Chicago Blackhawks prospect Radovan Bondra has signed a one-year AHL contract with the Rockford IceHogs, the team announced Monday. It’s a somewhat unexpected move that gives Chicago’s AHL affiliate added depth for the upcoming season.
Bondra, a 2015 fifth-round pick, was expected to return to the WHL’s Prince George Cougars this season. Powers says he was in Prince George’s lineup as recently as Friday after being released from Blackhawks training camp, so it appears something changed that caused Chicago to want to get him in the pros.
The primary difference with an AHL contract is that Bondra will not be transferrable to the Blackhawks until he signs an entry-level NHL deal.