ROCKFORD, Ill. — The Chicago Blackhawks turned to the Rockford IceHogs nearly 20 times last season to recall players to the NHL.
It’s a number that has grown over the years.
As the Blackhawks have handed out numerous long-term contracts which take up a bulk of their cap space, they have had to rely more and more from within their system to complete their NHL rosters. Fifteen players saw ice time in the AHL and NHL for the Blackhawks last season.
The affiliation agreement between the Blackhawks and IceHogs has worked for a number of reasons, but convenience and proximity trump them all.