The Chicago Blackhawks have signed another one of their draft picks out of the college ranks, agreeing to a three-year entry-level contract with Luc Snuggerud. The deal will kick in for the 2017-18 season, and Snuggerud will report to the Rockford IceHogs for the remainder of this year. Unlike John Hayden, who will likely play for the Hawks this season, Snuggerud will be looking into the future to try and make an impact on this team.
The nephew of former NHL winger Dave Snuggerud, the University of Nebraska product set a career high with 11 goals and 31 points this season. A former fifth-round pick of the Blackhawks, the younger Snuggerud is a left-handed defenseman capable of joining the rush and adding some offensive flair to a blueline. He’ll likely get some good minutes at Rockford down the stretch, as the AHL squad is firmly at the bottom of the standings.
The Blackhawks have now added Snuggerud, Hayden and Anthony Louis from the college ranks to go along with Matthew Highmore from the CHL. They are doing their best to restock a system that is seemingly drained of prospects every year. Still with Alex DeBrincat destroying the OHL, Chad Krys debuting well for Boston University, and the easy transitions for Nick Schmaltz and Ryan Hartman in the NHL, Chicago doesn’t look like it’s too worried about their pipeline drying up anytime soon.