rockford IceHogs postseason awards

So, how did things actually fare and who were the true standouts from the 2019–20 AHL season for the IceHogs?

Most Improved Player: Tyler Sikura

Tyler Sikura carries the puck up the ice. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

After breaking out for the IceHogs in the 2017–18 season, his first full season in the AHL, Tyler Sikura had high expectations last year to be a major contributor for Rockford and, albeit a long shot, could have pushed for a shot at the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks. Those things did not happen last season for the elder Sikura brother. Coming into this season, Tyler needed to return to the form he saw in 2017–18, where he was one of the top point producers on the team.

He enjoyed a bounce-back season in 2019–20, leading the team in points (34) and ranking second in goals (14), tied with his brother, Dylan Sikura. After Versteeg left the team in November, Tyler was named the IceHogs’ new team captain and played a major role as part of Rockford’s penalty kill this season. Sikura’s AHL contract with the organization ends this summer.

Heavy Hitter: Joseph Cramarossa

Joseph Cramarossa winds up the crowd after a fight. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs.)

Acquired in late November, Joseph Cramarossa came into the IceHogs’ lineup and was a mainstay when healthy. An energy forward and not afraid to mix it up physically, Cramarossa led Rockford with 110 penalty minutes this season with a team-high six fighting majors. The IceHogs as a team registered 24 team fighting majors in 2019–20, the most fighting majors since the 2015–16 season when they registered 39 fights. Cramarossa had 12 points in 42 games with the IceHogs this season and is an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Unsung Hero: Gabriel Gagne

Gabriel Gagne (center, 32) celebrates a goal for the Rockford IceHogs against the Texas Stars. (Photograph courtesy of the Texas Stars)

Another in-season acquisition for the IceHogs that made an impact was Gabriel Gagne. Acquired on loan from the Allen Americans in the ECHL in January, Gagne quickly showed the scoring ability along with physical presence that made him a second-round pick for the Ottawa Sentors back at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. In 21 games with Rockford, Gagne tallied 12 points and was given top-six minutes and power play opportunities down the back half of the schedule. Prior to the season being put on hold, Gagne signed a one-year AHL contract with the IceHogs for the 2020–21 season.

Defenseman of the Year: Lucas Carlsson

Lucas Carlsson looks to make a pass. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

For the second straight season, Lucas Carlsson led the Rockford IceHogs in scoring for defensemen. The second-year player from Sweden finished the season with 26 points in 48 games for Rockford, good for a tie for fourth on the team in scoring with MacKenzie Entwistle. Carlsson’s 26 points was 11 more than the next-highest defenseman this season, ahead of rookie Nicolas Beaudin.

When healthy this season, Carlsson was a regular for head coach Derek King in his defensive rotation and was regularly used on the power play. Carlsson’s confidence this season was evident, as he began to take more chances offensively and earned himself his first NHL call up to the Chicago Blackhawks. The former fourth-round pick played in six games for Chicago and recorded one assist, averaging just over 14 minutes of ice time.

Rookie of the Year: Brandon Hagel

Brandon Hagel eyes the play during a shift against the San Antonio Rampage. (Photograph courtesy of the San Antonio Rampage)

On a team that at one point this season boasted top-end rookie prospects Adam Boqvist, MacKenzie Entwistle, Nicolas Beaudin and Philipp Kurashev, none were more impactful for the IceHogs than Brandon Hagel. The former sixth-round pick by the Buffalo Sabres signed an entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks at the end of the 2018–19 season, skating in the final eight games of the AHL season with the IceHogs and notching one assist.

In the 2019–20 season, his first full professional season, Hagel led the IceHogs in goals with 19, finished third on the team with 31 points in 59 games played and his 126 shots on goal were second on the team behind Dylan Sikura. In the Blackhawks’ development camp, Hagel showed a high motor and ability to get to the net to create scoring chances and those skills translated to the ice at the AHL level. Hagel earned three recalls to the Chicago Blackhawks this season, but was only able to get into one game at the NHL level before the season was paused.

Most Valuable Player: Collin Delia

Collin Delia makes a save for the Rockford IceHogs against the Chicago Wolves. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

About a month into the season, calling Collin Delia an IceHogs Team MVP candidate was a bit of a long shot. Delia started the season off on the wrong foot, dropping five of his first seven starts of the season and posting a sub-.900 save percentage. After sitting behind Kevin Lankinen and Matt Tomkins for a three-week stretch from mid-November to the beginning of December, Delia turned both his and the IceHogs’ season around.

Going 14–8–1 from Dec. 3 to the end of the season, Delia was the backbone of Rockford’s push in the second half of the season to get into the Calder Cup Playoff picture. He finished the year with a 16–13–1 record on the year with a career-high three shutouts. The IceHogs rolled a healthy three-goalie rotation this season for most of the year, up until Lankinen’s season was ended due to a shoulder injury, and Delia was the season leader in net with the highest marks in save percentage (.912) and goals against average (2.66). The California native ranked in the top 10 of the AHL for qualified goaltenders in shutouts (three), wins (16) and shootout save percentage (.875, 14/16).

2019–20 epilogue

It truly is a shame that the Rockford IceHogs’ season was cut short during the Calder Cup Playoff push. With 62 points in 63 games, the IceHogs were tied for fourth in the Central Division with the Chicago Wolves, only they would be on the outside of the postseason due to points percentage. But, with nine games remaining, who is to say that the IceHogs could not have had one hot streak left in them to make it into the playoffs?

There are plenty of questions, both on and off the ice, facing the IceHogs and the American Hockey League heading into the 2020–21 season. But, when we do eventually get back to regular games, whenever that may be, there is certainty that the IceHogs can be contenders. Given the talent that will return next season, Rockford is set up to be a team to keep on the radar.

I will leave you with a final quote from Andrews’ interview on Sirius XM radio: “Despite the uncertainty, we’ll be okay.”

Stay safe. Stay home. Stay well.

The post Rockford IceHogs postseason awards (if this is the end) appeared first on The Rink.

If the Blackhawks wanted to beat the Ducks, they would need to do what they do best and that is to score, preferably first. They did exactly that when Kirby Dach skated to the front of the net and dished the puck of to Adam Boqvist, who found Drake Caggiula to the side of Ducks goalie John Gibson for his ninth goal of the season. Of note, it was the first goal in NHL history involving two players born in the 2000s in Boqvist and Dach, who recorded the assists. The Blackhawks ended the first period up 1–0.

Pass that thing and watch me flex
Behind my back, you know what’s next

Watch #CHIvsANA live on the #MyTeams App: https://t.co/mfQ1ZBTGTC pic.twitter.com/5kvPz80JL0

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 4, 2020

Most people thought the Blackhawks traded the wrong goalie at the deadline and there is evidence on both sides of the argument, but to Crawford’s credit, if the Hawks do by some miracle somehow sneak into the playoffs, it would be in part to his willingness to sacrifice his whole body to keep his teammates in the game. For a goalie that has missed a lot of time the past two seasons due to injury, he gave the Blackhawks everything he had in the first period.

Crawford’s numbers this season only tell one side of the story. The Blackhawks’ defense has been terrible this season so the goalies are saving more shots. The more shots there are, the more likely the opposing team scores. Simple percentages. The home team may have scored the lone goal of the opening period, but the Ducks out shot them 16–6 and were taking better shots due to the Blackhawks’ mismanagement of the puck, a story that has had many chapters this season.

The Blackhawks came out for the second period with a lot more energy and fast-paced play almost as if they knew they were lucky to escape the first period with a lead. A deflected shot off the stick of Duncan Keith took a fortunate bounce off the end boards, right in front of Dylan Strome, who fired it past Gibson’s right side for his 11th of the season for a 2–0 Blackhawks advantage.

Dylan Strome ends a 14-game goal drought and records his 100th career NHL point. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/0PDWMd7lKP

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) March 4, 2020

Shortly after, however, Christian Djoos fooled everyone, including Crawford, into thinking he was taking a shot and he drew the Blackhawks defenders all away from the net in time to pass it to Danton Heinen, who shot it in the gaping net for his ninth goal of the season. The Blackhawks’ lead was down to just one goal, once again, at 2–1.

