The final five games of the season are meaningless for the Blackhawks. In the standings, that is.
Three more players are expected to make their NHL debuts this week, starting with top prospect Dylan Sikura on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets and defenseman Blake Hillman and goaltender Collin Delia likely to get in on Friday vs. Colorado.
This comes days after Victor Ejdsell made his big-league debut with the Blackhawks in a top-line center role, making it the fourth player debut in a span of three games.
While it doesn't seem like a huge deal in the short term, all of this is crucial for the Blackhawks in the big picture as it gives management and coaches a chance to evaluate what they have in the pipeline and who could potentially step into a larger role next season.