Philipp Kurashev gets us on the board! pic.twitter.com/sk4UJJkifN
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 1, 2022
If anything, there will be the expected signings of restricted free agents Philipp Kurashev and Caleb Jones. However, there are also the swirling rumors surrounding Patrick Kane which could impact the statuses of Jonathan Toews and Seth Jones, too.
While the slow part of the offseason plods along, here's an early look at what the forward lines, D pairs, and goalie tandems could look like for both the Blackhawks and IceHogs based on the rosters as of today. Changes are inevitable.
Blackhawks
Raddysh - Toews - Kane Domi - T Johnson - Athanasiou Katchouk - Kurashev - Entwistle Lafferty - R Johnson - Blackwell Khaira
C Jones - S Jones McCabe - Murphy Stillman - I Mitchell Roos
Mrazek Stalock
Notes:
* The players in the top 6 are generally interchangeable as far as Line 1 vs Line 2 except for Kane who is a bonafide #1 RW.
* Similarly, the players in the bottom 6 including Jujhar Khaira are also generally interchangeable as far as Line 3 vs Line 4.
* Ian Mitchell or Filip Roos on the blueline could be replaced by any combination of Alec Regula, Alex Vlasic, or Jakub Galvas.
* Depending on Petr Mrazek's health over time, the goaltending duo could be more of a 1A/1B situation with Alex Stalock.
IceHogs
Teply - Reichel - Sikura Seney - Philp - Slavin Barratt - Gicewicz - Hardman Luypen - Busdeker - G Mitchell Pour - Gust - Robinson
Phillips - Clendening Vlasic - Regula Beaudin - Galvas Watson - Crevier
Soderblom Stauber
Notes:
* Lukas Reichel could arguably be with the parent club but a little bit of over marination in the minors wouldn't hurt.
* Along with Reichel, Dylan Sikura, Josiah Slavin, Mike Hardman, and Buddy Robinson should have CHI-RFD shuttle passes ready.
* Colton Dach and Nolan Allan are under contract but rules restrict them to either be in the NHL or back in juniors.
* Ethan Del Mastro is in the same boat and already confirmed to be with his junior team; Dach and Allan are best to do the same.
Fuel
The following players on AHL contracts are the likely candidates to split time between the IceHogs and Fuel of the ECHL based on roster vacancies on the main farm club due to injuries, illness, and NHL call-ups. Most should be in Indy much of the season.
* Morgan Adams-Moisan, F * Seamus Malone, F * Riley McKay, F * Kale Howarth, F * Bobby Lynch, F * Andrew Perrott, D * Mitchell Weeks, G * Dylan Wells, G
Not Re-Signed
A few former prospects have signed with other AHL affiliates including Dylan McLaughlin with the Springfield Thunderbirds (Blues), Cam Morrison with the Charlotte Checkers (Panthers), and Cale Morris with the Chicago Wolves (Hurricanes).
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World Junior Championship
UPDATE | Ethan Del Mastro has been added to 🇨🇦’s National Junior Team for the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship.
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) August 7, 2022
Daemon Hunt is unable to participate due to injury.
ROSTER âž¡ï¸ https://t.co/Vs5gBIxaiF#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/O6CSXRFgdN
Unfortunately, though, Frank Nazar was in the last round of cuts for the U.S. Wyatt Kaiser and Dominic James join Slaggert on the final roster for Team USA. One other Blackhawks prospect to be playing at the WJC is Victor Stjernborg for Team Sweden.
Leading the way. #WorldJuniors 🇺🇸
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) August 5, 2022
Full story → https://t.co/rzdL3e1lsu pic.twitter.com/7UNFJKpiMh
See you on the boards!
Sources: Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald, NBC Sports Chicago, The Athletic Chicago