Crawford continued his fancy footwork when Adam Henrique had a prime scoring opportunity, but the goaltender stretched wide and got his left leg pad in front of the shot. Henrique had about two or three opportunities before the whistle.

The Blackhawks had two good shorthanded chances from Brandon Saad on a breakaway and later Caggiula, but Gibson was there to hold the deficit at one. That was when the Blackhawks’ best puck handler, Patrick Kane, got just past the Ducks’ blue line and fired a pin-point pass to Strome in stride, who redirected the puck past Gibson for his second goal of the game and 12th overall for a 3–1 Chicago lead. Lucas Carlsson got his first career point on the goal, as he set Kane up with an exquisite lead pass to start the play, as well.

Patrick Kane finds Dylan Strome for his 2nd goal of the night! pic.twitter.com/Y43wDqq4fR

— BlackhaWWWks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) March 4, 2020

The Blackhawks would waste little time in queuing Chelsea Dagger again in the second period. Heinen went for a backhand shot on goal on a breakaway, but Boqvist scurried back and got his stick in the way to disrupt Heinen’s attempt. The Hawks quickly transitioned the puck for a three-on-one the other way and Alexander Nylander capitalized. Nylander toyed with Gibson by going forehand, backhand, then short side into the back of the net for his ninth goal of the season, pushing the Blackhawk advantage to 4–1.

Alex Nylander with a pretty move for his 9th goal of the season. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/CMoQTUZhDt

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) March 4, 2020

Just 15 seconds later, Nylander would get another point this time on an assist to Kane in front of the goal. This was Kane’s 29th goal of the season. The Blackhawks scored four goals on 18 shots while the Ducks mustered only one goal on 13 shots. This was a very different Blackhawks team in the second period, a team that played both sides of the ice and with a purpose, finishing the second period up 5–1.

Patrick Kane scores 15 seconds after Alex Nylander for his 29th goal of the season. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/yfVbs1bosV

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) March 4, 2020

The third period opened with a scary moment, as Ryan Getzlaf tried to avoid Crawford after he stopped a shot and accidentally kneed the goaltender in the head. The medical staff and concussion spotter must have seen something they did not like because they brought Crawford to the bench and he was replaced by Malcolm Subban, who was making his Blackhawks debut. It ended up being short lived, however, as Crawford only missed little more than a minute of play and came right back in to guard the net. Crawford, despite a history of numerous head and neck injuries in his career, came back into a game where his team was up late by four goals and in control of the game.

Alrighty then.

Corey Crawford re-enters the game, after originally being pulled by the concussion spotter. pic.twitter.com/Op5TmD3O1z

— BlackhaWWWks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) March 4, 2020

Just a few minutes later, he got a wellness check on a redirected shot from Carter Rowney and Crawford missed it for the Ducks’ second goal of the game, cutting the gap to 5–2 with Rowney’s seventh goal of the season. The Blackhawks, however, would add one more goal for good measure when Matthew Highmore hit David Kampf for his eighth of the season and a 6–2 lead on Anaheim goalie Ryan Miller, who replaced Gibson for the third period.

What a pass by Matthew Highmore, who connects with David Kampf for team’s 6th goal tonight. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/15ViKUGcGI

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) March 4, 2020

Crawford allowed two goals on 39 shots and the line of Strome, Kane and Nylander had a combined for 13 shots, four goals and three assists. Not a bad day at the office for the Blackhawks, as they took the 6–2 victory and they would hope the rest of the dominoes in front of them would fall their way.

The Blackhawks get the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday at the United Center and puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Do not be surprised if Crawford is not in net for that one and Subban makes his “unofficial” Blackhawks debut. With the season likely lost at this point, there really is no need to push a possibly injured Crawford into his seventh start in a row unless they must. Whoever is scheduled in goal probably wishes they were not, as the Oilers are first place in the Pacific Division and show zero signs of slowing down.

The post Along the Boards: Blackhawks take down the Anaheim Ducks 6–2 on the back of Corey Crawford appeared first on The Rink.

Parts of the series

Introduction

Tiers one and two

Tier three

Tier four

Tier five

Tier six

Complete tier listings with our panel’s original average tier ratings (* represents a unanimous rating from the panel)

Tier one

Adam Boqvist (1*)
Kirby Dach (1*)

Tier two

Ian Mitchell (1.833)
Nicolas Beaudin (2.333)

Tier three

Alex Vlasic (2.833)
Alex Nylander (3)
Dominik Kubalik (3.167)
Philipp Kurashev (3.167)
Chad Krys (3.333)
Jake Wise (3.5)
Alexis Gravel (4)

Tier four

Evan Barratt (3.5)
MacKenzie Entwistle (3.667)
Aleksi Saarela (3.833)
Josiah Slavin (3.833)
Dennis Gilbert (4)
Matthew Highmore (4)
Kevin Lankinen (4)
Niklas Nordgren (4)
John Quenneville (4*)
Michal Teply (4)
Lucas Carlsson (4.167)
Tim Soderlund (4.167)
Alexandre Fortin (4.333)

Tier five

Brandon Hagel (4.333)
Antti Saarela (4.333)
Dominic Basse (4.5)
Artur Kayumov (4.5)
Josh Ess (4.667)
Jakub Galvas (4.833)
Mikael Hakkarainen (4.833)
Reese Johnson (4.833)
Cole Moberg (4.833)
Andrei Altybarmakyan (5.167)
Ivan Nalimov (5.167)
Joni Tuulola (5.167)

Tier six

Mathias From (5.333)
Roope Laavainen (5.333)
Ryan Shea (5.333)
Parker Foo (5.5)
Jake Ryczek (5.5)
Nathan Noel (5.667)
Graham Knott (5.833)

Note: Our panel discovered at a later date Jack Ramsey had been omitted from the series and agreed Ramsey falls into tier six.

The post RECAP: The-Rink’s Blackhawks prospect pyramid: Blood, sweat and tiers appeared first on The Rink.

Our series continues today with tier four, defined as a prospect seen as a bottom-six or extra forward, third-pairing or extra defenseman or fringe goalie.

As explained in the introduction piece, each eligible prospect in the system was rated by our staff panel before ultimately being debated to agree on a tier. Each prospect’s original rating average is listed in parentheses after their name, along with a brief synopsis of why they fell in the tier they did.

Players are listed in order of original rating average, with any ties being sorted alphabetically by last name.

Evan Barratt (3.5)

The 2017 third-round pick was one of the players our panel had the hardest time coming to a consensus on. Some felt Barratt is capable of converting his offensive firepower at the collegiate level to the professional ranks for a middle-six role, while some felt he will be nothing more than a serviceable depth piece in the NHL. Either way, Barratt brings a combination of skill and sandpaper the Blackhawks could use in their lineup down the road. The Bristol, Pennsylvania, native will return to Penn State in 2019–20, where he ignited for 43 points in 32 games last season.

Evan Barratt will return to Penn State for the 2019–20 season. (Photograph courtesy of Penn State Athletics)

MacKenzie Entwistle (3.667)

Since being acquired in the infamous trade that saw Marian Hossa’s contract dealt to Arizona, Entwistle has established himself as one of the Blackhawks’ most solidified prospects in terms of their future role. The 2017 third-round pick of the Coyotes has embraced the idea of being a bottom-six player at the NHL level and has adjusted his game to suit that role. After winning back-to-back OHL championships on the Hamilton Bulldogs and Guelph Storm and enjoying a breakout showing at the World Junior Championships, Entwistle will turn pro in 2019–20 to join what will likely be a youthful Rockford IceHogs lineup.

