Chicago Blackhawks re-sign Cole Guttman to one-year contract 

On Thursday, the Chicago Blackhawks announced that the team has agreed to terms with forward Cole Guttman on a one-year, two-way contract that runs through the 2024-25 season.

The contract comes with a $775,000 salary cap hit. 

The 25-year-old forward played 27 games with the Blackhawks during the 2023-24 season. He averaged 12:37 of ice time and finished with eight points (four goals, four assists) and a minus-17 rating on the 31st-placed Blackhawks. After making his NHL debut in 2022-23, Guttman has registered 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in 41 career games over the past two seasons. He scored his first NHL goal in only his third game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Feb. 19, 2023.

In the American Hockey League, Guttman was a point-per-game player last season, racking up 40 points (16 goals, 24 assists) in 39 games with the Rockford IceHogs. He set a career-high for both assists and points and has 70 points (32 goals, 38 assists) in 78 career AHL games with Rockford. 

Prior to turning pro, the California native played four seasons of college hockey at Denver University (National Collegiate Hockey Conference). Guttman served as team captain during his final season in 2021-22 and recorded a career-high 45 points (19 goals, 26 assists). He added one goal and one assist in the NCAA Tournament and led Denver to its record-tying ninth national championship. The Pioneers knocked off Minnesota State 5-1 in the Frozen Four championship game. Denver has since broken the record, adding a 10th championship in 2024.  

Guttman finished his collegiate career ranked 53rd all-time in program history with 121 points (55 goals, 66 assists) in 140 games.

He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the sixth round (No. 180) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft but was signed by Chicago as an unrestricted free agent in 2022 after Tampa Bay decided not to retain his rights.