The Chicago Blackhawks have announced the recall of forward Landon Slaggert, just over a week after his previous assignment, amidst injury concerns for centerman Jason Dickinson and winger Andre Burakovsky. Dickinson is set to miss Wednesday night’s matchup against the New Jersey Devils due to an upper-body injury, while Burakovsky is a gametime decision with an undisclosed ailment, as reported by NHL.com’s Tracey Myers.
Dickinson was sent back to Chicago early from the team’s recent six-game road trip after being placed on injured reserve. The 30-year-old has not seen action since the Blackhawks’ loss to the Winnipeg Jets on October 30, where he played only eight minutes. He returned to practice on Wednesday, sporting a no-contact jersey.
Burakovsky has been a key contributor, performing well during the road trip, highlighted by his two points in a victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. This performance has propelled him to seven points in just five November games, establishing him in a fringe top-line role with over 21 minutes of ice time last Monday. He boasts a career-high average of 17:28 in ice time this season, alongside impressive stats of seven goals and 14 points in 15 games.
The potential absence of both Dickinson and Burakovsky would pose significant challenges for the Blackhawks, impacting their performance on both ends of the ice. Slaggert, who has yet to score and has a minus-two rating in five NHL games this season, faces a challenging role in trying to replicate their contributions. Although he managed one point across three AHL games and displayed considerable physical play during last season’s 33 games, his overall production has been modest, with just 10 points in 54 career NHL appearances.
Slaggert is expected to step into a fourth-line role, while rookie Ryan Greene will benefit from increased responsibility in place of Dickinson. If Burakovsky is also unable to play, the team may opt for a lineup featuring 11 forwards and seven defensemen, bringing in defender Louis Crevier and increasing the role of rookie winger Oliver Moore.
As the team navigates these injuries, hopes remain buoyed for a robust performance against the Devils, relying on the resilience of both seasoned players and younger talent to fill the gaps.