The Blackhawks announced Wednesday that Jan Rutta is day-to-day with a groin injury. The 28-year-old had six goals and 14 assists in 57 games during his first season with the Hawks in 2017-18.
Rutta, who is a sizable defenseman for Chicago at 6-foot-3 and 201 pounds, is latest Chicago blue liner to suffer an injury. Veteran Brent Seabrook (abdominal) is out a week and Connor Murphy (back) is expected to miss two to three months. Rutta and Seabrook should be ready for Chicago’s season opener Oct. 4 at Ottawa. Murphy’s injury, however, provides an opportunity for prospects Henri Jokiharju and Carl Dahlstrom to crack the Hawks’ NHL lineup.