Ethan Del Mastro is running out of runway before Blackhawks training camp opens, and the timing only adds to the uncertainty around where he fits on Chicago’s blue line.
The 23-year-old defenseman remains unsigned, even after the Blackhawks extended a qualifying offer in June to keep his restricted free-agent rights. Talks have carried on through the summer, but as of 11 a.m. CT Tuesday, Del Mastro was still one of 10 restricted free agents who played NHL games last season and had yet to reach a deal, according to PuckPedia.
For Del Mastro, the problem is simple: the path to regular NHL minutes looks crowded. On paper, he appears to be the Blackhawks’ eighth defenseman heading into the season, and six of the players ahead of him are 25 or younger and viewed as part of the team’s long-term core. He has gotten NHL looks in recent seasons - 19 games last year and 24 the season before - but his chances this year likely hinge on injuries and how the rest of the defense performs.
There’s also a new wrinkle. Del Mastro is waiver-eligible for the first time in his career, which makes it less likely the Blackhawks would promise him a clean route to the AHL without the risk of being claimed.
That kind of standoff isn’t unfamiliar in Chicago. Wyatt Kaiser went through a similar situation last season, staying unsigned as a restricted free agent until the day players reported to camp.
He ultimately landed a two-year deal with a $1.7 million cap hit. Del Mastro, like Kaiser, does not have arbitration rights and couldn’t force mediation on his first contract after his entry-level deal.
Kaiser had more leverage because he was projected to be among the Blackhawks’ top six defensemen at the time, and that helped him secure a slightly larger contract late in the process.
Del Mastro doesn’t appear to have that same leverage, and AFP Analytics projects him to settle on a one-year deal with an $874,125 cap hit.
Chicago did get one other young defenseman locked in this summer, agreeing in August to a two-year contract with Kevin Korchinski carrying a $1.32 million cap hit. Korchinski, 22, has 105 NHL games on his résumé and is projected to be the Blackhawks’ seventh defenseman this season.
If Del Mastro does sign, he still has a chance to matter for the Blackhawks this season and beyond. His 2024-25 NHL stint showed some encouraging signs.
In five-on-five play across 24 games, he led Blackhawks defensemen with a 47.52 Corsi percentage and a 47.54 expected goals percentage, according to Natural Stat Trick. He was on the ice for 13 goals for and 17 against.
The year before, though, the numbers were far less friendly. He posted a 45.58 Corsi percentage and a 36.02 expected goals percentage, and Chicago was outscored 14-3 with him on the ice in five-on-five play.
Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill pointed to some of that inconsistency in late March, while also praising Del Mastro’s approach.
“I think Ethan’s done a good job coming in,” Blashill said in late March. “I think it’s a good chance for us to see him.
When he first got in, I think the first time we played seven, it’s a little bit more difficult. Then, seeing him on the right compared to the left, all those are good kinds of chances to see him.
“It’s also a chance for him to gain reps. He’s done a good job.
What he is, he’s a gamer. He doesn’t play afraid to make a mistake.
I like that piece of it for sure. Guys you want on your team are gamers - guys who are going to go out to play to win.
If you make a mistake, you make a mistake. That’s kind of how he plays.”
Del Mastro, a left-shot defenseman, spent time on the right side in Chicago and with the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL last season. That matters because the Blackhawks are already loaded with left-handed defensemen expected to be on the NHL roster to start the season: Korchinski, Kaiser, Bowen Byram, Alex Vlasic and Ian Cole.
Whether a deal gets done in the next few days is still unclear. With camp condensed and fewer preseason games on the schedule, any missed time could shrink Del Mastro’s chances to make a strong case. His agent, Wade Arnott, was unavailable for comment.
In Other News...
Connor Bedard Just Became The Face Of Chicago's Rebuild
The Blackhawks have officially handed the captaincy to Connor Bedard, a move that matches the direction of the franchise as much as the moment. Bedard now becomes the 37th captain in team history, stepping into the role after Nick Foligno was traded to the Minnesota Wild, and the choice comes with the kind of weight that has followed him since he arrived in Chicago.
Bedards rise has been backed by production, too. He is coming off a season with career highs across the board and already has a long-term contract extension in place, so this is not just a ceremonial nod to potential. It is another sign that the organization is ready to build around him, even as the next phase of the rebuild asks him to carry more responsibility than before. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Face One Brutal Test Before Bedard Can Save Them
Connor Bedards offseason took an unwelcome turn in July, when the Blackhawks star underwent successful surgery on his left shoulder. The recovery timeline points to a return in November, which means Chicago will have to navigate a meaningful chunk of the early schedule without the player who drives so much of its offense and attention.
For a team already staring at a difficult opening stretch, that absence changes the tone of the first months of the season. Frank Nazar, Anton Frondell, Bowen Byram and Patrick Kane are among the names expected to carry more of the load in Bedards place, but the bigger question is how much damage the Blackhawks can avoid before their franchise centerpiece is back and ready to pick up the pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Prospects Gave Fans One Big Reason For Camp Excitement
The Blackhawks prospects left the 2026 Prospect Showcase with a split against the Blues, dropping the opener 3-1 before bouncing back with a 5-2 win in the second game. It was the kind of weekend that offered a little something for everyone: Adam Gajan got work in net, Taige Harding wore the captains letter, and the roster showed enough competitiveness to give the organization a reason to pay attention as training camp approaches.
Martin Misiak was the most noticeable offensive presence across the two games, and that alone will keep him on the radar when camp opens. For a group still trying to turn promise into progress, the showcase did its job by giving the Blackhawks a few names to watch more closely once the prospects head off to their respective camps for the upcoming season. [Read more 🡒]