Monday’s Assignment Has Far-Reaching Implications For Blackhawks Defensive Group

With the Blackhawks far closer to the bottom of the NHL standings than to playoff contention, and the IceHogs having locked up an AHL playoff spot, Chicago sent defenseman Wyatt Kaiser down to Rockford Monday morning. In the fairly routine move, Kaiser isn’t being indicted for any poor performance but rather is getting a chance to familiarize himself once more with his AHL teammates before taking part in a playoff run seven games from now.

Kaiser came out of training camp in October as part of the full-time roster, then made the most of the opportunity with a fairly strong showing that lasted into December, finishing the stint with a plus-minus of +1. Still, a handful of mistakes that could be attributed to his inexperience caused Kaiser to be assigned to Rockford, where he racked up 15 points in 31 games with the IceHogs. After being recalled again on March 19, Kaiser has been excellent. His confidence with the puck and playmaking ability have shown that his stint in Rockford was just what he needed.

Even head coach Luke Richardson has noticed Kaiser’s play since returning, and he brought attention to his defenseman last night:

“He’s been really good since he’s been back, skating out of trouble and making a quick play. A lot of times, he’ll draw someone to him, and even use the boards as an indirect in the neutral zone. He’s kept himself out of quite a bit of trouble, so it’s really gone well for him.”

- Luke Richardson

The move to the IceHogs may not mean much for Kaiser’s long-term projections, as he’s expected to make the jump to being a full-time NHLer at the start of next year. But for the Blackhawks’ defensive group as a whole, the move is an important one.

Given that the Blackhawks now only have six defensemen on the roster, the assignment likely means veteran Connor Murphy is finally ready to return from IR. After missing two and a half months with a groin issue, Chicago’s longest-tenured member will look to slot into the lineup as early as Wednesday.

With the Blackhawks’ defensive ranks now one player thinner, we’ll likely see more of players like Nikita Zaitsev and Jarred Tinordi, who have both been in and out of the lineup, in the last few games of the season. The effect sounds like an attempt to put Blackhawks fans to sleep, but it’s an important development for the two Chicago defensemen. Each is in the last year of his contract, and given their ages (both are 32 years old), they’ll hit unrestricted free agency this summer. After a lackluster season for both players, the extra playing time is a great opportunity for Zaitsev and Tinordi to prove to prospective teams that they still belong on an NHL roster.

The move is a fairly straightforward one but is an important development for several Blackhawks defensemen. Kaiser’s assignment is a telltale sign that Murphy is finally returning from his lengthy stint on IR, and it’s a chance for the team to do right by a pair of veterans who haven’t had their best seasons.