Matthew Highmore wasn’t even on this list last season. An undrafted free agent signing by the Blackhawks in March of 2017, Highmore spent about a full calendar year with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs. By last season’s trade deadline, though, Highmore was Rockford’s leading scorer with 35 points (21 goals, 14 assists) in 56 games. When a flurry of trades freed up a forward position at the NHL level, Highmore got the call and made his NHL debut this spring.
Position: Forward
Birth date: Feb. 27, 1996
Acquired via: Signed us an undrafted free agent on March 2, 2017
Most recent stop: Rockford Ice Hogs — AHL (also appeared in 13 NHL games)
Size: 5’11, 181 pounds
Contract: Two years, $775,833 cap hit (entry-level deal)
Last year’s ranking: Unranked
Breakdown
Highmore played 13 games with the Blackhawks, scoring the first two goals of his NHL career before going down with an injury in late March.