MatejChalupa Archives - The Rink

Blackhawks finalize roster, announce alternate captains

Eric Andrews — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 20:14:31 +0000

The Chicago Blackhawks finalized their season-opening roster after making three transactions on Tuesday, as the team recalled MacKenzie Entwistle and Philipp Kurashev from the Rockford IceHogs, moved Wyatt Kalynuk from injured reserve to long-term injured reserve and placed Andrew Shaw on long-term injured reserve.

With the moves, the Blackhawks cemented their true roster, as the initial 23-man roster submitted for the NHL’s opening day deadline was done to maximize cap space and flexibility, as many teams opt to do.

As such, the Hawks’ roster heading into the team’s first game is as follows:

Forwards
Henrik Borgstrom
Ryan Carpenter
Kirby Dach
Alex DeBrincat
MacKenzie Entwistle
Adam Gaudette
Brandon Hagel
Tyler Johnson
Patrick Kane
Jujhar Khaira
Dominik Kubalik
Philipp Kurashev
Dylan Strome
Jonathan Toews

Defensemen
Calvin de Haan
Erik Gustafsson
Seth Jones
Jake McCabe
Ian Mitchell
Connor Murphy
Riley Stillman

Goaltenders
Marc-Andre Fleury
Kevin Lankinen

Injured reserve
Alec Regula

Long-term injured reserve
Caleb Jones
Wyatt Kalynuk

Additionally, the Blackhawks announced their leadership group on Tuesday. Toews of course remains as captain of the team, while Kane, DeBrincat and Murphy join him as alternate captains for the season. Kane will be a permanent alternate captain throughout the season, while DeBrincat will serve as an alternate and home and Murphy on the road.

Our alternate captains. pic.twitter.com/MBRl1kwbd1

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 12, 2021

The team also placed minor-league forward Matej Chalupa on unconditional waivers on Tuesday for purposes of a buyout. Chalupa, who had been in training camp with the IceHogs, is expected to return to Europe.

The Blackhawks will open their regular season on Wednesday, traveling to face the Colorado Avalanche in a Central Division battle. Puck drop for the contest is scheduled for 9 p.m. CDT.

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Rockford IceHogs announce training camp roster

Sean Fitzgerald — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 20:41:07 +0000

The Chicago Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, have announced their opening training camp roster today. The total roster is 16 players with 11 forwards, three defensemen and two goalies.

This number will grow as the Blackhawks’ preseason schedule progress and players are reassigned to the IceHogs.

Here is the current list of players invited to the IceHogs’ camp.

Forwards: D.J. Busdeker, Matej Chalupa, Liam Folkes, Carson Gicewicz, Kale Howarth, Riley McKay, Dylan McLaughlin, Garrett Mitchell, Cameron Morrison, Chris Wilkie, Chad Yetman

Defensemen: Chad Krys, Ryan Stanton, Cliff Watson

Goaltenders: Tom Aubrun, Cale Morris

Chalupa, Krys and Morrison were the three latest additions to the roster, as the trio was assigned to the IceHogs on Monday morning. Rockford will get its preseason schedule started on Oct. 7 against the Iowa Wild in Coralville, Iowa.

Please stay tuned to The Rink for all your Rockford IceHogs news.

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REPORT: Blackhawks sign free agent Czech Matej Chalupa

Jeff Osborn — Fri, 29 May 2020 13:31:08 +0000

With the excitement over the NHL’s initial plans to restart play with a 24 team play-in tournament that will lead to a full 16 team playoff, the Blackhawks wasted no time adding players to their system. In his Powers Points, this morning, Scott Powers of The Athletic revealed that a source has informed him that the team has signed Czech right wing Matej Chalupa.

According to @ByScottPowers, the #Blackhawks have agreed to an entry-level contract with Czech right winger Matej Chalupa. Had 24 points in 50 games last season for HK Hradec Kralove in the Czech league #NHL pic.twitter.com/8FULjgMI1C

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) May 29, 2020

Great last name aside, the 21 year old Chalupa played for HK Hradec Kralove of the Czech League this past season, scoring 24 points (7 goals, 17 assists) in 50 games. He is left-handed and listed at 6’2″ 194 lbs. The two year entry level deal will start for the ’20-21 season and is worth $925,000 AAV.

The newest Blackhawks prospect was teammates with another name familiar to Chicago fans, Dominik Kubalik, as they played with the 2018-19 HC Škoda Plzeň team in the Czech League. Previous Stan Bowman free agent signings center David Kampf and defenseman Jan Rutta were also plucked out of the Czech League. The Blackhawks are familiar with playing in the Czech Republic, opening this season in Prague against the Philadelphia Flyers as part of the 2019 NHL Global Series, as well.

Where Chalupa fits in the pecking order is yet to be determined, but it’s likely he begins the season in Rockford. Potentially unhappy with their opportunities in the Blackhawks organization, Anton Wedin and Jacob Nilsson made their way back to Europe recently, so there will be positions to fill in with the IceHogs for the 2020-21 season.

We reached out to scout and writer Samuel Tirpak from Dobber Prospects and OhMyHockey.com, who is very familiar with Matej Chalupa. This is what he had to say about Chalupa’s play:

He is very fast and strong winger who likes to play in dirty areas and likes to create chances off the rush with his playmaking abilities. Has a pretty good skillset offensively and is pretty good defensively as well. He is a good bottom-6 talent. Likely starts in Rockford.

— Samuel Tirpak (@SammyT_51) May 29, 2020

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