Yesterday when I discussed Alec Regula getting sent to Rockford, I wondered if Ian Mitchell was going to swap lockers with him in Chicago. Well, on Friday morning before practice we found out that Mitchell is indeed joining the Blackhawks for the weekend.
The Blackhawks recalled Mitchell on Friday before practice at Fifth Third Arena. Mitchell had five points in three games with the IceHogs to start his 2022-23 season after a wrist injury. On Wednesday morning, Mitchell had two power play goals. The Blackhawks have zero power play goals from a defenseman since the start of the 2021-22 season!
As I’ve written here a bunch since his injury was announced, I’ve been a big fan of Mitchell’s since he was drafted and think he can be a solid contributor on the Blackhawks’ NHL blue line. My hope was that he would get a long look with the veteran group that was assembled to start the regular season, but his injury made that impossible. Now he’s going to get that chance while Seth Jones is out for at least a couple more weeks.