After another underwhelming season with the Barrie Colts, the Chicago Blackhawks allowed their exclusive negotiating rights with Roy Radke expire in June. Despite that, he still attended Chicago’s development camp this summer, and was expected to get an AHL deal somewhere around the league. Instead he has signed with SaiPa of the Finnish Liiga, where he’ll try to take the next step in his professional career. The deal is for one season and includes a “trial period.”
Radke was selected in the sixth round two years ago, but failed to deliver on his promise as a fast, hard-nosed power forward. Too often for the Barrie Colts would he let defenders move him off the puck, and sometimes avoided going into the corners in the offensive zone. Still armed with a big shot and enough speed to create offense off the rush, he’ll need to start using his big frame more effectively. There is a good chance he returns to North America eventually to join a minor league team, but for now he sems quite excited to start with SaiPa.
The Blackhawks haven’t received a single game of production from their 2015 draft class just yet, with their top selection Graham Knott just entering the AHL this season. In fact, Knott remains the only player signed so far out of the draft class, with the others either playing in the NCAA or Europe. While that’s not unexpected, the team will need to start getting contributions soon from their last few draft classes if they’re to keep the championship-level organization fed.