The Chicago Blackhawks have announced that they’ve activated forward Colin Blackwell from non-roster status, and he will make his season debut this evening against the Colorado Avalanche. Blackwell has been sidelined since February 27th as he has been dealing with a sports hernia. Blackwell suffered multiple setbacks through the summer, his rehab process, as well as during training camp and talked at length about his frustration, but it appears that he has overcome the struggles and is set to get back on the ice.
The 30-year-old posted two goals and eight assists last season with Chicago as he dressed in 53 games in his first year with the club. Blackwell has played with five different teams during his five-year NHL career and should have plenty of incentive as he gets back into the lineup. He is set to hit unrestricted free agency next July when his two-year $2.4MM contract will be set to expire.
In other evening notes:
- Scott Powers of The Athletic is reporting that Chicago Blackhawks forward Philipp Kurashev will miss tonight’s game due to an illness. Kurashev is hardly the only player suffering from sickness this time of year as a lot of players have missed games due to illness recently. The 24-year-old is on pace to shatter his career high in points as he has six goals and 11 assists in 24 games this season. The native of Munsingen, Switzerland has never topped 25 points in any NHL season but should do so this year barring any unforeseen slump or injury. No word yet on a timeline for return, but the Blackhawks play twice more before the holiday break.
- TSN Insider Darren Dreger is reporting that Philip Broberg is still expected to be a trade candidate for the Edmonton Oilers, but perhaps not in the way many expected him to be. Dreger believes that Broberg could still be a central piece for the Oilers to add an impact player, but he also thinks that Broberg could become the sweetener in a deal to offload the contract of struggling goaltender Jack Campbell. Broberg has been relegated to AHL duties with the Bakersfield Condors but has been averaging over 25 minutes a night of ice time for the Oilers affiliate. Edmonton would do well to move on from Campbell, and it may cost them Broberg if they wish to do so.
It’s going to cost more than Broberg to unload Campbell on someone.
Hell yeah. “Oh, look, an AHL player who’s been a bust so far, you should be glad to take him as the reward for taking a giant lead weight contract off our hands.” I can see the GMs lining up right now.
Doesn’t help that Campbell has struggled in the minors…
Doesn’t really matter if he’s a bust as the #8 pick or the 7th Rd. A bust is a bust. In fact 2 busts. I have no idea what happened to Campbell at one time he looked like a sure thing. Now I doubt he could stop a shot at a Men’s League game. Glad Blackwell is back. I like his all around game.
The moronic concept that “draft pedigree” should make a material difference in assessing a player is a pet peeve of mine. Leaving quite aside the fallacy that boys competing against boys is a sure way to gauge how men will compete against men (less than HALF of second rounders ever play as much as a full season in the NHL) …