We have reached the end of August, finally. With the Chicago Blackhawks’ development camp behind us and training camp just a few weeks away, here is a look at what the Rockford IceHogs’ organizational roster looks like as September rolls around the corner. A few different signings have started to completely shape what the roster will look like by October’s regular season opener.
IceHogs roster: Signed through 2019–20
Top to bottom for all three positions, here is the running list of players that are already signed on for the 2019–20 season or beyond for the Chicago Blackhawks and Rockford IceHogs. AHL-only contracts are specified for the players who are only eligible to play for the IceHogs or the ECHL’s Indy Fuel without signing a contract with the Blackhawks.
Forwards
- Liam Coughlin
- AHL contract
- Mackenzie Entwistle
- Alexandre Fortin
- Brandon Hagel
- Matthew Highmore
- Mikael Hakkarainen
- Reese Johnson
- Graham Knott
- Dominik Kubalík
- Philipp Kurashev
- Dylan McLaughlin
- AHL contract
- Nick Moutrey
- AHL contract
- Jacob Nilsson
- Nathan Noel
- Alexander Nylander
- Acquired from Buffalo Sabres
- John Quenneville
- Acquired from New Jersey Devils
- Jack Ramsey
- AHL contract
- Aleksi Saarela
- Acquired from Carolina Hurricanes
- Dylan Sikura
- Tyler Sikura
- AHL contract
- Tim Soderlund
- Mathew Thompson
- AHL contract
- Kris Versteeg
- AHL contract
- Spencer Watson
- ECHL contract
- Anton Wedin
Defensemen
- Nicolas Beaudin
- Adam Boqvist
- Lucas Carlsson
- Carl Dahlstrom
- Philip Holm
- Dennis Gilbert
- Slater Koekkoek
- Chad Krys
- Josh McArdle
- AHL contract
- Dmitry Osipov
- AHL contract
- Jake Ryczek
- AHL contract
- Joni Tuulola
Goalies
- Collin Delia
- Kevin Lankinen
- Chase Marchand
- AHL contract
- Matt Tomkins
- AHL contract
Since the last edition of this roster breakdown, there have been just a few minor additions to the organizational roster. Forward Spencer Watson was signed by the Indy Fuel of the ECHL after a baker’s dozen of games with the organization. Watson is a depth player who will more than likely play the entire season with the Fuel, barring major injury issues with the IceHogs.
Additionally, on the back end, the IceHogs signed defenseman Jake Ryczek to an AHL deal and the Blackhawks signed Swedish defenseman Philip Holm to a two-way deal.
Newly signed defenseman Philip Holm skates in an international game with Sweden. (Photograph courtesy of the IIHF)
The additions of Ryczek and Holm add more depth to the bottom section of the Blackhawks’ organizational chart. Ryczek will most likely begin the year with the Indy Fuel in the ECHL, unless he makes significant strides during the Blackhawks’ and IceHogs’ camps. As for Holm, his time in North America during his career has been short. Just one season in the NHL/AHL during 2017–18 with the Vancouver Canucks and Vegas Golden Knights organizations, playing mostly in the AHL with the Utica Comets and Chicago Wolves. Last season, Holm played for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL and was named a KHL All Star. He will push for time in the NHL, but will most likely file in line with the IceHogs once the season begins.
IceHogs roster: Already gone
Not everyone fits into the future plans of the Rockford IceHogs, or reversely, the IceHogs do not always fit into every players’ future plans. For Rockford, there are already a few players from the 2018–19 squad who will not be re-signing with the club, let alone any North American team.
- Radovan Bondra — HC Slovan Bratislava (KHL)
- 2018–19 with Fuel: 66 games, 10 goals, 25 assists
- Brandon Davidson — Calgary Flames
- 2018–19 with Blackhawks: 10 games, one assist
- 2018–19 with IceHogs: six games, one goal
- Victor Ejdsell — Farjestad BK (Sweden)
- 2018–19 with IceHogs: 61 games, 12 goals, 17 assists
- Anton Forsberg — Carolina Hurricanes
- 2018–19 with IceHogs: 32 games, 15–15–2, 2.64 goals against average, .919 save percentage
- Blake Hillman — Toledo Walleye (ECHL)
- 2018–19 with IceHogs: 54 games, one goals, three assists
- Peter Holland — Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg (KHL)
- 2018–19 with IceHogs: 21 games, seven goals, nine assists
- 2018–19 total: 73 games, 27 goals, 38 assists
- Luke Johnson — Minnesota Wild
- 2018–19 with Blackhawks: 15 games, one assist
- 2018–19 with IceHogs: 53 games, 18 goals, 13 assists
- Anthony Louis — Charlotte Checkers (AHL)
- 2018–19 with IceHogs: 74 games, 12 goals, 22 assists
- Andreas Martinsen — Anaheim Ducks
- 2018–19 with Blackhawks: 24 games, one goal, three assists
- 2018–19 with IceHogs: 38 games, three goals, eight assists
- Connor Moynihan — Tulsa Oilers (ECHL)
- 2018–19 with Fuel: 52 games, six goals, eight assists
- William Pelletier — Laval Rocket (AHL)
- 2018–19 with IceHogs: 41 games, seven goals, 10 assists
- Jordan Schroeder — Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)
- 2018–19 with IceHogs: 62 games, 19 goals, 26 assists
- Brett Welychka — Esbjerg Energy (Denmark)
- 2018–19 with IceHogs: 18 games, 0 points, -4
Since the latest installment, the IceHogs have seen three more players sign elsewhere, as ECHL-level players Radovan Bondra and Connor Moynihan moved on from the organization and Anthony Louis signed with 2019 Calder Cup champion Charlotte Checkers.
Anthony Louis leaves the Rockford IceHogs to join the Charlotte Checkers in 2019–20. (Photograph courtesy of the Milwaukee Admirals)
Already touched on once in this series, but I will say it again: Losing Anthony Louis is a bummer for the IceHogs and the Blackhawks’ organization. A great player off the ice for the IceHogs’ community, Louis was undersized and at times over-relied on in Rockford. Last year, Louis was expected to be one of the top point producers and although he ranked third in points, it was a lowly 34 points. A former sixth-round pick by the Blackhawks, he will move on to a Checkers squad coming off winning the Calder Cup last year and will be reunited with former IceHogs teammate Anton Forsberg in Charlotte.
IceHogs roster: Unsigned
While there is a larger number of players left unsigned that would more likely be in play for the Blackhawks, here is the list of remaining players left unsigned that are likely in play for the IceHogs and the Indy Fuel.
Unrestricted free agents
- Terry Broadhurst
- Andrew Campbell
With most NHL training camps beginning in the next two to three weeks, it is looking more likely that Broadhurst and Campbell will be PTO or ATO candidates as they look for new homes to play in the 2019–20 season. Also, playing overseas may be an option, as Boradhurst has played two season in Sweden and Finland in his career. It is nearly a guarantee that neither player will return to the Blackhawks’ organization.