When the Chicago Blackhawks opened training camp before the 2017-18 NHL season, Henri Jokiharju appeared to be on the bubble of players who could break camp at the top of the organization.
The 2017 first-round pick, selected 29th overall, was part of a logjam of veterans and prospects competing for one of the seven spots available among Blackhawks defensemen. But on the first day of camp, the road to a roster spot was opened for Jokiharju when Connor Murphy and Gustav Forsling were ruled out with injuries that would prevent them from starting the season on time.