The Chicago Blackhawks made a number of moves after last night’s loss to the New York Rangers, trimming their active roster to 36 players entering the weekend. Forwards Matt Carey and Phillip Danault and defenseman Stephen Johns were assigned to the Rockford IceHogs, while defenseman Cam Barker was released.
The team’s active roster now includes 21 forwards, 11 defensemen and four goaltenders with just a couple weeks before the beginning of the regular season.
Like the moves that the Blackhawks made earlier on Friday, none of these are particularly surprising. Carey, Danault and Johns are some of the better young players in the organization, but they were all considered long shots to actually make the team out of training camp. More likely, these guys will get early reps with Rockford this year and potentially lend a hand down the road.
As for Barker, his brief return to the Blackhawks went about as well as the first go-around. A big blow to Teuvo Teravainen during camp knocked the top prospect out of the first three preseason contests, and for the most part, that’s all people will remember from the former No. 3 overall pick’s second stint in Chicago.
Teravainen is expected to make his preseason debut, along with Joakim Nordstrom and Kris Versteeg, on Sunday against Edmonton.