Vincent Hinostroza is under contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, but that didn’t stop Jokerit of the KHL from drafting him with a third-round pick in the 2016 KHL Draft on Monday.
The Finnish club will hold his KHL rights until the 22-year-old forward turns 29 on April 3, 2023. The move is essentially for him to join the club if the NHL doesn’t work out or if there’s an NHL lockout and he wants to play in the KHL.
Hinostroza was scoreless in seven games for the Blackhawks this season. His 51 points (18 goals and 33 assists) led AHL Rockford in scoring across 66 games, but he did not record a point in three Calder Cup playoff games.
The Bartlett, Ill. native recorded a goal and two assists in 10 games at the 2016 World Championships for the United States this month. His lone goal was deciding score against Hungary in group play.
Chicago signed him after his sophomore season at Notre Dame in March 2015. The Hawks selected him with the 169th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2012 NHL Draft.