Hawks get roster to 25

The Chicago Blackhawks reassigned eight players — six forwards and two defensemen to Rockford of the American Hockey League Friday (Oct. 2) to get within a single player of the 24-player roster required for the opening of the NHL Regular season.

Among those returned are forward Brandon Mashinter and Ville Pokka who had been recalled the previous day from the Ice Hogs.

Others sent to Rockford include:

Marko Dano – A 20-year-old, 6’0,” 198 lbs. forward born in Eisenstadt, Austria, but currently a citizen of Slovakia, Dano was  selected in the First Round (27th Overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets. He came to the Hawks this past summer as part of the deal that sent Brandon Saad to the Blue Jackets.

Dano played all of his junior hockey in Slovakia and came to North America to play with the Springfield Falcons in 10 games at the end of the 2013-14 season. Last season Dano played in 35 games with the Blue Jackets, collecting 21 points (8g, 13a) and 14 penalty minutes and playing with a +12 rating. He also appeared in another 39 games in Springfield, where he picked up 19 points (11g, 8a) and 34 minutes in penalties.

Ryan Hartman – A 21-year-old, 5’11,” 190 lbs forward from West Dundee, IL, Hartman was selected in the First Round (30th Overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the Hawks. Hartman played a bulk of the 2014-15 season in Rockford, totalling 37 points (13g, 24a) and 120 penalty minutes in 69 games and wrapping up the season with a +14 rating. He added three more points (1g, 2a) in eight playoff games and also played five games with the Blackhawks. He is still looking for his first NHL point.

Vincent Hinostroza – A 21-year-old, 5’9,” 181 lbs. forward from Barlett, IL, Hinostroza was selected in the Sixth Round (169th Overall), by the Hawks at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Last season he played his fourth and final season at the University of Notre Dame, collecting 44 points (11g, 33a) and 48 penalty minutes in 42 games. After finishing there, Hinostroza played five more games with the Ice Hogs in Rockford and picked up a couple of assists.

Dennis Rasmussen – A 25-year-old, 6’3,” 201 lbs. forward from Vasteras, Sweden, Rasmussen made the move from Europe to North America last season. He played in 73 games with the Ice Hogs, collecting 27 points (13g, 14a) and 30 penalty minutes, finishing the campaign with a +9 rating. He also played in seven playoff encounters.

Garret Ross – A 23-year-old, 6’0,” 172 lbs. forward from Dearborn Heights, MI, Ross was selected in the Fifth Round (139th Overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Hawks. He played his fourth and final season with Saginaw of the OHL that season and wrapped up the campaigin with a couple of games at Rockford. He has played the past two seasons with the Ice Hogs as well, last season appearing in 69 games, he racked up 43 points (21g, 22a) and 100 penalty minutes with a +20 rating and helped the teams eight game playoff run with three points (1g, 2a) and a minor penalty with a +6 rating.

Erik Gustafsson – A 23-year-old, 6’0,” 176 lbs. defenseman from Nynashamm, Sweden, Gustafsson was selected in the Fourth Round (93rd Overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers and came to the Hawks as a free agent signing this past spring. He has yet to play in North America, playing the past couple of seasons with Frolunda of the Swedish Hockey League. Last season, Gustafsson played in 55 games and collected 29 points (4g, 25a) and 22 penalty minutes to wrap up a +2 rating. He added three more points (1g, 2a) along with 31 minutes in penalties in a dozen more playoff encounters.

With these moves, the Hawks now have 13 forwards, nine defensemen and three goalenders remaining in camp.