Savoie was a longshot to make the Blackhawks' opening night roster but had a wrench thrown in those plans with a femur injury that has landed him on the injured reserve and out indefinitely. The 19-year-old forward was Chicago's 2022 3rd-round pick (81st overall). He had 26 goals, 33 assists, 90 PIMs, and a +30 plus/minus in 60 games with Gatineau (QMJHL) in 2022-23.
Dach was Chicago's 2021 2nd-round selection (62nd overall) and was fighting for a spot on the Blackhawks' opening roster but has been unfortunately placed on the injured reserve to start the season with a right ankle injury. The 20-year-old forward has yet to make his NHL debut but had 12 goals, 15 assists, 31 PIMs, and a +11 plus/minus through 23 games played with both Kelowna (WHL) and Seattle (WHL) in 2022-23. He likely will be loaned to Rockford (AHL) when he is fully recovered.
Kurashev was injured in the Blackhawks' preseason back on September 28th and has been placed on the injured reserve retroactive to that date with a left wrist injury. The 23-year-old forward is expected to be out indefinitely to start the season after collecting nine goals, 16 assists, 116 SOG, 14 PIMs, and a -32 plus/minus in 70 games with Chicago in 2022-23.
Soderblom was 2-10-2 with a .894 SV% and a 3.45 GAA in 15 games played with Chicago in 2022-23 and will start their second game of the season Wednesday vs. Boston. The Bruins are coming off a historic season that saw them finish with 135 points and second in the NHL in goals per game (301). The Blackhawks are coming off a 4-2 victory over Pittsburgh from opening night Tuesday and will be hoping to remain in the win column.
Mrazek was 10-22-3 with a .894 SV% and 3.66 GAA in 39 games played with Chicago in 2022-23 and will start the Blackhawks' season opener Tuesday vs. Pittsburgh. The Penguins finished middle of the pack and in goals for across the entire NHL last season placing 16th with 261 GF while also closing out the campaign fifth in shots per game (34.4).
Phillips was poised to make the Blackhawks for opening night but has been assigned to the Rockford IceHogs (AHL) for the start of the 2023-24 campaign. The 22-year-old was Chicago's 2020 fifth-round pick (141st overall) and had a goal, four assists, five PIMs, and a -10 plus/minus in a short 16-game showing in 2022-23. He returns to Rockford where he also had six goals and 23 assists in 51 games last season.
Kurashev is expected to resume skating this week, but the Blackhawks said it's possible he's not ready for the start of the regular season. They should have a better idea of where he's at later in the week. Kurashev is expected to start the season in the Blackhawks' top-6 on a line with Lukas Reichel and Andreas Athanasiou.
Savoie was Chicago's 2022 third-round pick (81st overall) and will be out indefinitely after undergoing successful surgery on his right femur. The 19-year-old forward was competing for a roster spot during the preseason after a 26-goal, 33 assists, 90 PIM, and +30 plus/minus season across 60 games played with Gatineau (QMJHL) in 2022-23. He is expected to return to Gatineau for the 2023-24 season once announced as healthy.
Savoie had 26 goals, 33 assists, 90 PIMs and a +30 plus/minus through 60 games with Gatineau (QMJHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract worth $878,333 AAV. The 19-year-old forward was Chicago's 2022 third-round draft pick (81st overall) and is expected to return to Gatineau for his fourth junior season in 2023-24.
Kurashev had nine goals, 16 assists, 116 SOG, 14 PIMs and a -32 plus/minus through 70 games played with Chicago in 2022-23 and has been awarded a two-year, $4.5 million contract extension ($2,250,000 AAV) by an arbitrator. The 23-year-old centre enters his fourth season in Chicago after being drafted in the fourth-round of the 2018 draft (120th overall) and has 23 goals and 62 points across 191 career NHL games played.
Bedard was selected with the first-overall pick of the 2023 draft and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract on his 18th birthday. The generationally talented centre is coming off a historic season in the WHL which saw his score 71 goals and 143 points across 57 regular season games.
Sanford had two goals, one assist, 20 SOG, four PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through 16 games with Nashville in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with Arizona. The 28-year-old left winger brings 49 goals and 49 assists and 138 PIMs across 305 career NHL games to the Coyotes and should played a bottom-six role for the team throughout the season.
Bertuzzi had eight goals, 22 assists, 107 SOG, 29 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 50 games with both Boston and Detroit in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year deal with Toronto worth $5.5 million. The 28-year-old left-winger joins the Maple Leafs' with 92 goals and 218 points through 326 career NHL games.
Brossoit was 7-0-3 with a 2.17 GAA and .927 SV% with Vegas in 2022-23 and has returned to Winnipeg on a one-year contract worth $1.75 million. The 30-year-old net minder was Calgary's sixth round pick (164th overall) in 2011 and has a 49-41-11 record, with a 2.78 GAA and .908 SV% across 117 GP throughout his career.
Donato had 14 goals, 13 assists, 122 SOG, 46 PIMs and a +16 plus/minus through 71 games with Seattle in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year contract worth $4.0 million ($2,000,000 AAV). The 27-year-old centre joins his fifth team in seven NHL seasons and has 65 goals, 70 assists, and 116 PIMs through 325 career NHL games.
Smith had nine goals, seven assists, 104 SOG, 18 PIMs and a +5 plus/minus through 64 games with both Boston and Washington in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year deal worth $1,000,000 with Dallas. The 33-year-old centre will be joining his fourth NHL team and has 200 goals, 414 points, 328 PIMs and a +95 plus/minus across 853 career games played.
The Blackhawks acquired the rights to Foligno from the Boston Bruins along with Taylor Hall on Monday and signed the veteran winger to a one-year deal on Tuesday. Foligno doesn't pack the same offensive punch he once did in Columbus but is a terrific veteran presence for a Blackhawks team going through a transitional period. Foligno had 26 points (10G / 16A) in 60 games with the Bruins in 2022-23.
Foligno had 10 goals, 16 assists, 71 SOG, 45 PIMs, a +18 plus/minus through 60 games with Boston in 2022-23 and has had his rights traded alongside Taylor Hall to Chicago for the rights to Ian Mitchell and Alec Regula. If the 35-year-old left-winger is to sign with the Blackhawks, he will enter his 17th season with his fifth NHL team having collected 215 goals and 525 points across 1081 career games played.
Hall had 16 goals, 20 assists, 150 SOG, a +11 plus/minus and 24 PIMs through 61 games with Boston in 2022-23 and has been traded alongside the rights of Nick Foligno to Chicago for the rights to defensemen Ian Mitchell and Alec Regula. The 31-year-old will join his sixth NHL team since being drafted first overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2010 and was the 2017-18 Hart Memorial Trophy winner. The veteran left-winger heads to Chicago with 693 points (264G/429A) across 822 NHL games played through 13 seasons.