Guelph Storm forward MacKenzie Entwistle (left) battles for a puck at the Memorial Cup. (Photograph courtesy of Vincent Ethier / CHL Images)

Aleksi Saarela (3.833)

Saarela joins the Blackhawk organization this season after spending the last two in Carolina’s system. Originally a 2015 third-round pick of the New York Rangers, Saarela was part of the trade that saw Eric Staal leave the Hurricanes at the 2016 trade deadline. Since then, Saarela has spent the majority of his time playing for the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL, where he and his team won the Calder Cup last season. Saarela’s big shot helped him score 30 goals in 2018–19, but he likely will not reach a level like that in the NHL. If Saarela wants to have a lengthy NHL career, it will likely need to be in a depth role. Saarela will be given a chance to crack Chicago’s opening night lineup, but is more likely to start the season in Rockford to adjust to the Blackhawks’ system.

Aleksi Saarela joins the Blackhawks organization for 2019–20 after winning the Calder Cup with the Charlotte Checkers. (Photograph courtesy of Patrick Gorski / Icon Sportswire

Josiah Slavin (3.833)

Slavin was another polarizing player among our panel members. With votes as high as tier two, he clearly is a player who has quickly grabbed the attention of some panelists despite being a seventh-round pick in 2018. Slavin’s rise in the USHL over the last two seasons and showings at the Blackhawks’ development camps have led some to feel he has the tools needed to be a legitimate contributor at the NHL level, playing a simple, but effective, pro-style game. Slavin, who is the younger brother of Carolina’s Jaccob Slavin, possesses a strong work ethic and displays leadership on and off the ice, which have helped his development thus far. The Erie, Colorado, native will head to play at Colorado College, where he will likely spend at least two years before turning pro. While he still has some developing to do, Slavin could very well turn out to be a diamond in the rough and have a successful NHL career, whether as a middle-six player or a depth option.

Josiah Slavin heads to Colorado College after splitting the 2018–19 season between Lincoln and Chicago in the USHL. (Photograph courtesy of Brad Repplinger)

Dennis Gilbert (4)

Gilbert is a perfect representation of a few players who our panel feels can be a solid NHL player, just likely not in a Blackhawk sweater. The Notre Dame product provides the physicality Chicago’s blue line pipeline lacks, but very well might not have a clear path to NHL ice time with all of the other young defensemen in the system who have higher upsides. Drafted in the third round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Gilbert turned pro in 2018–19 after three seasons with the Fighting Irish. The Buffalo, New York, native played in 63 games for Rockford, where he racked up 14 points, to go along with one game for the Blackhawks. Our panel was in full agreement Gilbert has the tools to be a reliable and rugged stay-at-home defenseman in the NHL, but most felt that would be elsewhere.

Dennis Gilbert tallied 14 points for the Rockford IceHogs in 2018–19. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Matthew Highmore (4)

Highmore is a bit of an interesting player in the group because of his circumstances. Most of our panel feels he has the tools needed to be an everyday bottom-six center in the NHL. However, injuries have hampered Highmore thus far in his career, washing out the majority of his 2018–19 season. The undrafted free agent signing played in 13 games for the Blackhawks in 2017–18, but managed just 12 games in 2018–19, all with Rockford. Despite his injury issues, Highmore has proven to be an effective scorer at the AHL level, posting 52 points in 76 games over two seasons with the IceHogs. Hopes are 2019–20 can be a fresh start for Highmore, but he will need to earn a spot in Chicago, as there is a slew of other players who could very well beat him out for depth roster spots.

Matthew Highmore enters 2019–20 looking to rebound from his injury-shortened 2018–19 campaign. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Kevin Lankinen (4)

The undrafted free agent signing came over to play in North America for the first time in 2018–19, splitting time with Indy in the ECHL and Rockford in the AHL. While he posted decent numbers with the IceHogs (2.50 goals against average and a .910 save percentage in 19 games), Lankinen took the world by storm for his native Finland in the World Championships, backstopping the Finns to the gold medal with sparkling numbers of a 1.50 goals against average and a .942 save percentage. His efforts quickly caught the attention of many in the Blackhawks’ fanbase, but he needs to show that ability on a consistent basis for an extended period of time for our panel to place him in a higher tier. Lankinen is expected to return to Rockford for 2019–20, where he will get a chance to show if he is truly the lights-out goaltender he was at the World Championships or if his heroics were just a flash in the pan.

The 2019–20 season will give Kevin Lankinen an opportunity to show if his heroic performance at the 2019 World Championships was his true self or just a flash in the pan. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Niklas Nordgren (4)

The 2018 third-round pick of the Blackhawks is an intriguing prospect because of his ability to score. However, his size is a bit of a question mark, as is his skating, which will definitely need to be improved if he wants to translate his production to the game’s highest level. Unlike the majority of prospects in the system, Nordgren has been limited in his participation in prospect camp over the past two summers, as he was injured early in the 2018 camp before being an off-ice participant in 2019. Nordgren has split time between HIFK’s main Liiga men’s team and the organization’s U20 team over the last two seasons. The Helsinki native tallied 26 points in 28 games between the two teams in 2018–19 and will return to HIFK for 2019–20. Nordgren’s development will be worth keeping an eye on, as he could become a scoring threat in the NHL if he pans out.

Niklas Nordgren combined for 26 points in 28 games in the HIFK organization in 2018–19. (Photograph courtesy of AOP)

John Quenneville (4)

The cousin of longtime Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville, John was one of three prospects to receive an identical rating from each member of our panel. Acquired earlier this summer in exchange for John Hayden, Quenneville will enter camp looking to earn a full-time job in the NHL for the first time. The 2014 first-round pick of New Jersey played in 33 games for the Devils in his time with the organization, spending the majority of that time playing for the Albany Devils in the AHL. After racking up 39 points in 37 AHL games last season, Quenneville appears ready to take the next step, but might have a hard time grabbing a roster spot in Chicago. Regardless, Quenneville should be able to be a decent depth piece at the NHL level in the future.

John Quenneville joins the Blackhawks organization after being acquired from New Jersey this summer. (Photograph courtesy of Ed Mulholland / USA TODAY Sports

Michal Teply (4)

Teply will be another intriguing prospect to keep an eye on as his career progresses. Selected in the fourth round this June by the Blackhawks, the noted playmaker will come to North America to join the Winnipeg Ice for 2019–20 after being chosen fourth overall by the Ice in the CHL Import Draft. The Czech Republic product posted 21 points in various Czech leagues in 2018–19 before racking up six points in four playoff games for the Bili Tygri Liberec U19 team. Teply has been a mainstay on the Czech Republic’s international teams growing up, representing his country in various tournaments in each of the past three seasons. The big-bodied winger will need to work on his skating and adjust to the North American game, but, if he can do those things, seems like he can be a depth contributor in the NHL.

Michal Teply will head to North America for 2019–20 to play for the Winnipeg Ice. (Photograph courtesy of the IIHF)

Lucas Carlsson (4.167)

The 2016 fourth-rounder made the transition to North America in 2018–19, playing 69 games with Rockford and tallying 33 points, after a lengthy career in the Brynas organization in Sweden. While generally known to be an offensive defenseman, Carlsson is capable of holding his own in his own end. Of course, being part of an impressive blue line pipeline in the Chicago system, Carlsson might have a hard time cracking the Blackhawks’ lineup in the future. Multiple members of our panel believe he has the tools needed to be a regular depth defenseman in the NHL, but would likely only be able to realize that potential in a different organization. As one panelist noted, Carlsson feels a bit like Ville Pokka in the sense he might be too good for the AHL but never be able to make it in the NHL given the situation he is in. The Swede is expected to return to a stacked blue line in Rockford in 2019–20.

Lucas Carlsson posted 33 points for Rockford in 2018–19. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Tim Soderlund (4.167)

Soderlund’s skill set lends itself to a bottom-six role, which is likely what he would need to be in order to have an NHL career. While Soderlund has looked good at both ends in his time playing in Sweden’s SHL over the last three seasons, he has not stood out much at Chicago’s prospect camps since being selected in the fourth round in 2017, though that is not an end-all, be-all setting. Soderlund will join Rockford for 2019–20, where he will get his first taste of the North American game. Sometimes compared to fellow Swede Viktor Arvidsson, Blackhawks fans should be cautiously optimistic about Soderlund’s future. If he can translate his game to North America, he should have a chance to establish himself as a reliable depth player capable of chipping in offensively from time to time.

