Blackhawks Send Colton Dach to Rockford

The Chicago Blackhawks are on the road as they take on the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday and the Arizona Coyotes on Monday. That aside, some of their AHL prospects are starting to get healthy. According to Scott Powers and the Rockford IceHogs, the Blackhawks are activating a now healthy Colton Dach and sending him to Rockford to join the IceHogs. Dach began the season on IR. 

Dach was selected in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft. The 20-year-old power forward had a successful final season in juniors. With the WHL Seattle Thunderbirds, Dach captured a WHL championship with fellow prospects Nolan Allan and Kevin Korchinski. Dach will now join Allan in Rockford while Korchinski continues to play top 4 minutes in Chicago. 

Dach missed a lot of time during the 2022-23 juniors campaign and only suited up for 23 games between the Kelowna Rockets and Thunderbirds. In 14 games with Kelowna, the 6-foot-4 winger posted nine goals and eight assists. In just nine regular season games with Seattle, Dach posted three goals and seven assists. 

However, Dach was important during the Thunderbirds' push for the WHL crown. In 19 postseason contests, Dach posted three goals and 11 assists. 

Now, Dach will have a chance to show off his talents at the AHL level. If the 20-year-old is able to make a big impression with the IceHogs, he could get a look later in the year with Connor Bedard. However, a healthy and productive season for Dach will only further the depth that the team has moving into the future at the forward position.