On Monday night, the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers exchanged minor-league players as Chicago sent defenseman Darren Raddysh to New York in exchange for forward Peter Holland. Both players rank in the top five of their respective AHL teams’ points leaders this season.
Blackhawks Trade Raddysh, Acquire Holland
The Blackhawks have a large number of prospective defensive players coming through their farm system in the next year to two years and trading Raddysh, who has spent the last two full seasons with the Rockford IceHogs, frees up a roster space on defense for the likes of Adam Boqvist, Nicolas Beaudin, Ian Mitchell, and Chad Krys in the near future.
Raddysh has skated in 120 AHL games for the IceHogs in his professional career, tallying 48 points (13 goals, 35 assists) and two assists in nine Calder Cup Playoff games. This season, Raddysh led all IceHogs defensemen in points with 26 through 54 games, surpassing his point total from last season.
Darren Raddysh of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)
In acquiring Holland, who will report to the IceHogs, the Blackhawks add scoring forward depth and a veteran presence to the Rockford roster and allow for them to potentially call up an NHL-ready forward who can play both the wing or center when needed.
Hartford Wolf Pack forward Peter Holland. (Courtesy: Hartford Wolf Pack)
Holland is a veteran of 266 NHL games with the Anaheim Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Rangers with 85 points (36 goals, 49 assists) and 231 AHL games with the Syracuse Crunch, Norfolk Admirals, Toronto Marlies, Laval Rocket, and Hartford Wolf Pack. In his AHL career, Holland has 206 points (90 goals, 116 assists) in the regular season and 15 points in 11 Calder Cup Playoff games with the 2013-14 Toronto Marlies. Holland was the Wolf Pack leader in points this season with 49 (20 goals, 29 assists) in 52 games, he will be the IceHogs team leader in points when he reports to Rockford.
What’s Next?
For the Rockford IceHogs, they are back in action on Wednesday night as they travel to take on the Grand Rapids Griffins at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. Puck drop on Wednesday night is scheduled for 6pm CT.
For the Chicago Blackhawks, after taking on the Ottawa Senators at home on Monday night, they too travel to Michigan to take on the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Puck drop on Wednesday night for the Blackhawks is set for 6:30pm CT.