After spending his whole career in Sweden, Tim Soderlund will come to North America for the 2019–20 season. (Photograph courtesy of Ola Westerberg / Bildbyrån)

Alexandre Fortin (4.333)

Once the “golden boy” of the Blackhawks’ prospect camps, Fortin has a well-known story that has led him to the professional ranks. Unfortunately for Fortin, it sometimes seems like he just is not getting the opportunity he needs to establish himself at the NHL level. After struggling with injuries in his first professional season in 2017–18, the undrafted free agent signing split time between Chicago and Rockford in 2018–19, posting consistent numbers at both levels. Fortin tallied three goals and three assists in 24 games for the Blackhawks and doubled his totals in 47 games with the IceHogs. Fortin has speed to burn, but the rest of his game will need to catch up to his feet in order to put it all together. Though there is still time for Fortin to earn himself a regular NHL job, he might be passed over for other options as time progresses. Fortin is another player who may be better off starting fresh in another organization to get the most out of his career moving forward.

Alexandre Fortin will look to grab a full-time roster spot in Chicago in 2019–20. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Stay tuned as The-Rink progresses up the ladder in its Blackhawks prospect pyramid: Blood, sweat and tiers.

The post The-Rink’s Blackhawks prospect pyramid: Blood, sweat and tiers, part three appeared first on The Rink.

IceHogs complete comeback in overtime vs. Milwaukee

On a night where the physicality was turned up and Dmitry Osipov and even Collin Delia got into tussles, the IceHogs were able to keep their heads about them enough to come away with a win in their AHL-leading 26th game that went into the extra period of play.

The IceHogs got off to a fast start just 40 seconds into the game, as Luke Johnson ripped home his 17th goal of the season off a face-off won by Reese Johnson, now known as the “No Tears Line” (Johnson and Johnson products, get it?). Luke Johnson tied his AHL season-high in points with 30 on the game’s opening goal. From there, the Admirals would score three unanswered goals from Cole Schneider, Anthony Richard and a second-period goal from Justin Kirkland to give Milwaukee a 3–1 lead midway through the contest.

Looking for life in the second period, Anthony Louis won a board battle and Lucas Carlsson was able to skate the puck in between the circles and score his ninth goal of the season to cut the Milwaukee lead to 3–2. Carlsson’s first goal since Feb. 9 pulled the IceHogs within striking distance heading into the third period.

In the final period of regulation, the IceHogs grabbed control of the pace of play, out-shooting the Admirals 12–4 and finding the game’s equalizing goal from Sikura with 15:22 to play. Sikura’s 16th goal of the season was enough to tie the game and force overtime for the 26th time this season for Rockford.

In the extra period, the IceHogs again controlled the pace of play, continuing to cycle in and out of their offensive zone nearly at will against Milwaukee. With just over 90 seconds remaining, Sikura found space in the Admirals’ zone and fired home his 17th goal of the season and second of the game for the 4–3 overtime-winner.

Sikura, along with Reese Johnson and Carlsson all tallied multi-point nights for the IceHogs while Delia made 14 saves on 17 shots as his record improved to 13–8–4 this season. Delia has won six of his last eight starts for the IceHogs since March 1.

Since returning to the IceHogs on April 2, Sikura has five points in four games, including two multi-goal games. With 35 points in 44 games, Sikura ranks third on the IceHogs in scoring and his 0.80 points per game pace is tied with Peter Holland for the team lead.

Finally, two notes to finish the thrilling win. First, with the 4–3 overtime win, the IceHogs record this season when scoring three or more goals in a game improved to 30–2–2. Secondly, on a sour note, Matthew Highmore took a big hit in the first period and did not return to the game from then on. He suffered a shoulder injury in early November that required surgery and had just returned to the IceHogs lineup at the beginning of April. After the game, interim head coach Derek King said Highmore bruised up his shoulder but would be fine.

Calder Cup Playoff race

With the win on Tuesday night, the IceHogs move within one-point of a Calder Cup Playoff spot. Milwaukee earned a point to move to 84 points, which is also the maximum amount of points that the IceHogs could reach with two games remaining.

1. x- Chicago Wolves (73 games played) – 43–21–9 – 95 points (at Iowa, vs. Manitoba, vs. Manitoba)
2. Grand Rapids Griffins (73 games played) – 38–24–11 – 87 points (vs. Iowa, vs. Manitoba, at Milwaukee)
3. Milwaukee Admirals (74 games played) – 34–24–16 – 84 points (vs. Grand Rapids, at Rockford)
4. Manitoba Moose (73 games played) – 37–29–7 – 81 points (at Grand Rapids, at Chicago, at Chicago)
5. Iowa Wild (73 games played) – 34–26–13 – 81 points (at Grand Rapids, vs. Chicago, vs. Rockford)
6. Texas Stars (73 games played) – 36–29–8 – 80 pts (vs. San Antonio, at San Antonio, vs. San Antonio)
7. Rockford IceHogs (74 games played) – 35–29–10 – 80 pts (at Iowa, vs. Milwaukee)
8. e – San Antonio Rampage (73 games played) – 29–37–7 – 65 pts (at Texas, vs. Texas, at Texas)

x = Clinched Playoff Spot
e = Eliminated From Playoff Spot
(Remaining Games)

The Iowa Wild, Texas Stars and Manitoba Moose will all play at least one game before the IceHogs take the ice again, with the Wild and Stars playing twice. Rockford will pull for those three teams hopefully coming away with no points over those games to keep their playoff chances as high as possible in the Central Division.

What’s next?

The Rockford IceHogs are back in action on Saturday night, as they travel to take on the Iowa Wild, then return home for their season finale against the Milwaukee Admirals on Sunday night. Saturday’s puck drop is set for 6 p.m. Central Time at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. Rockford this season holds a 4–4–1 record against the Wild in their nine previous meetings. Sunday’s puck drop at the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford is also set for 6 p.m. Central Time against the Admirals. Rockford this season holds a 5–5–1 record over the Admirals in their previous 11 meetings.

The post IceHogs keep playoff hopes alive with win over Admirals appeared first on The Rink.

Rockford IceHogs def. Grand Rapids Griffins, 5-4 (OT)

The Rockford IceHogs, playing their only game within an 11-day span, hosted the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday night. With the Griffins coming into the game tied for the Central Division lead with the Chicago Wolves, and the IceHogs holding a two-point cushion over the Texas Stars for the fourth and final Calder Cup Playoff spot in the Central, both teams had a ton on the line as far as the Divisional battle goes.

With Collin Delia getting his second-straight start in net since returning to the IceHogs at the end of February, Rockford was able to get on the board early and often.

After giving Delia zero goals of support in his return game against the Wolves, Rockford took a 1-0 lead at the mid-way point of the opening period thanks to a Jordan Schroeder powerplay goal. Just over four minutes later, it would be a 2-0 IceHogs lead after Spencer Watson tipped a shot from Lucas Carlsson. Watson’s first goal with the IceHogs and first goal in the AHL this season gave Rockford a comfortable lead heading toward the final moments of the first period. That was until Dennis Gilbert was able to find a rebound and score his second goal of the season with under two seconds left in the period to give the IceHogs a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes of play.

Things would begin to get dicey for the IceHogs from then on as the Griffins would net two goals in the second period from Turner Elson and Wade Megan to cut the Rockford lead to 3-2 heading into the third period of action. Less than a minute into the final frame, the Griffins tied the game thanks to a powerplay goal from Matt Puempel, his 21st goal of the year. Things began to turn back in the IceHogs’ favor in the third period when Jordan Schroeder potted his second goal of the game with just over six minutes to go in the contest. Schroeder’s 17th goal of the season gave Rockford a 4-3 lead, but it would be a second goal from Puempel in the period to tie it up at 4-4. The 22nd goal of the season for Puempel would be enough for the Griffins to force overtime.

