Dach, Slaggert and Guttman will lead the next round of Blackhawks training camp

The Chicago Blackhawks have gone through their third round of training camp cuts this year. This group consists of six more players (five attackers and one defender).

Half the players have appeared in an NHL game and more will appear eventually. The six, all sent back to the AHL to play for the Rockford IceHogs to start the season, include Colton Dach, Landon Slaggert, Samuel Savoie, Cole Guttman, Ethan Del Mastro and Rolston Ryder.

Del Mastro had a strong AHL rookie season, earning a two-game tryout late last season. While his regular defense partner, Nolan Allan, is still in the running for a spot, Del Mastro should return to the top pairing for the IceHogs this season. He may earn another shot with the Blackhawks later this season.

Guttman is the oldest of the six at 25, but he has proven to be a fringe NHLer. He played 27 games last season and 14 the season before. In the AHL he scored 16 goals and 40 points in 39 games. I have no doubt he will get the call up this season as he has some experience and proven ability at both levels.

Slaggert came straight out of college to finish the 2023-2024 season with the Blackhawks. He played sixteen games and scored one goal and four points. He works hard and is an interesting player. He should eventually find himself in a bottom 6 role, possibly as soon as this season, but that’s not so easy with all the competition.

Dach hasn’t been able to stay as healthy, but he did complete his rookie season in the AHL in 2023-2024. It was a solid season for him, but it will take some more time and development before he is ready to step into the NHL. He should make a good impression in the AHL this season with Rockford.

Rolston was also an AHL rookie last season, but not as promising as the rest of the group here. He’ll be stuck in the AHL for now, but he’ll look to improve on the 10 goals and 19 points the 22-year-old scored with the IceHogs last season.

Savoie graduated from the QMJHL, where he had back-to-back strong seasons. It makes a lot of sense that he didn’t make the roster, as he will also need conditioning in the AHL in his first taste of professional hockey. We should hear his name all season after the IceHogs, but I don’t expect him to be with Chicago this season.

Related: Chicago Blackhawks make 8 more cuts in training camp

The Blackhawks’ training camp roster now consists of 35 players, including 19 forwards, 11 defensemen and five goaltenders.

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