Who are these players? Get to know the new-look Chicago Blackhawks roster.
The Chicago Blackhawks have gone through so much turnover recently with trades and injuries that some of the players are still learning key details about each other.
Take Andreas Englund and Joey Anderson. Both landed with the Hawks as part of trade-deadline deals and their lockers sit next to each other, but Englund had “no clue” he “stole” Anderson’s No. 28 jersey number.
You can blame Patrick Kane for that.
“I had ‘88′ back in Colorado. Obviously I wasn’t going to get that here,” Englund said of Kane’s old number, one the Hawks are destined retire. “So they asked me whatever (number I wanted) and yeah, 28 was available. I was like, ‘Fine, sure, let’s roll with that.I found out a couple days ago when Joe was telling me, “Hey, I had 28′. I was like, ‘Oh (shoot) you want it?’ ”
It just so happened that Englund got first dibs: He was traded for Jack Johnson on Feb. 26. Anderson was part of the package that sent Jake McCabe and Sam Lafferty to the Toronto Maple Leafs the next day.
Anderson settled on No. 15: “I have no reason to ask for a new number.”
When the New Jersey Devils traded Anderson to the Leafs on Oct. 10, 2020, No. 28 “wasn’t a number I had chosen, really. So I’m not, like, heart-set on a number.”
Anders Bjork, acquired from the Buffalo Sabres, didn’t put much thought into his No. 24, but coach Luke Richardson did.
“He’s wearing Lafferty’s (old) number, so we get some speed for some speed on No. 24,” Richardson said. “And putting him in with (Lafferty’s old linemate Jason) Dickinson, hopefully they can build some chemistry like the last two did.”
Said Bjork: “To me, it’s kind of a fast number — that’s what I’m trying to do is play fast. Also, my younger brother plays at Notre Dame and wears 23. We’ve always been one (number) apart.”
Each game gives Richardson an opportunity to become familiar with a new crop of players and their attributes, but after a rebuild-driven roster purge, deadline day felt like training camp again.
“That’s basically what we’re thinking back to. And it’s a good refresher,” he said.
The new roster has about a month left in the season — 18 games — to familiarize themselves with new teammates, a new system and a new city. It’s also a chance to prove themselves, particularly the additions who don’t have a lot of NHL experience like Englund, Anderson and Bjork.
“Everybody only has so much time to show their thing as a young prospect. It only lasts so long.” Richardson said.
“If you look at the next three years — well, four years counting the last draft — there’s going to be another seven first-round picks. And those guys are always high on the list. So you’ve got to make sure if you’re a prospect in this organization that you’re pushing. There’s going to be some internal competition coming up.
“So the guys that are here have that head start on it and they have to take advantage of it.”
Get to know — or reknow — the key players from the new-look Hawks roster from A-Z.
Joey Anderson, forward
Age: 24 Size: 6-0, 207
Acquired: Part of trade package on Feb. 27, along with a 2025 conditional first-round pick, from the Toronto Maple Leafs for Sam Lafferty and Jake McCabe
The rundown: He recorded his first goal with the Hawks against the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday.
He’s expected to play out the season with the Hawks, then join the IceHogs for their AHL playoff push. The native of Roseville, Minn., grew up a Wild fan, but his mother always rooted for the Hawks.
“She played pro racquetball, so growing up she would come to Chicago for a lot of tournaments,” Anderson said.
Anders Bjork, forward
Age: 26 Size: 6-0, 190
Acquired: Traded from the Sabres for future considerations on March 2
The rundown: Bjork is looking to reinvent himself.
“I was playing in the minors, and now I get a chance to show that I can play in the NHL and redefine myself,” he said. “Every player wants that, once their career hasn’t gone the way that they’d like.”
He had three assists against the Senators and Richardson joked the wing could’ve gotten six points.
“The puck was just finding him,” said Richardson, who also praised Bjork’s penalty killing. “He didn’t play risky at all, but he still made some really good plays and it was good to see.”
Bjork said he brings speed to the Hawks.
“I like to play fast, I’ve got some offensive ability, but I pride myself on being responsible and being a two-way player,” he added.
The Milwaukee-area native was less outspoken about his football allegiance, however.
“I was waiting for that question,” he laughed, when asked about rooting for the Green Bay Packers. “And I don’t have a good answer for you. I am from Wisconsin, but I’m not I’m not fully committed one way or the other. I can be convinced. That question makes me a little nervous, I’m not going to lie.”