Rockford IceHogs forward Jordan Schroeder (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

With both teams securing one point on the night, the all-important overtime point was up for grabs. Delia was able to stop both shots he faced in the four-plus minutes of extra time, and the newly acquired Peter Holland was able to play hero for the IceHogs. Schroeder found an open Holland in the slot from behind the net and he was able to get the game-winner past Harri Sateri with just 36 seconds left in the overtime period for the 5-4 win.

Collin Delia made 24 saves on 28 shots faced to earn his first win since returning to the IceHogs. His record on the season moves to 8-6-4 with a 2.36 GAA and a 0.929 save-percentage.

Rockford IceHogs goaltender Collin Delia makes a save against the Grand Rapids Griffins. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

Jordan Schroeder tallied two goals and an assist on the night for his first three-point game of the season and first since March 16, 2018 with the Cleveland Monsters. Schroeder’s 17 goals this season is his highest total since his 2011-12 season with the Chicago Wolves, where he netted 21 goals in 76 games. Since February 1st, Schroeder has 14 points in 13 games.

Peter Holland played the hero for the IceHogs in overtime, scoring his second goal with the club since joining the team on February 18. Holland has four points in five games with the IceHogs, 53 points in 57 games this season in total, tied for sixth in the AHL in scoring.

Finally, Luke Johnson, Lucas Carlsson, and Henri Jokiharju all tallied two assists apiece for the IceHogs in the overtime win. Jokiharju has 12 points in his 13 games with the IceHogs this season. Lucas Carlsson leads all IceHogs defenders in points with 28 points in 55 games this season, tied for fourth in the AHL for rookie defenders.

Calder Cup Playoff Push

Following Friday night’s win, the IceHogs remain in fourth-place in the AHL Central Division, two points clear of the Texas Stars in fifth-place. Rockford remains the leader in the Division in games played to this point this season.

1. Chicago Wolves (56 GP) – 33-17-6, 72 pts
2. Grand Rapids Griffins (57 GP) – 31-17-9, 71 pts
3. Iowa Wild (57 GP) – 29-17-11, 69 pts
4. Rockford IceHogs (59 GP) – 27-23-9, 63 pts
5. Texas Stars (57 GP) – 27-23-7, 61 pts
6. Milwaukee Admirals (58 GP) – 24-22-12, 60 pts
7. Manitoba Moose (57 GP) – 27-25-5, 59 pts
8. San Antonio Rampage (57 GP) – 25-26-6, 56 pts

Rockford holds the fourth and final Divisional spot in the Calder Cup Playoff picture, with 16 of their final 17 games to close the year coming against Central Division opponents.

What’s Next?

The Rockford IceHogs are back in action on Saturday, March 9 as they travel to Manitoba to take on the Moose. Rockford will take a full week off between games, allowing for the other Central Division teams to catch up and surpass them in the games played department. After a week off, the IceHogs take on the Moose in back-to-back weekend games in Manitoba on March 9 and 10. Saturday’s puck drop is set for 6pm CT, while Sunday’s puck drop is set for 2pm CT at Bell MTS Place. Rockford holds a 1-0-1 record against the Moose this season.

The post IceHogs Top Griffins In Overtime Thriller appeared first on The Rink.

Grading The Rockford IceHogs: Defensemen

The Rockford IceHogs offense this season has been lacking. Although ranking last in the league in goals for with 105, the silver-lining is that the IceHogs rank tenth in the AHL in goals allowed with 130. The goaltending and defense in front of them have kept the IceHogs in multiple games this season, helping them to a record of 17-1-2 when given at least three goals of support.

What Rockford lacks from their blue-line this season is what they had last season: consistent point-producers. Last season, the IceHogs benefitted from having both Cody Franson and Adam Clendening on the blue-line. Both defensemen produced at a 0.75 point-per-game pace or better in their time with the iceHogs in 2017-18.

Rockford’s current point leaders for defensemen, Darren Raddysh and Lucas Carlsson, are tied with 22 points each with Raddysh producing at a 0.52 point per game pace and Carlsson at a 0.48 point-per-game pace. While it’s not essential that goal-scoring and production has to come from the back-end, it helps to have consistent point-production out of a team’s defensmen. Rockford will need more if they are to make a push to get into the Calder Cup Playoff picture.

Incompletes (Less than 15 AHL games played)

• Josh McArdle (10 GP, 0 G, 2 A, +-0, 6 PIM)
  • Local talent making the most of a banged-up blue-line for Rockford. McArdle has jumped between the AHL and ECHL a bunch this season, finally getting some consistent ice-time with the IceHogs as of late.
• Jan Rutta (8 GP, 1 G, 3 A, -2, 2 PIM)
  • A short stint with the IceHogs before being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Rutta made most Chicago Blackhawks fans believers that he could be a regular in the defensive lineup, but his play fell off and out he went.
• Gustav Forsling ( 5 GP, 0 G, 2 A, +1, 2 PIM)
  • Starting the season late due to injury, Forsling has spent the majority of his time healthy with the Chicago Blackhawks. He continues to be in and out of the Chicago lineup, and his future with the organization is in question. Still, at just 22 years old, there is a ton of hockey left ahead of Forsling to reach his potential.

Luc Snuggerud of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

• Luc Snuggerud (4 GP, 0 G, 1 A, -4, 0 PIM)
  • Snuggerud was dealt a horrible hand this season. Looking to build off a solid rookie season last year, Snuggerud suffered a concussion early in the year and has yet to be cleared to return to game action. While his clearance to return to practice a few weeks ago was a step forward, his return to the lineup is still up in the air.
• Brandon Davidson (4 GP, 0 G, 0 A, -2, 5 PIM)
  • In an effort to benefit from a change of scenery in Chicago, Davidson wasn’t able to find consistent ice time, mainly due to injury, and it followed him to Rockford. While it’s tough to call a guy’s time with an organization “over,” it is limited for Davidson with the Blackhawks/IceHogs.
• Neil Manning

IceHogs Defensemen Report Cards

• Darren Raddysh (46 GP, 7 G, 15 A, +3, 16 PIM)
  • The best offensive option in Rockford from the blue-line, Raddysh has been one of the more reliable offensive producers for the IceHogs this season. As mentioned before, Raddysh is producing at the highest point-per-game pace of all defensemen and his 22 points are tied with Lucas Carlsson for the most on the team. His comfort level has grown since last season and his two-way game has also improved. Grade: B+

Darren Raddysh of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Grand Rapids Griffins)

• Joni Tuulola (31 GP, 1 G, 7 A, -2, 13 PIM)
  • A victim of the injury-bug making its rounds in Rockford, Tuulola has been a solid option when healthy for the IceHogs defensive group. After jumping into the roster and making a spot for himself late last season, Tuulola’s game continues to grow. When he returns to health, the IceHogs should hopefully see a boost from the back-end. Grade: B-
• Carl Dahlstrom (22 GP, 1 G, 7 A, -11, 10 PIM)
  • Dahlstrom started the season with the IceHogs, but quickly showed why he was an AHL All-Star last season and that his game at both ends of the ice had improved beyond the AHL standards. Benefiting from injuries in Chicago, Dahlstrom looks to have made a home for himself in the Blackhawks rotation for the foreseeable future. Grade: B+
• Lucas Carlsson (42 GP, 7 G, 15 A, -2, 22 PIM)
  • Consistent ice-time playing alongside Dahlstrom earlier this season definitely helped the transition for Carlsson to the North American game. The rookie defender is tied with Raddysh for the most points for defensemen on the IceHogs and continues to log high-end minutes at 5-on-5 and on special teams. Grade: B+
• Andrew Campbell (40 GP, 3 G, 1 A, -3, 22 PIM)
  • Campbell joined an extremely young IceHogs locker room this season and has done everything asked of him. He plays a no-nonsense game in his own end and is a leader on and off the ice. Campbell was named the AHL Western Conference playing Captain at the AHL All-Star game, becoming the first IceHogs All-Star to be named a Captain. Grade: B

Andrew Campbell of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

• Blake Hillman (35 GP, 0 G, 2 A, -6, 12 PIM)
  • Hillman joined the Blackhawks late last season and made a bit of a splash in his NHL debuts. His transition to a full-season in professional hockey has left a bit to be desired. While he won’t light-up the score-sheet, Hillman’s defensive game has been so-so over his first full season. It will likely be a full AHL season for Hillman and will be determined this summer if the Blackhawks feel he is a part of the organization’s plans with so many young promising defensive prospect coming up behind him. Grade: C+
• Dennis Gilbert (34 GP, 0 G, 5 A, -5, 41 PIM)
  • Much like Hillman, the other rookie defenseman on the IceHogs coming from the NCAA ranks, Gilbert has been a bit ho-hum in his first full professional season. Not an offensive-minded defender, Gilbert uses his size and physicality to his advantage to provide the IceHogs an edge from the blue-line. Leading the team in fighting majors this season, Gilbert could potentially fill a physical role with the Blackhawks in the near future. Grade: C+

The defensive group for the IceHogs this season needs to be healthy and at full strength to help get Rockford back into the Calder Cup Playoff race. If and when that happens, hopefully the consistent play can spark the offensive attack and continue to aid the goaltending and keep the IceHogs competitive every night.

