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Chicago Blackhawks set to demote young star to the AHL: Connor Bedard might not be happy at all
Photo credit: NHL.com
In the latest report from Blackhawks reporter Ben Pope, it appears that a young sensation is expected to be sent from Chicago to Rockford for an AHL start to his 2025-26 season.
The Chicago Blackhawks made a few trades this summer in hopes to shake things up offensively.
Out went Joe Veleno, a 25-year-old forward, in came 30-year-old Andre Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken in what appeared to be a major win for Kyle Davidson and the Blackhawks.
But now, things are looking much different.
With a key young sensation now being forced out of the lineup due to Burakovsky's arrival, and it appears that he will be starting next season in the American Hockey League with the Rockford IceHogs.
Oliver Moore to start upcoming season in the AHL
According to Ben Pope, a Chicago Sun-Times reporter who covers the Blackhawks, Landon Slaggert will secure a fourth-line role, leaving key young prospects such as Oliver Moore and others on the outside looking in.
Slaggert has 49 games of NHL experience so far into his early career, and with the skill he's shown so far, it's a no-brainer that he will earn a role with the big club.
"Greene and Moore are in similar positions, but Greene is a year older and plays a more reliable game, even if his ceiling is lower. Moore, like Nazar did last fall, could benefit from a few months in Rockford."
Throughout Moore's last few games with the Blackhawks this past season, he has shown great promise and even a prominent skill: his speed, in which he kept up and appeared faster than former first overall pick Connor Bedard.
With the organization failing to bring in elite talent to support Bedard, we can only imagine that he will not be too happy hearing the news regarding this teammate of his skating calibre.
Moore has also been close friends with Bedard since being drafted in 2023 together.
Pope predicts the fourth line to have two young prospects alongside veteran captain Nick Foligno:
Nick Foligno-Ryan Greene-Landon Slaggert
It's quite clear why Kyle Davidson failed to make more offseason additions, and that's because he's making room for the wave of youth that's ready to reshape the Chicago Blackhawks organization.
Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider
| POLL | ||
AOUT 3 | 489 ANSWERS Chicago Blackhawks set to demote young star to the AHL: Connor Bedard might not be happy at all Do you think the Blackhawks are making a mistake by demoting this young star to the AHL? | ||
| Yes | 155 | 31.7 % |
| Maybe, we will see how it pans out | 205 | 41.9 % |
| No | 129 | 26.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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