The Chicago Blackhawks are calling on their top prospect to fill the void left by the injury to Patrick Kane.
Teuvo Teravainen has been recalled from Rockford of the American Hockey League, reports ESPN’s Scott Powers. Defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk was also assigned to Rockford. Additionally, the Blackhawks have placed Kane on long-term injured reserve.
Kane left Tuesday’s 3-2 shootout win over the Florida Panthers after being cross checked into the boards by defenseman Alex Petrovic. Kane gingerly got up and skated off to the locker room. He did not return. The NHL will not be having a disciplinary hearing on Petrovic, who was sent to the box for a two-minute minor penalty.
The Blackhawks’ star winger reportedly sustained a broken collarbone and could miss up to 10 weeks, according to various reports. There has been no official word yet from the team.
[MORE: Patrick Kane could be out long-term with collarbone injury]
With Kane on LTIR, the Blackhawks star winger will be required to miss at least 10 games and 21 days. After that span, the Blackhawks can keep Kane on LTIR as long as the team sees fit. The Blackhawks have cap space freed up if they wish to make a trade as Kane’s cap hit is alleviated as long as he is on LTIR.
[MORE: Blackhawks trade rumors: Is Chicago ‘looking at’ Antonie Vermette?]
Teravainen, 20, has six goals and 19 assists in 39 games with the IceHogs. He tallied two goals and two assists in 15 games with the Blackhawks when he was brought up in January to fill Kris Versteeg’s spot after he suffered a broken thumb.
Van Riemsdyk, 23, had one assist in 18 games in his first professional season with the Blackhawks. He was signed as a free agent March 24, 2014 and made a lasting impression during training camp and the preseason to warrant a roster spot on the blue line. He registered his first NHL career point Nov. 9 against the San Jose Sharks.
Teravainen’s game has been compared to Kane’s game frequently and he will likely slide into the third line alongside Bryan Bickell and Andrew Shaw.
[MORE: Projecting a Patrick Kane-less lineup for the Blackhawks]
The regular season ends April 11, and the playoffs begin the following week. That could mean Kane misses the beginning of the playoffs.
The Blackhawks are third in the Central Division with a 36-20-5 record and 77 points. They trail the second-place St. Louis Blues by three points and first-place Nashville Predators by 12 points.
This isn’t the first time the Blackhawks have been without Kane. The team were without Kane’s services for the final 12 regular-season games last season because of a knee injury. He hasn’t missed more than 13 games during his eight-year career.
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