Blackhawks Bits: Roster cut down to 49; Saturday’s lineup revealed

We’re just over a week into the Chicago Blackhawks 2021 training camp and the first round of cuts were announced on Friday to trim the roster from 63 players down to 49.

Fourteen players were assigned to the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL, with no surprises on the list:

Forwards: D.J. Buskeder, Liam Folkes, Carson Gicewicz, Riley McKay, Dylan McLaughlin, Garrett Mitchell, Chris Wilkie, Chad Yetman and Kale Howarth

Defenseman: Ryan Stanton

Goaltenders: Tom Aubrun and Cale Morris

Chicago now has 28 forwards, 16 defensemen and five goaltenders remaining in camp.

Saturday’s practice appeared to be a low-key affair, with Jonathan Toews receiving a “maintenance day” off after playing in both preseason games and attending every practice thus far.

Of course, that didn’t stop the budding practice rivalry that is Patrick Kane vs. Marc-Andre Fleury:

There is Blackhawks preseason hockey happening on Saturday night: they’re playing the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night at the Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence, Mo. Having played at home on Friday night, Chicago’s lineup is missing most of the team’s noticeable names:

Forwards: Dominik Kubalik, Adam Gaudette, Henrik Borgstrom, Jujhar Khaira, Dylan Strome, Brett Connolly, Philipp Kurashev, Colton Dach, Reese Johnson, MacKenzie Entwistle, Kirby Dach, Mike Hardman

Defenseman: Isaak Phillips, Nolan Allan, Louis Crevier, Wyatt Kalynuk, Riley Stillman, Nicolas Beaudin, Jakub Galvas

Goaltenders: Malcolm Subban and Collin Delia

Perhaps the Dach brothers will get some chances to skate as linemates in this game.

With this being a “home” game for the Blues, they’re sending out a lineup with more NHLers in it:

The only broadcasts of the game appear to be in the St. Louis area, with a stream available at the Blues’ official website.

[UPDATE] That link above appears to be working, even for those outside of the St. Louis area.