Andreas Englund, defenseman
Age: 27 Size: 6-3, 189
Acquired: Trade on Feb. 26 with Colorado Avalanche for Jack Johnson
The rundown: Englund announced his arrival with a huge hit on the Predators’ Philip Tomasino that resulted in a boarding penalty, but he pulled a hamstring and has been sidelined for the rest of road trip.
He already has made an impression on fellow defenseman Connor Murphy.
“He’s a really strong guy,” Murphy said. “He shows his physicality and he’s not afraid to throw nice hits.”
Englund said his style is “definitely hard-nosed defenseman. I try to play physical and I want to be solid in D-zone.”
MacKenzie Entwistle, forward
Age: 23 Size: 6-3, 184
Acquired: Part of seven-player trade package on July 12, 2018
The rundown: With 109 games played for the Hawks, Entwistle suddenly became one of the senior members of the roster and has taken on a more prominent role.
He was sidelined since Feb. 15 with a wrist injury until his activation March 3.
“It’s something I might have to play with a little bit for the rest of the year, but it’s feeling great,” Entwistle said.
Cole Guttman, forward
Age: 23 Size: 5-9, 167
Acquired: Signed an entry-level contract on Aug. 18, 2022
The rundown: Guttman has recorded three goals in 12 games.
“He’s strong on the puck,” Richardson said. “’Did he have separation speed?’ was the big question and he’s shown that. At a time of the year when our roster is down, he’s been a big piece to fill a hole there.”
Against the Panthers on Friday, Guttman more than made up for a neutral-zone turnover during a power play by scoring the tying goal with 45 seconds left.
Caleb Jones, defenseman
Age: 25 Size: 6-1, 194
Acquired: Part of a trade package from the Edmonton Oilers for Duncan Keith on July 12, 2021
The rundown: He has been paired with Seth Jones since the trade deadline, and not just because they’re brothers. Caleb Jones has stabilized his play defensively. He has a plus-6 rating since March 4.
“Playing with Seth is probably a real inspiration for him,” Richardson said. “It’s a unique thing but his skating ability is great. But sometimes I call it a little bit (of) happy feet. He gets going too much and too busy and he’s putting out fires all over the place.
“We want him to be a defenseman, not a fireman.”
Jones capped a first-period rush against the Panthers on Friday with the game’s opening goal, his third of the season.
Seth Jones, defenseman
Age: 28 Size: 6-4, 213
Acquired: Traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2021 and signed to an eight-year, $76 million extension
The rundown: He has 10 goals and 21 assists this season, but Jones has looked like a different player in recent games, including a run of four goals over a three-game span.
“Just trying to make my reads,” he said after a two-goal game against the Senators.
Richardson said Jones is finding the right balance with defense — and it’s leading to better chances on offense.
“I don’t think he pushes it,” he said. “He joins when the other team’s vulnerable. Seth is sneaky on the offensive (end) and he’s really figuring out the right times to do it.”
Jujhar Khaira, forward
Age: 28 Size: 6-4, 212
Acquired: Signed on July 28, 2021
The rundown: Khaira has missed 26 games this season with a back injury, something that’s plagued him in the past.
“Unfortunately it took me a little bit longer than I would have liked,” he said. “I feel like I’m moving better than I was and just playing pain free.”
The Hawks need the veteran to help fill in gaps.
“He’s going to help out, especially losing some penalty killers. That’s kind of his forte,” Richardson said. “Need him to get real strong in that (faceoff) circle.”
Ian Mitchell, defenseman
Age: 24 Size: 5-11, 193
Acquired: Second round of the 2017 draft (No. 57)
The rundown: Mitchell has logged 72 games with the Hawks over three seasons, but he was beginning to feel like a forgotten man.
He had been scratched for 39 games, including three straight before drawing into the lineup against the Red Wings.
“There has been progress,” Richardson said. “You always want more as a coach and as an organization, but it’s tough and that’s not really an uncommon theme for a young defenseman to be in and out and kind of earning your stripes as you go.”
Part of Mitchell’s process is learning to play defense without letting his size be a liability.
“He’s not small, but he’s not like a huge big defenseman,” Richardson said. “So sometimes it takes a little longer to find all the little different techniques that you’re going to need to play in a league that’s big and fast. I think this is another great opportunity for him.”
Lukas Reichel, forward
Age: 20 Size: 6-0, 170
Acquired: 2020 draft (first round, 17th pick)
The rundown: There’s little question Reichel has a prominent place in the Hawks’ future, but the remainder of season will be a testing ground for his maturation.
