Chicago made a few roster moves on Tuesday afternoon, locking up a draft pick to an entry-level contract while brining back a veteran who was slated for free agency.
Up first: the Blackhawks signed Martin Misiak to an entry-level contract, inking the 2023 second-round pick (55th overall) to a three-year deal worth $878,333 annually. The contract runs through the 2026-27 season.
Misiak, who’ll turn 20 in September, spent last season with the OHL’s Erie Otters, where he tallied 47 points (23 G, 24 A) in 60 regular-season games. In four playoff games, Misiak added a goal and an assist. He also received his first taste of professional hockey last season, skating with the Rockford IceHogs against the Chicago Wolves on April 21 without registering a point. Would not call it a dominant season from Misiak by any means, but there’s still time for the 6-foot-2, 194-pound forward to find his footing in North America after leaving his native Slovakia during the middle of the 2022-23 season.
Elsewhere in roster news, the Blackhawks signed veteran forward Zach Sanford to a one-year contract worth $775,000. Sanford joined Chicago during the middle of the 2023-24 season after being claimed on waivers from the Arizona Coyotes (/skypoint) and had four assists during his 18 games with Chicago. Sanford’s bigger contributions came in the AHL, where he had 10 points (4 G, 6 A) in 29 games split between Rockford and the Tucson Roadrunners. Sanford was a bright spot during Rockford’s brief playoff stint, scoring two goals with two assists in four games.
Like the signing of Brett Seney last week, this move seems to be mostly focused on bolstering Rockford’s depth, as neither forward received much ice time while Chicago was among the worst sides in the league. And with the organ-i-zation expected to move things forward in the near future, it doesn’t seem like there will be much ice time for them to skate at the NHL level for this team.