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Slater Koekkoek to make Blackhawks debut vs. Devils

Chicago will dress seven defensemen.

By Brandon M. Cain
/ new
NHL: Tampa Bay Lightning at Philadelphia Flyers Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Slater Koekkoek will make his Blackhawks debut Monday night against the Devils at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Chicago acquired the left-handed defenseman and a 2019 fifth-round draft pick from the Lightning in exchange for defenseman Jan Rutta and a 2019 seventh-round pick Friday afternoon.

Koekkoek is switching from No. 29 to No. 68 for the Blackhawks.

Koekkoek wore No. 29 for the Lightning and No. 65 for its AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. The former No. 10 overall pick in the 2012 NHL draft had one goal in nine games this season for Tampa Bay before he was traded. The 6-foot-2, 193-pound blue liner has tallied five goals and 14 points in 85 career NHL games for the Lightning.

Koekkoek is only the second player in Blackhawks history to wear No. 68, joining Stephen Tepper. The then-23-year-old Tepper skated only one game on Nov. 5, 1992 in a Chicago 1-0 victory over the Maple Leafs at Chicago Stadium.