It’s been a busy day in Blackhawks land. Let’s catch up.
First, another member of the team’s 2024 draft class has officially joined the organization after 2024 third-round pick (72nd overall) AJ Spellacy signed his entry-level contract.
Spellacy is signed‼️
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 23, 2025
📰 ➡︎ https://t.co/kGvmTXudfm pic.twitter.com/a3qmvnCDPU
Spellacy, who’ll turn 19 next month, is currently playing with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, where he has 25 points (11 G, 14 A) in 40 games. He remains one of the team’s more intriguing prospects, as he was a dual-sport athlete for a healthy portion of his teenage years before deciding to hang up his football cleats in favor of his ice skates. The physical tools are there based on his athletic background but the hockey-specific skills will continue to need fine-tuning as his career progresses.
This contract doesn’t mean that Spellacy is on his way to Chicago anytime soon and rules in place will also keep him from playing for the IceHogs in the upcoming season:
Since a lot of people are asking:
— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) January 23, 2025
Spellacy turns 19 in late-February. To play in the AHL, you have to turn 20 by December 31 of that calendar year. So as the AHL/CHL rule stands right now, Spellacy could not play in the AHL next year.#Blackhawks #IceHogs https://t.co/ybjCp6OcFT
Meanwhile, another Blackhawks prospect is on his way to Chicago with defenseman Ethan Del Mastro recalled from the IceHogs. To make room for him on the roster, veteran forward Craig Smith was placed on injured reserve:
Blackhawks have called up Ethan Del Mastro from Rockford. That’s his first call-up this season and second of his career.
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) January 23, 2025
Craig Smith goes on IR.
Smith hasn’t played since Jan. 8 against the Colorado Avalanche due to a back injury, with is placement on IR retroactive to that date. Calling up Del Mastro was reportedly a reward for his strong play in the AHL, although it does create a bit of a logjam on the Chicago blue line:
The Blackhawks wanted to reward Ethan Del Mastro for his recent play in Rockford. Anders Sorensen wasn't specific what that means with the Hawks currently carrying eight defensemen. I guess we'll have a better idea before tomorrow's game.
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) January 23, 2025
It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if the Blackhawks decided to sit a couple of veterans who likely aren’t around for the long haul here — let’s go ahead and say Alec Martinez and TJ Brodie — to ensure the focus remains on the young players auditioning for said long-term roles. Based on the D pairings at practice, though, it seems there will be some kids relegated to the press box on Friday night when the Tampa Bay Lightning visit the United Center.
#Blackhawks lines and pairs at practice: Nazar-Bedard-Bertuzzi Teräväinen-Dickinson-Mikheyev Dach-Reichel-Foligno Hall-Donato-Kurashev Maroon Martinez-Jones Vlasic-Crevier Kaiser-Brodie Del Mastro-Allan
— CHGO Blackhawks (@chgo-blackhawks.bsky.social) January 23, 2025 at 11:29 AM
[UPDATE] It might be Brodie who’s on his way to the press box because his D partner from practice was sent up I-90 later on Thursday:
#Blackhawks assign defenseman Wyatt Kaiser to AHL’s Rockford IceHogs, so Chicago is back at 7 defensemen on the active roster.
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) January 23, 2025
The Blackhawks power-play units also saw some work at Thursday’s practice, with Philipp Kurashev reportedly rotating in with the second group:
#Blackhawks powerplay units: Bertuzzi Bedard-Donato-Teräväinen Jones Dach Hall-Reichel-Nazar Martinez
— CHGO Blackhawks (@chgo-blackhawks.bsky.social) January 23, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Chicago is in the middle of a fairly rough part of the schedule, with a slew of top-tier opponents on the schedule — including Friday’s tilt against the Lightning. But those high-quality opponents also seem to have brought the best out of the Hawks this season.
Guess we’ll find out!