The Chicago Blackhawks are going to need a roster spot for defenseman Connor Murphy when he comes off the long-term injured reserve list, and they cleared one on Thursday as they assigned defenseman Adam Boqvist to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs.
Boqvist, the 8th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks earlier this season. He scored his first career goal in a November game against the Ducks, and has appeared in six games with Chicago so far this season.
There was no corresponding roster move made, but the assumption is that the team will activate Murphy before Saturday’s game against the Predators. Murphy has been on LTIR with a groin injury, and has missed 10 games with the ailment. He’ll be eligible to return to the lineup on Saturday, but it’s not clear if he will immediately jump back into the mix on Saturday.
The Blackhawks also play on Sunday against the Buffalo Sabres, meaning that Murphy could potentially get a day off on the back-to-back if he needs it.
The Blackhawks have won two games in a row and have captured at least a point in their last four games. They’ll look to continue that run on Saturday against Nashville, with puck drop set for 7 p.m. at Bridgestone Arena.