The potential for late-season reinforcements to arrive in Rockford is there, it hopefully will not be something that the IceHogs rely on. If they can find a way to increase production from within, they will have a shot at yet again making a late-season Calder Cup Playoff push. If not, it will be a short Spring at the BMO Harris Bank Center.

If you missed yesterday’s Forwards group, you can find the grades here. 

Up next on Thursday we will give out grades for the Rockford IceHogs Goalie group.

What’s Next?

The Rockford IceHogs return to action following the AHL All-Star break on Friday, February 1 as they host the Chicago Wolves in another installment of the Illinois Lottery Cup Rivalry this season. Following Friday night’s game in Rockford, the IceHogs travel North to Milwaukee to take on the Admirals on Saturday night.

Puck drop on Friday at the BMO Harris Bank Center is scheduled for 7pm CT. The IceHogs hold a 4-3-1 record against the Wolves this season. On Saturday night, puck drop is scheduled for 7pm CT at the UW-Panther Arena in Milwaukee. The IceHogs hold a 3-2-1 record against the Admirals this season.

The post Rockford IceHogs Mid-Term Grades: Defensemen appeared first on The Rink.

IceHogs Take Five Of Six Points Over The Weekend

For the third time this season, the IceHogs faced a three games in three nights stretch of their schedule. With a road game against the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday night, followed by back-to-back home games against the Texas Stars and Griffins again, on Saturday and Sunday nights in Rockford. It was a hotly contested stretch as all three games were decided by one goal and two of them went to overtime.

IceHogs def. Griffins, 3-2 (OT)

On Friday night in Grand Rapids, the IceHogs topped the Griffins 3-2 in overtime to mark their third win in a four-game stretch, all coming by a 3-2 score in overtime. Behind Collin Delia’s 26 saves on 28 shots faced and Luke Johnson‘s two-goal performance, the IceHogs came out on top to begin the weekend’s slate.

Johnson opened the game’s scoring in the first period with a powerplay goal and closed it with the overtime winner, also on the powerplay. Johnson’s fourth goal of the season not only gave Rockford the win but also the first two-powerplay goal night since October 20 for the IceHogs. He also led the team in shots on goal with five, but the IceHogs were out-shot 28-22 by the Griffins, including being out-shot 14-4 in the first period.

Stars def. IceHogs, 3-2 (OT)

Following Friday’s win, the IceHogs returned home to take on the Texas Stars. Saturday also marked the AHL debut for defenseman Jan Rutta, who had cleared waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday afternoon.

The Rockford IceHogs celebrate a goal against the Texas Stars. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

With Anton Forsberg in net, the IceHogs again went to overtime for the second game in-a-row, but this time fell on the wrong side of a 3-2 finish as the Stars found the winner in the extra frame. Forsberg made 49 saves on 52 shots faced and was named the first star of the game, despite the loss. The Stars took an early second period lead but Rockford answered late in the middle frame with a powerplay goal from Jordan Schroeder. The third period would see the IceHogs take a 2-1 lead after Lucas Carlsson found the back of the net for the third time this season, but the Stars would tie the game just three minutes later and force overtime, where they would find the winner from Adam Mascherin.

The IceHogs were again woefully out-shot by the Stars 52-34, including being out-shot 15-7 in the first period and 5-1 in overtime. Forsberg’s overtime loss moved his record to 5-3-1 on the season, but his 49-save performance improved his save-percentage for the season to 0.917.

IceHogs def. Griffins, 2-1

The IceHogs closed the weekend on Sunday, taking on the Griffins for the second time in three days. Much like the first outing on Friday, it would be another one-goal game that would come out in favor of the IceHogs. The narrative of the weekend continued with the IceHogs being out-shot by Grand Rapids 38-29, 16-9 in the first period, but Collin Delia shut the door on the Griffins again making 37 saves. Over the weekend, the IceHogs were out-shot in three first periods by a 45-20 margin.

Rockford IceHogs defenseman Lucas Carlsson scores the eventual game-winning goal against the Grand Rapids Griffins. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

Rockford opened the scoring in the third period as Lucas Carlsson tallied his second goal in as many games, giving the IceHogs the 1-0 lead. Jordan Schroeder would add his second goal in as many games as well, totaling six on the year, to extend the Rockford lead to 2-0 before the Griffins got one on the board with just under 10 seconds to play in regulation to deny Delia his first shutout of the season.

Delia’s two wins and 63 saves on 66 shots faced over the weekend improved his record this season to 7-5-4, with a GAA of 2.34 and save-percentage of 0.933. His GAA is tied for the third-best in the AHL and save-percentage is the best in the league among qualified goalies.

One more stat for the road:

Rockford’s last seven wins have all been one-goal games. 16 of their 29 games this season have been decided by one-goal. Rockford holds a 8-2-6 record this season in one-goal games.

Jan Rutta Makes His Rockford Debut

Last Thursday, the Chicago Blackhawks placed defenseman Jan Rutta on waiver to be sent to the AHL. On Friday, Rutta cleared waivers and was sent to the IceHogs, although he did not join the team for Friday’s game in Grand Rapids. Instead, Rutta was in the lineup on Saturday night against the Texas Stars. Rutta was paired on the top-line with Lucas Carlsson for both games he played over the weekend.

Jumping right into the thick of the lineup, Rutta saw ice-time on both the powerplay and penalty-kill for the IceHogs. He did not record a point in either game he played in, but recorded six shots on goal and was a plus-one rating.

Rockford IceHogs defenseman Jan Rutta makes his team debut on December 15. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

Prior to the 2017-18 season, Rutta joined Chicago as a free agent after playing four seasons with Piráti Chomutov in the Czech professional league. In 23 games this season with the Blackhawks, Rutta has tallied six points (2 G, 4 A) and has been in and out of the regular rotation. Not what the Blackhawks would want to see from a player they gave a $2.25M contract to this summer.

In 57 games last season with Chicago, Rutta totaled 20 points (6 G, 14 A) and looked to have a somewhat promising future as a member of the Blackhawks’ blue-line, but the price-tag on him has set standards too high for him to reach with his play this season.

IceHogs interim head coach Derek King, speaking with the media following Rutta’s team debut on Saturday, was very candid in his evaluation of Rutta and the “plan” for him to get back into the NHL, where King feels Rutta belongs.

#IceHogs HC Derek King on Jan Rutta: "He settled in. You can see he is an #NHL player. We're gonna take advantage of having him here & hopefully his play will open some eyes, maybe with another team, & he'll get outta here & be where he should be, in the NHL."#AHL#Blackhawks

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) December 16, 2018

#IceHogs HC Derek King on the plan for Jan Rutta in RFD: "I'll take him for the whole year if he's going to play like he did in the 2nd & 3rd period. I'm not sure what the plans are. Maybe CHI will being him back up, maybe a scout will see he fits their team."#AHL#Blackhawks

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) December 16, 2018

Speaking after the game, Rutta also added what this season has been like in Chicago and what he hopes to accomplish with the IceHogs.

