By Salem Chicago News Staff
CHICAGO — The Chicago Blackhawks continued to pare their training camp roster over the weekend, loaning several players to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League as the team prepares for its Oct. 1 regular-season opener.
The cuts narrow the pool of players competing for spots on the opening-night lineup as the Blackhawks close their preseason slate.
The team announced Saturday that it had loaned forward Dillon Boucher and goaltender Drew Commesso to Rockford, trimming the training camp roster to 26 players: 16 forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders.
A Week of Cuts
The move followed a series of earlier cuts throughout the week. On Thursday, the team sent forward Sacha Boisvert, forward Connor Mylymok and forward AJ Spellacy to Rockford, reducing the roster from 32 to 29. On Wednesday, forwards Jiri Felcman, Martin Misiak and Marek Vanacker, along with defenseman Dylan Anhorn, were loaned to the IceHogs. Forward Brett Seney was also released from his professional tryout and assigned to Rockford.
On Friday, defenseman Connor Mackey was sent to Rockford, bringing the count to 28.
Head coach Jeff Blashill acknowledged after Friday’s practice that many roster battles would extend beyond opening night.
“Some of these battles that might’ve been somewhat decided for Game 1 of the season in the past are going to linger through the course of October,” Blashill said, according to a report from the Chicago Sun-Times. “There will be guys that are continuing to vie for where they really sit within the team all the way through October.”
Key Offseason Additions
The Blackhawks entered the offseason with several notable additions. The team signed forward Patrick Kane to a two-year contract in July and locked up forward Connor Bedard with a five-year extension. Defenseman Bowen Byram, acquired from Buffalo in June, signed a six-year extension.
Boisvert, a first-year forward, drew attention during camp. Blashill indicated the team is still evaluating whether Boisvert projects as a long-term center or winger at the NHL level. Spellacy, another first-year player, was regarded as having the stronger preseason showing between himself and Boisvert, according to published reports.
The Blackhawks close their four-game preseason schedule Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues at the United Center. The team must finalize its 23-player roster ahead of the regular-season opener against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday.
Bedard, who underwent surgery in July, is expected to be in the lineup for opening night.
