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Blackhawks Place Kero On Waivers, Could Clear Path For Hinostroza

  
Blackhawks Kero
Tanner Kero of the Chicago Blackhawks (Courtesy: Getty Images)

On Thursday, the Chicago Blackhawks placed centerman Tanner Kero on waivers. After being a healthy-scratch for the last ten games, Kero could be on his way to the AHL Rockford IceHogs and could be the move to set up Vince Hinostroza getting called up to the NHL roster.

Blackhawks Sending Kero Down, Hinostroza Heading Up?

Kero was the Blackhawks’ fourth-line center option to start the season, but eventually lost his spot to Tommy Wingels. Kero has played in 8 games this season with the Blackhawks, tallying three points (1G, 2A), including his only goal of the season in his last game played back on Nov. 12 against the New Jersey Devils. A College free agent signing in the Spring of 2015 out of Michigan Tech, Kero was a 2015 Hobey Baker Award nominee and WCHA Player of the Year. In his Blackhawks career, Kero has 72 games played with 22 points (8G, 14A). At the AHL level with the IceHogs, Kero has 94 games played with 64 points (32G, 32A).

The move should be a double-positive as it will give Kero much-needed ice-time to keep him in shape and keep him valuable to the organization while also making a roster spot open at the NHL level that presumably will go to Vince Hinostroza. So far this season, Hinostroza has shown that he is playing above the AHL level with 22 points (9G, 13A) in 23 games this season for the IceHogs.

While the Blackhawks’ problems this season are far above being fixed by just one AHL call-up, it can’t hurt the organization to try to mix things up and see what they have in reserve that could maybe make a difference for Chicago. Hinostroza has 56 games played in the NHL with the Blackhawks and has racked up 14 points (6G, 8A) since his debut in October of 2015.

Hinostroza is waiver-exempt for the rest of the season, so if his call-up does not work out the way the Blackhawks would want it to, there is no danger of losing him through the waiver process. The Blackhawks face the Buffalo Sabres on Friday in Buffalo and the IceHogs next face the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday in Grand Rapids.