Jan Rutta on his mindset coming to the #IceHogs from the #Blackhawks: "It wasn't a good start to the year. I'm here to work, looking forward to the work & you never know what's going to happen. Just wanna help the team & get better as a player & we'll see."#RFDvsTEX#AHL

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) December 16, 2018

It would seem that the goal for Rutta may be short-term with the IceHogs as he may be looking to find an NHL job elsewhere as the Blackhawks look at other options on defense from within their own system. That, or the Blackhawks might be giving him the Cody Franson treatment from last season. Only time will tell.

Blackhawks Recall Delia, Crawford To IR, Lankinen Joins IceHogs

On Sunday night, Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford exited the game against the San Jose Sharks after a collision in net. Dylan Strome had nowhere to go defending against Evander Kane and Logan Couture on a breakout chance and ran into Crawford, forcing the goalie to bear the brunt of the collision and hit the back of his head against the goal-post on his way down to the ice. Crawford immediately left the game after the hit and head coach Jeremy Colliton confirmed that Crawford would be placed in concussion protocol following the game.

Corey Crawford leaves the game after this nasty collision. pic.twitter.com/WCKD7Mgczh

— Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) December 17, 2018

As all Blackhawks fans know, Crawford missed ten months of action last season and over the Summer due to a concussion he suffered in December of last season. It was hit or miss for month about when or even if Crawford would return to the Blackhawks. He joined the team much earlier than most expected, and was doing his best to back-stop the woeful play in front of him with Chicago.

Late on Monday afternoon, the Blackhawks placed Crawford on injured-reserve, recalled Collin Delia to Chicago, and also brought Kevin Lankinen from the Indy Fuel of the ECHL to the Rockford IceHogs.

Now, a bad Blackhawks season has gotten all that much worse.

For Crawford, the most important aspect of this situation is his health. Brain injuries are becoming more and more serious to deal with, given the advancements in medical technology, diagnosis, and treatment. To have  to deal with two concussions in a 12-month span is nothing to scoff at, especially if one took ten months to recover from. Crawford is and always will be a cornerstone of the Blackhawks’ last decade of success and everyone hopes for a speedy and full recovery for him.

The reality for the organization now on the ice is that a giant hole is left on a roster that already is at the bottom of the league. Backup goaltender Cam Ward will undoubtedly get the majority of starts moving forward, but with the Blackhawks recalling Delia, they may just give the second-year pro an extended NHL opportunity after making his debut last season.

Rockford IceHogs goaltender Collin Delia makes a save against the Grand Rapids Griffins. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

For Collin Delia, the Blackhawks avoid any waiver-wire hassle moving him between the NHL and AHL as he is waivers-exempt. Delia made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks last season, playing in two games and coming away with a 1-1-0 record, 3.96 GAA and a 0.889 save-percentage. Far from the numbers he has put up this year with a 7-5-4 record, 2.34 GAA and a 0.933 save-percentage with the IceHogs. Keep in mind that he, along with Forsberg, have been playing behind the second-lowest scoring offense in the AHL.

Rockford IceHogs goaltender Anton Forsberg. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

Anton Forsberg remains in Rockford for the time being. Forsberg has a 5-3-1 record in Rockford this year with a 2.62 GAA and a 0.917 save-percentage. He’ll undoubtedly get the majority of starts over Lankinen, who is 4-2-0 with a 3.18 GAA and a 0.893 save-percentage with the Indy Fuel this season, started the year in Rockford and has a 1-2-1 AHL record with a 2.69 GAA and a 0.889 save-percentage in four games with the IceHogs.

What’s Next?

The Rockford IceHogs are back in action on Wednesday night as they close a three-game homestand when they host the Milwaukee Admirals. Puck drop is set for 7pm CT at the BMO Harris Bank Center for the fifth meeting between the teams this season. Following that, the IceHogs are on the road against the Chicago Wolves on Friday, Dec. 21. Puck drop at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont is set for 7pm CT and will also be the fifth meeting between the Illinois Lottery Cup Rivals this year.

The IceHogs sit in fifth-place in the AHL Central Division with a 13-10-6 record and 32 points in the standings. Both rank behind the Admirals (1st, 37 points) and the Wolves (4th, 33 points).

The post IceHogs Win Two Of Three, Delia Recalled appeared first on The Rink.

Possible Chicago Blackhawks Recalls: Forwards

This Summer saw a lot of interest and chips put behind the fact that Victor Ejdsell and Dylan Sikura were penciled into the NHL regular lineup. Neither one of those players made the Blackhawks’ roster, but there was Luke Johnson and Alexandre Fortin making their NHL debuts early this year. Sikura and Ejdsell remain on the outside looking in at the Blackhawks from the Rockford IceHogs roster, but they remain two of the top options upfront for potential NHL call-ups.

Outside of those two, another lesser-recognized option has emerged after the 20-game mark for the IceHogs. Anthony Louis, last year’s point-leader in Rockford, is again near the top of point-production for the Hogs and continues to be an offensive-creator for a recently starved Rockford attack.

Dylan Sikura of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

Probables

• Dylan Sikura: 22 GP, 15 Points (6G, 9A), +2
  • Sikura has lived up to his AHL hype for the most part this season. Leading the IceHogs in points and shots on goal (79), his ability to drive the Rockford offense is his biggest asset. If Sikura is going to make the leap to the NHL this season, he’ll have to prove that he can be more than a perimeter player or that he can create his own space with his speed.
• Victor Ejdsell: 21 GP, 11 Points (4G, 7A), -4
  • Ejdsell’s hype-train has lost a bit of steam after joining the organization late last season. Still one of the better shots on the IceHogs, Ejdsell continues to show has the skill-set to succeed in at the AHL level, he’ll have to show it more consistently if he wants to get a shot with Chicago.
• Anthony Louis: 22 GP, 13 Points (8G, 5A), +2
  • Another offensive driver like Sikura, Anthony Louis remains a consistent top-player for the IceHogs. After a breakout season last year, the third-year pro has the foot-speed and hands to make an impact in any game, but his size continues to be a hindrance. If Louis can continue to show his worth on both special teams units for Rockford and maintain his offensive production-rate, he should be rewarded with his first NHL action in Chicago.

Jordan Schroeder (right) is all smiles against the San Antonio Rampage. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

Dark Horses

• Jacob Nilsson: 22 GP, 7 Points ( 2G, 5A), -3
  • The Blackhawks organization took a flyer on Nilsson this summer, much like they did with players in the past like Michael Kempny and David Kampf. While both of those players have gone on to become NHL-regulars, Nilsson may be a bit away from that standard at the moment. A reliable secondary offensive option for Rockford, if Nilsson continues on his pace and proves his worth on the IceHogs penalty-kill, he may get a shot in Chicago.
• Jordan Schroeder: 13 GP, 10 Points (4G, 6A), -5
  • One of the veterans of the IceHogs forward group, Schroeder has been a key figure to the Rockford attack, when he is healthy. He leads the IceHogs in point-per-game percentage and has played a key role on the powerplay as of late. If for some reason the Blackhawks want to save their younger players from the horrors of their current form, a veteran like Schroeder could be an option.

Possible Chicago Blackhawks Recalls: Defensemen

While the Blackhawks’ defensive group has been arguably their biggest weakness this season, the rotation between Chicago and Rockford for blue-liners has been quiet. Gustav Forsling was an early-season player who was thought to be in line for a spot in the Blackhawks’ rotation, but began the year out of action with an injury. Once he was healthy, Forsling spent a cup of coffee’s worth of time with the IceHogs before making the leap to the NHL. Chicago has yet to send down any defensemen to the IceHogs this year, but if a move were made, there are two standouts among the Rockford group.

