Blackhawks News: Reese Johnson called up from Rockford

The Chicago Blackhawks have called up Reese Johnson from the Rockford IceHogs on Monday morning the team announced. This is not a surprising move especially considering there seems to be some injuries in the lineup.

Hagel and Entwistle both are missing practice today with injuries and Johnson has already played in six games this season so it makes sense to give him another chance with the team. The Hawks does not play again until Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Chicago Blackhawks lineup is always going to be affected by injuries. It is a long NHL season and guys are going to miss some time. The good teams though add players into the lineup and don’t miss a beat due to their depth in the organization.

Here is what the Chicago Blackhawks lines looked like today at practice with the new head coach:

It is a little weird that Lukas Reichel did not get the call up over Johnson this time. In an ideal world I think Reichel gets a look over the next few games and the team then could run with a lineup lookin like this:

DeBrincat – Dach – Kane

Kubalik – Toews – Reichel

Kurashev – Strome – Borgstrom

Khaira – Carpenter – Hardman

Obviously this lineup does not include the players out with injuries right now like Tyler Johnson and company. The defense does seem to be getting closer to 100 percent as Wyatt Kalynuk practiced today with the team.

Hopefully in the next few weeks we will see Kalynuk and Caleb Jones back with the team after getting injured during the preseason. Kalynuk can be a big part of the team’s blue line and provide something different with the new coach.

I think the defensive pairings could look something like this with Kalynuk getting back soon:

Stillman – Jones

McCabe – Murphy

de Haan – Kalynuk

That grouping would be pretty good for the next couple of weeks before the entire lineup is back to 100 percent when Caleb Jones gets back into the lineup. The Blackhawks definitely have had their fair share of injury issues so far this season. Hopefully everyone can get better soon and the team can start winning some games!