A big signing kicks off the off-season for the Chicago Blackhawks

In a strategic move by the Chicago Blackhawks, depth forward Cole Guttman has been re-signed for an additional year. Announced earlier today, Guttman inked a one-year, two-way contract valued at the NHL league minimum of $775K.

This decision underscores Guttman's value to the team, both in the NHL and AHL, following his commendable performance last season.

The 25-year-old forward played 27 games for the Blackhawks in the 2023-2024 season, logging an average of 12:37 on the ice per game. His efforts resulted in a total of 8 points, comprised of 4 goals and 4 assists.

Despite a challenging season that saw the Blackhawks at the lower end of the league standings, Guttman's personal performance was noteworthy.

Having debuted in the NHL in the 2022-2023 season, Guttman has accumulated 14 points over 41 career NHL games. His AHL statistics are even more impressive, where he has been a point-per-game player with the Rockford IceHogs.

Over 39 games, he tallied 40 points (24 goals, 16 assists), demonstrating his significant potential and skill at the minor league level.

In his AHL career spanning 78 games, Guttman has scored 70 points, including 32 goals and 38 assists, marking him as a standout player in the league. His prior collegiate career at Denver University is equally impressive.

As a former team captain in the 2021-2022 season, he led his team to their record-tying ninth NCAA championship, contributing crucially in the finals.

Guttman's journey through professional hockey began when he was picked 180th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2017 Draft.

However, his career took a significant turn when he signed with the Blackhawks in 2022 after the Lightning opted not to renew his contract.

The Blackhawks' decision to re-sign Guttman reflects a commitment to developing reliable depth players who can ascend from the AHL and contribute meaningfully in the NHL.

As the team looks to rebuild and improve their standings in the upcoming seasons, players like Guttman are expected to play pivotal roles.

Source: DailyFaceoff
Chicago Blackhawks re-sign Cole Guttman to one-year contract