Predators Acquire Ryder Rolston From Blackhawks
The Predators have made their second trade this week, announcing the acquisition of forward prospect Ryder Rolston from the Blackhawks in exchange for future considerations.
Rolston, 23, was a fifth-round pick of the Avalanche in 2020, but was traded to Chicago the following year in exchange for Carl Söderberg. The son of longtime NHLer Brian Rolston stands at 6’1″ and 174 lbs and can play all three forward positions, although he’s a natural winger.
The Boston native signed his entry-level contract with Chicago in 2023 after three years at Notre Dame, where he totaled 18 goals and 35 assists for 53 points in 93 games. He spent all of last season on assignment to AHL Rockford, where he made a marginal impact in his first professional campaign with 10 goals, nine assists, 19 points, and a -5 rating in 62 appearances.
This season, it’s become quite clear that Rolston doesn’t have much of a future in the Blackhawks organization. He’s played in only six of Rockford’s 15 games and has one goal with a -3 rating.
He now moves to the Predators organization and will report to their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee as he looks for more ice time. Rolston has historically been lauded as a good skater, and while that’s carried over to the pros, the Blackhawks evidently ran out of patience for the rest of his game to develop and wanted more space for higher-ceiling prospects in the organization to continue developing.
As is often the case with NHL trades involving minor-leaguers and future considerations, the swap will likely be completed by Milwaukee sending a player signed to an AHL contract to Rockford.
Rolston is in the second season of his three-year entry-level contract. He carries a cap hit of $895K in the NHL and will be a restricted free agent in 2026.
Chicago Blackhawks Sign Ryder Rolston
4:56 p.m.: CapFriendly has reported the breakdown of Rolston’s ELC, which is as follows:
2023-24: $775K salary, $92.5K signing bonus
2024-25: $800K salary, $92.5K signing bonus
2025-26: $832.5K salary, $92.5K signing bonus
Rolston earns an $80K minors salary in all three seasons of the contract. As a restricted free agent, upon expiry, Chicago will owe him a qualifying offer of $874,125, or 105% of the base salary in the final year of his contract. He’ll be eligible for arbitration if he plays at least 10 games in a professional league during every season of his contract.
3:52 p.m.: The Chicago Blackhawks have signed 21-year-old forward prospect Ryder Rolston to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Monday afternoon. Rolston’s first-ever NHL contract carries a cap hit of $895,000, per the team.
According to multiple reports, Rolston’s contract will start next season, carrying him through 2025-26. He will report to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs for the remainder of 2022-23.
Rolston, the son of long-time NHLer Brian Rolston, leaves the University of Notre Dame after three seasons of college hockey. He showed solid development there, recording 10 goals and 27 points in 38 games during his sophomore campaign in 2021-22.
Unfortunately, Rolston’s college year ended in late January due to an injury. He finished this season with 20 points in 27 games.
Rolston was originally a draftee of the Colorado Avalanche in 2020, but his signing rights were acquired by Chicago less than a year later, along with minor-league forward Josh Dickinson, in exchange for Carl Soderberg at the 2021 trade deadline.
The younger Rolston relies on his speed for success more than his father but employs the same work ethic that made him well-liked. A relatively well-rounded forward, Rolston’s current stock slightly exceeds that of his fifth-round selection.