The Blackhawks have started trimming the edges of their camp roster, and two first-year pros are headed to Rockford.
Chicago assigned forwards Sacha Boisvert, AJ Spellacy and Connor Mylymok to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs on Friday morning, a move that comes after all three were in action Thursday night in a 1-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center. The camp roster now sits at 29 players with four days left before the 2026-27 regular season begins.
Spellacy’s night in St. Louis ended early after he was ejected for head-butting Blues forward Ross Johnston in the third period. Boisvert also got mixed up in a post-whistle skirmish late, which led to a one-sided fight with Nathan Walker.
Even before the cuts were made, neither player looked like part of the immediate NHL picture. Chicago opened camp with a fairly clear idea of what the roster would look like by Sept. 29 in Las Vegas, and both Boisvert and Spellacy were with the AHL group from the start.
The math also works against them right now. Landon Slaggert and Teuvo Teravainen are listed as the 13th and 14th forwards with the NHL group, leaving little room for either rookie unless injuries create an opening.
That fits the pattern under general manager Kyle Davidson. The Blackhawks have often had their top prospects begin in Rockford so they can adjust to pro hockey before getting thrown straight into the NHL. Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore and Nick Lardis all started their rookie seasons with the IceHogs before earning call-ups once they showed they could handle the minors.
Boisvert and Spellacy are next in that line. If either is going to become a real option for the Blackhawks in 2026-27, the first step is standing out for Rockford once the AHL season gets rolling.
There’s also an internal race here. Both forwards will be teammates in Rockford, but they’ll be competing to be the first one summoned to Chicago. Last season, Moore was recalled after his first nine IceHogs games, a reminder that the timeline can move fast.
Right now, Spellacy seems to have the edge. He was the more noticeable power forward through Rookie Camp, the Prospect Showcase against St.
Louis and the two preseason games. He’s also bigger and faster than Boisvert, traits that fit the grind of a bottom-six NHL role.
The Blackhawks have also used Spellacy on the penalty kill during preseason, which stands out.
Boisvert did have his moments. He picked up an assist in last Saturday’s preseason opener in Minnesota, and he held his own in the scrap with Walker on Thursday. Still, his overall impact in those games was limited, and at times he looked overwhelmed when the puck was on his stick.
Head coach Jeff Blashill said after Friday’s practice that he hadn’t seen enough of a hard-nosed approach from Boisvert until Thursday in St. Louis. Blashill said Boisvert is still working through how he can become a difference-maker at the highest level, and the Blackhawks still aren’t certain whether he profiles long term as a center or a winger.
For now, Boisvert remains a work in progress. Spellacy, by comparison, already looks more prepared for the NHL’s pace and physical demands.
Neither will be on the opening-night roster, but Spellacy looks like the likelier first call-up if he gets going quickly in Rockford.
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