Reichel showed both sides of that coin against the Ottawa Senators. On one play, he got fancy on a pass, turned the puck over and ended up back in the defensive zone. Richardson said the coaches were “chomping at the bit” and “fighting over each other for who was getting to him first.”
When Reichel returned to the bench, “he already knew. You could see he had the red in his cheeks” and coaches scolded, “‘Reichsy, that’s not for here, not for this league, not for you.’”
Richardson said Reichel showed better decision-making late in the game when he stole the puck, knew he couldn’t make it farther than the red line and “lay an alley-oop” over the defense “so we can get the (line) change.”
“That’s just smart, intelligent hockey,” Richardson said. “That’s (his new) team-first thought process, and that’s got to be every day, every game, every shift, and you’re starting to see that from him.”
Reichel said the instinct to airmail the puck came with experience.
“When it’s 5-0 and it’s the last five minutes of the third period, you don’t try to turn it over, just make a smart play and chip the puck in and go for a change,” he said.
So, he added, “when it’s a 2-1 game or a 3-1 game, the coaches trust you more.”
Filip Roos, defenseman
Age: 24 Size: 6-4, 190
Acquired: Signed an entry-level contract on May 23, 2022
The rundown: Roos was called up Thursday to help make up for injuries and trades on defense. The Hawks had sent him down to Rockford in December to work on finding consistency.
Richardson said at the time, “When there’s a time to get him back and need him, he’s ready to go instead of just in-and-out and not playing a lot.”
Roos is subbing for Murphy during this trip while Murphy attends to a family matter.
Roos made a great defensive play Friday by batting a rebound puck midair to prevent it from falling into the net behind Petr Mrázek.
Vili Saarijärvi
Age: 25 Size: 5-10, 163
Acquired: Part of the three-team trade package for Kane on Feb. 28
The rundown: The Hawks acquired Saarijarvi’s signing rights, and he has been playing in the Swiss League with the SCL Tigers.
“Saarijarvi’s over in Europe, so he’ll finish out the year,” Davidson said. “He’s under contract over there, so we’ll determine that one maybe in the offseason.”
Alex Stalock, goalie
Age: 35 Size: 5-11, 170
Acquired: Signed on July 13, 2022
The rundown: Few players have faced the challenges Stalock has this season.
He had to overcome myocarditis to even continue his career, but his health troubles weren’t over. He missed a month and half with a concussion starting in November, then discovered he had an ocular dysfunction that affected his tracking during another injury stint between mid-January and February.
“Guys felt for him,” Richardson said. “He battled through that all year and it’s great to have him back and his comedic self.”
Stalock, who posted a shutout against the Senators on Monday, has maintained not only his good humor but his confidence.
“The last couple years have been kind of a mess health-wise, but I feel in good shape, back to physically (being) able to perform at the level I want to and just having fun,” he said.
Austin Wagner, forward
Age: 25 Size: 6-1, 195
Acquired: A deadline-day trade on March 3 from the Los Angeles Kings
The rundown: He hasn’t played an NHL game since the 2020-21 season with the Kings. And now his start with the Hawks has been stalled by an infection. The Hawks are “just letting it settle down,” Richardson said.
If Wagner gets healthy, he’s likely to join Anderson in Rockford after the NHL season.
Andy Welinski, defenseman
Age: 29 Size: 6-1, 201
Acquired: Part of the Feb. 28 trade package in a three-team deal with the Coyotes (2025 conditional third-round pick) and Rangers (Kane), along with a 2023 conditional second-rounder, 2025 fourth-rounder and Vili Saarijärvi
The rundown: Welinski has played two games with Rockford and recorded an assist.
“Welinski is just going to help be a veteran guy down in Rockford and hopefully play a big part in their push to the playoffs,” general manager Kyle Davidson said. “Obviously it helps to have depth and defense should anything go sideways from an injury standpoint up here, but the plan is for him to play out the year in Rockford.”
Nikita Zaitsev, defenseman
Age: 31 Size: 6-2, 192
Acquired: Part of Feb. 22 trade package along with a 2023 second-round pick and 2026 fourth-rounder in a salary-cap dump for the Senators
The rundown: His arrival was stalled by a visa issue, but he since has played four games for the Hawks.
His NHL road has been bumpy: injuries, healthy scratches and a brief stint in the minors. “It was a scrambly season, honestly.”
Zaitsev, who sits next to Entwistle in the locker room, was friends with former Hawks center Artem Anisimov. Now on the Hawks, Zaitsev said he hopes to prove “I’m just a worker. I’m working harder every night.”
Richardson remembers him as a quiet competitor with Toronto and Ottawa: “Just all about business.”
