Blackhawks cut Kopecky and Visnovsky

The Chicago Blackhawks cut loose a pair of veterans who were trying to make the team on Professional Tryout Contracts Monday (Sept. 28).

Forward Tomas Kopecky and defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky both have long NHL careers but were cut loose by Hawks entering the latter stages of the team’s training camp.

Tomas Kopecky – A 33-year-old, 6’3,” 209 lbs. winger from Ilava, Slovakia, Kopecky was selected in the Second Round (38th Overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the Detroit Red Wings and he remained with the Wings’ organiziation until the 2009-10 when the Hawks originally claimed him as a free agent. The Hawks traded him for a Seventh Round Pick at the 2012 Entry Draft andKopecky played with the Panthers up until this last summer. In all, Kopecky has appeared in 578 NHL games, including 64 with Florida this past season where he picked up eight points (2g, 6a) and 28 penalty minutes. He has been a regular on Slovakian National team at Worlds and other international events over the past several seasons as well.

Lubomir Visnovsky – A 39-year-old, 5’10,” 192 lbs. defenseman from Topolcany, Slovakia, Visnovsky was originally selected in the Fourth Round (118th Overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings. Over the past 15 seasons, he has played 883 NHL games with the Kings, Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks and New York Islanders. Last season, Visnovsky played 53 games for the Islanders, collecting 20 points (5g, 15a) and eight penalty minutes.

With these moves, the Hawks have now trimmed its roster to 34 players including 20 forwards, 11 defensemen and three goaltenders.