It has been a successful freshman campaign for Blackhawks prospect Oliver Moore. The 19th overall pick last June is averaging just shy of a point-per-game this season through 26 appearances with the University of Minnesota, leading some to wonder if he might be a one-and-done player. However, Scott Powers of The Athletic notes (subscription link) that Chicago is expecting the 19-year-old to remain with the Golden Gophers and return for his sophomore season instead of turning pro at the end of the college campaign like Frank Nazar is expected to do. The Blackhawks have plenty of time to work out a contract with Moore when the time is right; they hold his exclusive rights through August 15, 2027.
More from the Central:
- Multiple teams are believed to have placed a claim on defenseman Declan Chisholm, report Michael Russo and Joe Smith of The Athletic (subscription link). The blueliner landed with the Wild yesterday since they had the highest priority of the claiming teams. With several teams placing a claim, it’s a bit surprising that Winnipeg was unable to move Chisholm for an asset before it came to waiving him as they likely would have reasonably suspected he was going to be claimed off the wire. Chisholm has played just twice this season and will have to wait at least a week to play for his new team with Minnesota off until February 7th.
- Still with the Wild, Russo relays in that same column that prospect Marat Khusnutdinov could sign with the team after his KHL season ends and burn the first year of that contract in 2023-24. The 21-year-old was a second-round pick in 2020 (37th overall) and has seen his production taper off in Russia this year. After putting up 41 points a year ago, Khusnutdinov has just 16 in 45 games with less than a month left in the regular season.
- Avalanche goaltending prospect Ivan Zhigalov is looking for a new place to play as USHL Tri-City announced that they’ve released him from their roster. The 20-year-old was the final pick of the 2022 draft, going 225th overall after a 42-game stint in the QMJHL. Last year, Zhigalov cleared waivers in that league and moved to the OHL. He cleared waivers there back in September and caught on with Tri-City but has played in just nine games so far this season, posting a 3.59 GAA with a .884 SV%. Colorado has until June 1st to sign Zhigalov or lose his rights.