2023 Rockford IceHogs Offseason Player Tracker

SEASON SYNOPSIS

Injuries at both the AHL and NHL levels, as well as the inevitable deadline moves by the Chicago Blackhawks, significantly impacted the Rockford IceHogs last season. While they started out strong, and at times leading the Central Division, Rockford struggled down the stretch. The IceHogs snuck into the playoffs on the final day of the season. 

Their final regular-season record was 35-28-5-4, placing them fifth in the Central Division. In the first round of the playoffs, they swept the Iowa Wild, winning both games in overtime. In the Central Division Semifinals, the IceHogs’ luck ran out as they were swept by the Texas Stars. Rockford struggled to counter Texas’ scoring, as they were outscored 13-6 in the three-game series. 

Special teams were a struggle for the IceHogs this season. While their power play at times showed some creative structure and set-ups, they seemed to regress throughout the season into something more static and less successful. In the regular season, their power play converted with a 16.3% success rate, tying them for 28th in the league. The IceHogs also allowed 12 shorthanded goals in the regular season, fourth-most in the league. They were slightly better over five games in the playoffs, converting at 17.6%, or 16th out of 23 teams. 

Rockford’s penalty kill struggled as well. In the regular season, they were successful 70% of the time, placing them 24th in the league. In the playoffs, their 71.4% success rate on the penalty kill placed them 19th out of 23 teams.

The trio of David Gust, Brett Seney, and Lukas Reichel dominated together for much of the season for the IceHogs. Seney and Gust, both veteran players, will be returning to the IceHogs next season, while it’s expected for Reichel to get another shot at sticking in the NHL. 

While the Blackhawks organization hasn’t done much yet in terms of signing players for the Rockford IceHogs, there will be some new faces in the lineup next season. Of particular interest is Colton Dach, who’s completed his WHL career. Dach, brother of former Blackhawks prospect Kirby, is an excellent shooter and should bring some much-needed offense to the IceHogs.

Also of interest is goaltender Drew Commesso. The 20-year old signed his first professional contract earlier this year after his NCAA season came to an end. Commesso’s Boston University team lost in the Frozen Four Semifinals to the University of Minnesota. Commesso put up excellent numbers in both juniors and college and could potentially solidify Chicago’s future in net. 

(List updated on Sept. 21st, 11:55am CT)

UNDER CONTRACT AND RE-SIGNINGS

Forwards

• David Gust — Last year of two-way NHL contract
• Cole Guttman — Last year of entry-level contract
• Mike Hardman — Last year of one-way NHL contract
• Jalen Luypen — Second-to-last year of entry-level contract
• Luke Philp — Last year of two-way NHL contract
• Lukas Reichel — Last year of entry-level contract
• Brett Seney — Last year of two-way NHL contract
• Michal Teply — Last year of entry-level contract
• Kale Howarth — Signed a one-year AHL contract on June 6
• Joey Anderson — Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on June 22
• Seamus Malone — Signed a one-year AHL contract on July 13 (played all of 2022-23 season with ECHL Indy)
• Zach Jordan — Signed a one-year AHL contract on August 14

Defensemen

• Louis Crevier — Last year of entry-level contract
• Andrew Perrott — Last year of AHL contract
• Isaac Phillips — Last year of entry-level contract
• Filip Roos — Last year of entry-level contract
• Alex Vlasic — Last year of entry-level contract

Goaltenders

• Arvid Soderblom — First year of two-year, one-way NHL contract 
• Jaxson Stauber — Last year of entry-level contract
• Mitchell Weeks — Last year of AHL contract (played majority of 2022-23 with ECHL Indy)
• Drew Commesso — Signed entry-level contract on April 11

