The Chicago Blackhawks have brought up some “Black Aces”, recalling Kyle Baun, Tyler Motte and Erik Gustafsson from the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs. None of the three are expected to play in the important game four match against the Nashville Predators.
In the playoffs every year, teams recall several AHL players after their season ends in order to fill out the practice facility and get a taste of what playoff hockey preparation is all about. These players are dubbed “Black Aces”—a term that goes back to the forties and Eddie Shore—are the players who could step into an NHL lineup if needed on an emergency basis. It’s often used as a reward for a workman-like season at the AHL, or for young players who will make an impact at the highest level soon.
For the Hawks, these three represent both types. Baun is an undrafted 24-year old forward out of Colgate University, who scored the second most points on the last place IceHogs this season. His 34 points were a solid follow-up to a very disappointing rookie season last year. Gustafsson is a former fourth-round pick who showed off some of his offensive upside this year, tallying 30 points in 68 games from the blue line. He played 41 games with the Blackhawks last season, and has been in professional hockey since he was 18.
Motte on the other hand is just 22 and split this season between the Blackhawks and IceHogs, but had trouble in the bottom-six role he’ll likely have to embrace. The offensive explosion he experienced as a junior at the University of Michigan—56 points in 38 games and a top-10 finish for the Hobey Baker—hasn’t followed him to the professional ranks, and he’ll have to adjust his style to contribute more at both ends of the rink before getting another chance.