Rockford Icehogs 2024-25 Roster Preview

After a busy free agency for the Chicago Blackhawks, the Rockford IceHogs have begun to see their roster for next season take shape. The familiar faces of Michal Teply, David Gust, Jaxson Stauber, Mike Hardman, Luke Philp, Filip Roos, Kale Howarth, Josh Healey, Austin Strand, Andrew Perrott, Ross MacDougall, and Josh Maniscalco are gone in what will be a large roster turnover in favor of a prospect wave courtesy of Kyle Davidson and company. Prospects like Paul Ludwinski, Gavin Hayes, Samuel Savoie, Landon Slaggert, Artyom Levshunov, and Frank Nazar will most likely see extended time in the Stateline. But what could that lineup look like? What are some storylines to follow? Let's dive in with a good old-fashioned July roster preview.

LINEUP

First, let's start with a VERY early lineup prediction, leaving a hole or two for free agency predictions.

Seney - Guttman - Nazar

Slaggert - Dach - Free Agent?

Hayes - Cates - Sanford

Luypen - Ludwinski - Rolston

Korchinski - Levshunov

Del Mastro - Kaiser

Allan - Crevier

Commesso

Soderblom

PREDICTION TIME

This prediction leaves Savoie, Saarela, Misiak, Baddock and Marcel as scratches with DJ King and Ryan Gagnier in Indy. My first takeaways looking at this roster and lineup prediction are that these IceHogs are young. Seney, Sanford, and Baddock are the three players who qualify as 'veterans,' and with the AHL allowing teams to dress a maximum of 5, the IceHogs have some wiggle room. This leads me to my first free agency prediction for the IceHogs; With a clear lack of depth on the right wing, another veteran scorer would be welcomed to fill that role. Two players to watch would be AHL mercenary Rocco Grimaldi and 27-year-old winger, Cooper Marody. Grimaldi is a familiar face for IceHogs fans after he put up 17 points in 16 games for the Hogs in 2022/2023 and followed that up with a 73-point campaign for the rival Chicago Wolves last year. He would bring an elite AHL playmaking ability that would pair well with a top 6 featuring Seney, Slaggert, Dach, Guttman, and Frank Nazar. Marody is not so familiar. A 6'0", 183-pound winger with playmaking ability as well as a solid defensive game at the AHL level. He's also spent time at center which would be welcome versatility to the top 6 that Rocco Grimaldi may not be able to match. Also, be on the lookout for the IceHogs to continue to bolster depth on defense via free agency with DJ King being the lone depth piece for Rockford. I also expect to see a few depth signings in the future. As of now, Ryan Gagnier and DJ King seem to be Indy bound so added depth to cover the usual injury bug the Hawks seemingly always go through mid-season would help supplement the IceHogs lineup if need be. Could we see a Ross MacDougall or Josh Maniscalco return?

STORYLINES TO WATCH

ARTY PARTY - On Saturday, the Blackhawks inked the second overall pick in the 2024 draft, Artyom Levshunov, to a 3-year ELC. The Hawks have been not-so-secret about his destination: Rockford. He would be the highest overall pick to skate for Rockford, with Kirby Dach and Cam Barker both tied for second as third overall picks. A dynamic d-man, with elite skating and playmaking, his goal in Rockford will be adjusting to the professional game and developing his defensive game while under the watchful eye of the Blackhawks development staff.

KORCHINSKI TIME? - Besides Connor Bedard, the second-best prospect to spend last year with the Hawks was 2022 first-round pick Kevin Korchinski. A then 19-year-old defenseman with high-end offensive ability but a still-developing defensive game, he was stuck in prospect purgatory; not fully ready for the NHL yet not eligible for a full year in Rockford due to the NHL-CHL agreement. This requires players from the CHL to be 20 years old to be full-time players in the AHL. Could we see Kevin Korchinski spend time in Rockford as he develops his defensive game?

NEW GUYS ON THE BLOCK - Paul Ludwinski, Gavin Hayes, Arty Levshunov, Sammy Savoie, and Martin Misiak make up the crop of fresh faces for the IceHogs and figure to get a heavy dose of ice time this year. If Rockford hopes to stack wins together, they'll need one, two, or all to step in with solid rookie campaigns. Watching how they develop as well as how Head Coach Anders Sorensen rotates them in and out of the lineup figures to be interesting for fellow prospect junkies like myself.

ARVID IS BACK....IS THAT GOOD? - Arvid Soderblom looks to be making his return to the BMO Center crease. After a year in which Soderblom posted a GAA of 3.92 (woof) and a save percentage of .880, the Blackhawks opted to go the veteran route and sign talented backup goaltender Laurent Brossoit to a two-year deal ($3.3 million AAV) to pair with Petr Mrazek. This leaves Soderblom seemingly Rockford-bound to pair with prospect Drew Commesso. How will Anders Sorensen divvy up the starts? 1A-1B setup? Commesso relegated to backup? Soderblom backing up?

THE VERDICT

These IceHogs are good. Fast, skilled, and strong. If healthy, they have a chance to make a lot of noise in the AHL's Central Division. With what looks to be a few moves and signings left in the tank, they figure to only get better with added depth. Stick to Biscuitbuds.com for the latest on any Icehogs related moves for the rest of the off-season, as well as all year long as we follow what is hopefully a long season for the IceHogs.