Rockford IceHogs Season Preview Part 2: Brand-New Youth Movement

In Part 1 of the IceHogs season preview, a few returning stars were highlighted as players that could soon make the jump to the NHL. For Rockford this year, a few new players will hope to make an impact in their professional debuts.

Jalen Luypen

Jalen Luypen is perhaps the most intriguing first-timer with the IceHogs, though he technically made his debut with the club for three postseason games last year. The aspect of Luypen’s upcoming performance that makes him so interesting is the draft capital invested in him: he was drafted in the 2021 NHL Draft in the seventh round, 216th overall. If he’s able to produce at a high level this season, his addition could represent a huge win for the Blackhawks. Luypen has all the tools he needs to enjoy that success, and plays fast with high levels of energy.

Ryder Rolston

After three seasons with Notre Dame at the NCAA level, Rolston was signed by the Blackhawks back in March. However, a lingering collarbone injury kept him off the ice for the last month of the NHL regular season. Blackhawks fans will finally get to see Rolston in action at the AHL level this season. Still 21 years old, the right-handed forward is a big-bodied, fast skater who plays the backcheck well with great hands. He’ll be among the biggest names to watch this season, but may not be headed to the NHL too soon, considering he has three full seasons to play on his entry-level contract.

Marcel Marcel

Marcel Marcel (the man so nice they named him twice) will come to the IceHogs as the first Kyle Davidson-drafted forward to join the team. He was taken in the fifth round of this year’s draft, and quickly signed an AHL contract. Though recent draftees aren’t typically allowed to go straight to the league, Marcel is a rare exception as an “overager”, as he’ll turn 20 in October. His status alone makes him intriguing to watch this season. Fans watching the games won’t really be able to miss him either, as he measures at 6-foot-4, 243 pounds. He’ll be able to kickstart his development earlier than most prospects with his experience would, and can hopefully quickly develop into an NHL-caliber player.

Last season, the IceHogs saw tremendous success by graduating players like Arvid Soderblom, Lukas Reichel, Alex Vlasic, and Isaak Phillips to the big club. Despite the long list of players moving on, Rockford will have no shortage of talent thanks to young prospects making their professional debuts. If they can pair well with the returning stars from Part 1, the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate could be fun to watch this year.