Blackhawks Give Away Surprising Prospect, Open Up Contract Slot In Interesting Move

The Blackhawks officially made a trade! No, they didn’t acquire a big-name forward or give up one of their free-agency-bound skaters. However, the move could have big implications moving forward. The Blackhawks’ latest transaction might be a precursor to a bigger move in the next week or two.

On Wednesday, Chicago traded forward Ryder Rolston to the Nashville Predators for future considerations. The 23-year-old couldn’t crack the IceHogs’ roster on a regular basis in his second year with the club, so the Blackhawks made the tough decision to let him go.

Compared to other forwards at Rockford, this move was a bit of a surprise. At 23 years old, Rolston has a lot of upside. With good mobility at both ends of the ice and a great shot, he has a lot of potential as a winger someday. The Blackhawks obviously didn’t agree – he’s only played in six games in Rockford this season, picking up one goal.

Rolston wasn’t as productive as the team had hoped last season, scoring 19 points in 62 games in his first professional campaign after leaving Notre Dame. His rights were initially acquired from the Avalanche in 2021 in exchange for Carl Soderberg.

This move seems like a head-scratcher at face value, but it’s intriguing that it opens up a contract for the Blackhawks. Chicago has only filled 42 of its 50 available contracts, but it’s possible that this move could be a precursor to a bigger one. After all, the Blackhawks could have potentially gotten something for Rolston, even if only a seventh-rounder. With plenty of potential, he could still be an NHL talent someday.

It’s also interesting that this move comes while Chicago is at the center of the rumor mill. Taylor Hall, who scored two goals in the first period Wednesday night, was listed as one of the league’s top “available” skaters and Seth Jones was brought up earlier this week. Could the Blackhawks be preparing for another move? Hall could probably fetch multiple prospects, which Chicago would have to have slots for. Moving Rolston could be more than just a dump-off – GM Kyle Davidson could have another motive.