The Blackhawks signed Josiah Slavin — who they drafted in the seventh round of the 2018 NHL Draft (No. 193 overall) — to a two-year, $842,500 AAV entry-level contract. Slavin had five goals and 13 points in 22 games this season in the NCAA with Colorado College. That matches his production last season in 34 games.
Signed on🖊️
Forward Josiah Slavin has inked a 2-year entry-level contract ($842,500 salary cap hit)!
He will begin his pro career by reporting immediately to the @goIceHogs on an ATO. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/MnUoNNXFPu
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 16, 2021
Slavin will join the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL on an amateur tryout. The contract is set to begin in the 2021-22 NHL season. He is the younger brother of the Hurricanes’ No. 1 defenseman Jaccob Slavin.
The NHL Entry Draft will officially be put on in 2021 after discussions earlier this season about how it could be moved to next year:
This will not come as a surprise, but there will not be a deferral of the June 2021 Draft
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 16, 2021
There is no consensus top draft pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and even the top three varies from draft expert to draft expert. If there was a season for the Blackhawks to be surprisingly high in the standings, it was this one.
The Blackhawks are also the best road draw in the NHL so far this season:
Tracking attendance in 2021 is odd and comes with many caveats, but at halfway point of season the Chicago Blackhawks have had the largest road draw when it comes to attendance for visiting teams in the NHL.
— Sean Shapiro (@seanshapiro) March 16, 2021
Which is great news. Even though the Blackhawks have yet to see fans at home, they’ve drawn in plenty of fans on the road, at least in the places fans are allowed so far.