After a disappointing 2018–19 season, Tyler Sikura’s future was a question mark for the Chicago Blackhawks organization. On Monday afternoon, the Rockford IceHogs announced a one-year, AHL-level contract with Sikura for the 2019–20 season.
IceHogs sign Tyler SIkura to AHL contract
After a successful 2017–18 campaign with the Rockford IceHogs, Tyler Sikura had earned himself an NHL contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. Coincidentally, his deal came around the same time that the Blackhawks were courting his younger brother Dylan Sikura, but nevertheless, Tyler had earned the deal with a career year. In his first full season in the AHL in 2017–18, Sikura was third on the IceHogs roster with 39 points and second on the team with 23 goals in 74 games. He also added five goals and six points during the IceHogs’ 13-game Calder Cup Playoff run that season.
The IceHogs celebrate with Tyler Sikura after his goal in Game Two of the Calder Cup Western Conference Semifinals against the Manitoba Moose. (Photograph courtesy of the Manitoba Moose)
With a major follow up season expected for Sikura last year, his production and responsibilities with the IceHogs did not live up. Hindered on and off with injuries during the year, Sikura skated in 50 games and tallied seven goals and 19 points. He was heavily relied on with the special teams units for the 2017–18 season, but saw his time on both the powerplay and penalty-kill slowly decrease as the season went along.
Sikura was doubtful to return to the organization on an NHL-level contract, but the IceHogs did make the move to extend an AHL-level contract for the 2019–20 season to Sikura. At 27 years old, Sikura’s chances to ever make a meaningful jump to the NHL are slim to none, but if he can regain his level of play that he found during the 2017–18 season, he can compliment a very young IceHogs roster heading into next season with veteran leadership and a quality level of AHL production.