Carl Dahlstrom of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Grand Rapids Griffins)

Probables

• Carl Dahlstrom: 18 GP, 7 Points (G, 6A), -6
  • One of the more experienced defensemen on the IceHogs roster, Dahlstrom plays a game that the Blackhawks don’t really have in their defensive group at the moment: shut-down defense and blocking pucks. While he may not be the second-coming of Niklas Hjalmarsson, Dahlstrom’s physical presence and ability to skate with the puck could be enough for Chicago to give him another look late this season.
• Darren Raddysh: 22 GP, 14 Points (5G, 9A), +2
  • What Chicago doesn’t necessarily need is another offensive-minded defenseman. But with Raddysh, the IceHogs are benefiting from a player who can hold his own in both ends and makes his offensive bread with a dangerous slap-shot. His ability to contribute on the Rockford powerplay has been noticeable and he could be a “hey, we haven’t seen you yet” type of Blackhawks recall later this year.

Lucas Carlsson of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Grand Rapids Griffins)

Dark Horses

• Lucas Carlsson: 21 GP, 9 Points (2G, 7A), -5
  • One of the seven rookie regulars for the IceHogs this season, Carlsson is the lone first-year defenseman who has played in every game this season that he has been healthy. Carlsson already has two professional seasons under his belt in the SHL with Brynäs IF and his experience shows. Responsible in his own end, Carlsson has been paired with Dahlstrom all season long and has been able to show off a bit of his offensive skill-set early this year.
• Joni Tuulola: 18 GP, 3 Points (G, 2A), -2
  • Tuulola joined the IceHogs late last season and made an immediate impression on Jeremy Colliton, eventually edging Darren Raddysh out of the lineup in the Western Conference Finals in the Calder Cup Playoffs last season. Playing with a good mixture of finesse and physicality, Tuulola is still a raw talent, but might have a shot at making the jump if he continues to progress.

What’s Next?

For Rockford, the IceHogs are off until December 1, when play host for a Saturday Night game against the Milwaukee Admirals at the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford. Puck drop is set for 6pm CT. After that, the IceHogs host the San Antonio Rampage for a Sunday afternoon contest. Puck drop at the BMO Harris Bank Center is set for 4pm CT on Sunday.

For the Blackhawks, coming off of Tuesday night’s big loss against the Vegas Golden Knights, Chicago travels North of the border for a Thursday night game against the Winnipeg Jets. Puck drop on Thursday is set for 7pm CT at the Bell MTS Place. After that, the Blackhawks are on the road against the Nashville Predators on Saturday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm CT at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

The post A Look At Chicago Blackhawks Possible Recalls appeared first on The Rink.

Over the weekend, the IceHogs opened their 2018-19 campaign with back-to-back losses to the Cleveland Monsters on Friday and Saturday. Friday night’s contest, the season-opening game for the IceHogs, ended 4-1 in favor of the Monsters. The quick turnaround to Saturday afternoon also fell in favor of the Monster, 5-2.

Rockford starts the season 0-2-0 for the third time in the last seven years, dating back to the opening of the 2012-13 season.

Rockford IceHogs Sluggish Against Monsters Over Opening Weekend

While the outcomes of both weekend matchups were not what the Rockford IceHogs would have wanted, there were some small positives to take away from the opening weekend.

First, the IceHogs were able to get the opening goal in both games. On Friday, it was last season’s goal-scoring leader Matthew Highmore opening the AHL season by finishing off a tic-tac-toe goal setup by Luc Snuggerud and Victor Ejdsell. The Monsters would go on to put four unanswered behind starter Kevin Lankinen to get the win on Friday with former IceHogs goaltender J.F.Berube in net for the Monsters..

Saturday afternoon started off well again for the IceHogs. The Sikura brothers connected for the opening tally in the first period for Rockford to give them the early 1-0 lead. See the below tweet from the Rockford IceHogs twitter account on how rare the Dylan Sikura to Tyler Sikura goal connection was:

Fun fact: before Friday, the Sikura brothers hadn't played organized hockey together since high school junior varsity, making this the first time in the brothers' professional careers that they have connected for a goal. https://t.co/wclDwIynYK

— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) October 6, 2018

The goal also marked the first AHL point for Dylan Sikura in his professional career. Much like Friday night, the Monsters would go on to score multiple unanswered goals, five to be exact, behind starter Collin Delia. The bleeding would be stopped by Lucas Carlsson mid-way through the third period of Saturday afternoon’s game as he scored his first goal of his AHL career. Carlsson took a cross-ice feed from Jordan Schroeder and ripped a slap-shot past Brad Thiessen.

The other positive from the weekend was the work of the IceHogs’ special teams units. For the weekend as a whole, Rockford killed six of seven penalties against them, allowing one powerplay goal to Eric Robinson in Saturday’s contest, and the Sikura brothers tally coming on the powerplay to give Rockford a one-for-five weekend on the man-advantage.

This weekend’s slow start is hopefully behind the IceHogs as they move into the second week of the season, and can possibly be traced back to the team needing to find their game-speed legs, having not played a preseason game this Summer. The current roster is too talented for what was on the ice over the weekend to be the REAL IceHogs.

What’s Next?

The Rockford IceHogs look to get their first game in the ‘Win’ Column this upcoming weekend as they take on the Texas Stars and Hershey Bears in a weekend back-to-back slate. Saturday night is opening night for the BMO Harris Bank Center when the IceHogs face the team that eliminated them from the 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs, the Texas Stars. Puck drop is at 6pm CT.

After taking on the Stars, the IceHogs turn around and host the Hershey Bears for a Sunday afternoon home game. Puck drop is scheduled for 4pm CT in Rockford.

The post Rockford IceHogs Drop Weekend Set Against Monsters appeared first on The Rink.

If you have not checked out the previous videos please take a look:
Highlight video of Victor Ejdsell
Highlight video of Dominik Kahun

Today, Eric Andrews brings us Swedish defenseman Lucas Carlsson.

Carlsson is a defensive style defenseman drafted by the Blackhawks in the 4th round (110th overall) of the 2016 NHL entry draft. He is a 21-year-old 6’0″ 190 lbs defenseman with over 160 games of professional experience in the Swedish Elite League (SHL). Over those 160+ games he has 44 points (14G, 30A).

Please enjoy our highlight reel, share with your friends on social media, and feel free to let us know if you enjoy this kind of content.

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The post Chicago Blackhawks Prospect Spotlight – Lucas Carlsson (VIDEO) appeared first on The Rink.

German forward Dominik Kahun

As reported back in April and again earlier this month, the Blackhawks signed Czech born German forward Dominik Kahun to join the organization after a very successful Olympic stint this past February. Kahun also won the champion with his team, EHC München, in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).

Rockford Icehogs defenseman Darren Raddysh

Darren Raddysh, the brother of Tampa Lightning prospect Taylor, was signed to an AHL deal last June, after a successful 5-year career with the Erie Otters. The 6’0″ 200 lbs defenseman played 66 regular season games with the Rockford Icehogs this season, registering 22 points (5G-17A). His solid play in the regular season and this year’s Calder Cup playoffs earned him a longer look by the Blackhawks.

Swedish Defenseman Lucas Calsson

Signing a 3-year deal is Swedish defenseman Lucas Carlsson. Carlsson just finished up his season the SHL with Brynäs IF. The 6’1″ 187 lbs 2016 fourth round pick of the Blackhawks has been playing in the top Swedish professional league for most of four seasons. This past year Carlsson put up 17 points (7G-10A) in 44 games.

Finnish Goaltender Kevin Lankinen

Lankinen is a 6’2″ 185 lbs, 23-year-old Finnish goaltender who has been playing with HIFK in the top Finnish pro league, Liiga. Lankinen has had some extremely impressive stats in the top-tier Finnish league, improving each season.  He finished the 14-15 season with a 2.29 GAA and .910 sv% in 24 games, the 15-16 season with 2.36 GAA and .906 sv% in 22 games, the 16-17 season 2.14 GAA and .920 sv% in 42 games and, finally, this season he finished with 1.33 and a .946 sv% in just 13 games. He is sure to add some competition for next season between Jean-Francois Berube, Anton Forsberg and Collin Delia.

Here is a big save by Lankinen a few seasons back:

The post BREAKING: Blackhawks Sign Four to Entry Level Deals appeared first on The Rink.