Blackhawks assign six to AHL, roster to be trimmed to 28 soon

The moves keep coming for the Chicago Blackhawks, who assigned six players — including Joakim Nordstrom and Adam Clendening — to the Rockford IceHogs on Monday. Once the team makes a pair of other expected moves, cutting Cody Bass and Pierre-Cedric Labrie, the active roster will stand at 28 players.

In addition to Nordstrom and Clendening, the Blackhawks also sent forwards Dennis Rasmussen and Garret Ross, defenseman Klas Dahlbeck and goaltender Scott Darling to Rockford. Many of these guys played quite well over the past couple weeks, but just weren’t realistic options to crack a talented NHL roster on opening day.

The more notable news seems to be the impending departures of Bass and Labrie, who were competing for a possible fourth line spot with Brandon Mashinter. Given that Mashinter is still around, it’s possible he’s closing in on earning the designated fists-of-fury role that Coach Q is seemingly so determined to fill.

Folks may have mixed feelings on the whole Mashinter thing, but you might have to get used to having him around.

The Hawks stand to have 16 forwards, nine defensemen and three goaltenders after the moves. Don’t forget that the pending cap trade will also likely affect this equation. Here are the names remaining, we’ll see if some of the long shots can crack the roster:

Forwards

Defensemen

Goaltenders

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