Blackhawks To Get Two Key Players Back From Injury This Weekend

Taylor Hall, one of the team's bigger free agency signings this offseason, has missed the past several games with a shoulder injury. Similarly, rookie defenseman Alex Vlasic, nephew of San Jose's Marc-Eduard, is looking to return to the lineup after dealing with a concussion. Vlasic has played a decent amount of minute for the Hawks in the games he's gotten into and its gone quite well. He leads Chicago defenders in plus minus with a +4 and is second in scoring with three assists, just one shy of Seth Jones.

Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson pointed to the possibility that both these players could return to the lineup this weekend, but seemed to take a cautious approach, not guaranteeing anything.

One question surrounding the Blackhawks this season is what they would do with rookie defenseman Kevin Korchinski. Many expected him to be returned to his junior club just one season removed from his draft year but it looks like he will be staying with the big club for the whole year. He has already played 9 games meaning the next game he plays would officially burn the first year off his entry-level contract.

So far through nine games, Korchinski has three assists, 9 shots on goal, and is a -8 rating. He's averaging nearly 20 minutes of ice time per game including time on the powerplay.

As seen on Blackhawks Bits: ‘Good chance' Hall plays Saturday; Vlassic possible for Sunday