NEW ADDITIONS

Forwards

• Colton Dach — Signed a three-year entry-level contract on October 1, 2021 (entry-level slide; played for the Kelowna Rockets and Seattle Thunderbirds [WHL] in 2022-23)
• Ryder Rolston — Signed a three-year entry-level contract on March 13 (played for the University of Notre Dame [NCAA] in 2022-23)
• Antti Saarela — Signed a two-year entry-level contract on March 28 (played for Lukko [Liiga] in 2022-23 and is possibly coming to the US this year)
• Ryan Gagnier — Signed a one-year AHL contract on May 15 (played for the Oshawa Generals [OHL] in 2022-23)
• Marcel Marcel – Signed a one-year AHL contract on July 19 (played for the Gatineau Olympiques [QMJHL] in 2022-23)
• Anders Bjork – Signed a one-year AHL contract on August 10 (played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres, and Rochester Americans in 2022-23)
• Bryce Kindopp – Signed a one-year AHL contract on August 21 (played for the San Diego Gulls in 2022-23)

Defensemen

• Wyatt Kaiser — Signed a three-year entry-level contract on March 14 (played for the Chicago Blackhawks and University of Minnesota-Duluth [NCAA] in 2022-23)
• Josh Healey – Signed a one-year AHL contract on July 4 (played for the San Diego Gulls in 2022-23)
• Josh Maniscalco – Signed a one-year AHL contract on July 11 (played for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and ECHL Wheeling in 2022-23)
• Ross MacDougall – Announced as having an AHL contract via Blackhawks Training Camp roster release on September 21 (played two games for ECHL Indy on a SPC and Univ. of New Brunswick [USports] in 2022-23)

DEPARTURES

Forwards

• Hunter Drew – Signed a one-year AHL contract with the Tucson Roadrunners on July 18 (was not extended qualifying offer on June 30)
• D.J. Busdeker — Signed a one-year AHL contract with the Colorado Eagles on July 24
• Maxim Golod – Signed a one-year contract with Nybro Vikings IF of HockeyAllsvenskan on July 26 (played majority of 2022-23 with ECHL Indy; was not extended qualifying offer on June 30)
• Morgan Adams-Moisan — Signed a one-year contract with ECHL Fort Wayne on August 28
• Cameron Hillis — Signed a PTO with Detroit on August 29 (played majority of 2022-23 with ECHL Indy; was not extended qualifying offer on June 30)
• Garrett Mitchell — Announced his retirement on August 31
• Bobby Lynch — Signed a one-year contract with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of the KHL on September 4
• Buddy Robinson — Signed a one-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL on September 21

Defensemen

• Jakub Galvas — Signed two-year contract with the Malmö Redhawks of the SHL on May 9
• Cliff Watson — Signed contract with the Stavanger Oilers of the Eliteserien (Norway) on June 7
• Ian Mitchell — Traded to Boston Bruins on June 26 for Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno
• Alec Regula — Traded to Boston Bruins on June 26 for Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno
• Koletrane Wilson — Signed a one-year AHL contract with Lehigh Valley on August 3 (played 30 games with ECHL Indy Fuel in 2022-23)
• Andy Welinski — Signed a PTO with St. Louis on September 19

FREE AGENTS

Forwards

• Rocco Grimaldi — UFA

(Special thanks to CapFriendly and Elite Prospects for all the contract terms and definitions for this offseason player tracker!)

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Other 2023 AHL Off Season Trackers :

Links will be updated as articles are released.

Central

• Chicago Wolves
• Grand Rapids Griffins
• Iowa Wild
• Manitoba Moose
• Milwaukee Admirals
• Rockford IceHogs
• Texas Stars

Pacific

• Abbotsford Canucks
• Bakersfield Condors
• Calgary Wranglers
• Coachella Valley Firebirds
• Colorado Eagles
• Henderson Silver Knights
• Ontario Reign
• San Diego Gulls
• San Jose Barracuda
• Tucson Roadrunners

Atlantic

• Bridgeport Islanders
• Charlotte Checkers
• Hartford Wolf Pack
• Hershey Bears
• Lehigh Valley Phantoms
• Providence Bruins
• Springfield Thunderbirds 
• Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

North

• Belleville Senators
• Cleveland Monsters
• Laval Rocket
• Rochester Americans
• Syracuse Crunch
• Toronto Marlies
• Utica Comets