The Chicago Blackhawks have made the second round of cuts in training camp this season by trimming the roster down to 41 players. Eight players including five forwards, two defensemen, and one goalie have been assigned to the AHL or OHL. 24 forwards, 12 defensemen, and five goalies remain.
Of the five forwards that were re-assigned, four were sent to the AHL and the other, Nick Lardis, was sent back to the OHL. He is the only player not reporting to the AHL after the cuts. The Rockford IceHogs are expecting Gavin Hayes, Paul Ludwinski, Jalen Luypen, and Marcel Marcel to report to the team.
On defense, DJ King and Austin Strand were both released from their PTOs and assigned to Rockford. Lastly, goalie Ben Gaudreau was also released from his PTO and returned to the AHL.
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Of the five forwards, Marcel is the only one not signed to an entry-level deal. He’s looking to get more time in the AHL this season after playing 25 games for Rockford and six games in the ECHL last season.
Hayes and Lardis both make the jump from the OHL to the AHL this season and will be rookies after impressing for their respective teams. Lardis got into one game at the end of last season, but Hayes will be getting his first taste of professional hockey.
Luypen was a solid depth piece in the AHL last season and should be again while Ludwinski will be looking to get into more than five games for the IceHogs this season.
There won’t be much room or playing time for the three players released from their PTOs and sent to Rockford as there is an emphasis on developing the younger and more promising talent. Gaudreau will be a rookie wherever he plays as he has graduated from the OHL. He will still be behind Drew Commesso and Arvid Soderblom this season though.
Strand got into 38 games last season for Rockford, but expect less with all of the talent fighting for playing time. As for King, he has spent each of the past three seasons exclusively in the ECHL, so he will likely find himself there again.
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