The Chicago Blackhawks bolstered their lineup with the activation of forward Craig Smith from injured reserve ahead of their match against Edmonton. Smith, who had missed time due to a back injury, returned to action on a line alongside Lukas Reichel and Pat Maroon. In his first season with Chicago, Smith has tallied six goals and five assists over 30 games played.

Additionally, the Blackhawks made roster moves by assigning defenseman Artyom Levshunov and forward Colton Dach to the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL. Levshunov, who was the No. 2 overall pick in last year’s draft, had just returned after recovering from a fractured foot. Interim coach Anders Sorensen praised Levshunov for his progress during practices, emphasizing the swift pace of the NHL game.

The Chicago Blackhawks have placed veteran forward Craig Smith on injured reserve due to a recurring back injury. Smith has not played since January 8, when he logged around 10 minutes in a victory against Colorado. This injury marks another setback for the 35-year-old, who also missed time earlier in the season with a back issue. In his first season with the Blackhawks, Smith has contributed six goals and five assists over 30 games.

In response to the roster change, the Blackhawks have recalled Ethan Del Mastro from their AHL affiliate in Rockford, while sending defenseman Wyatt Kaiser back to the AHL. Del Mastro, a fourth-round pick in the 2021 draft, made his NHL debut last April.

Under interim coach Anders Sorensen, the Blackhawks have a record of 7-12-2. They are set to face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night. Additionally, the team has signed forward AJ Spellacy to a three-year contract that extends through the 2026-27 season, following a strong performance in training camp and a productive season in the OHL.

The Chicago Blackhawks have placed veteran forward Craig Smith on injured reserve due to a persistent back injury. Smith, who has not played since January 8, has contributed six goals and five assists in 30 games during his first season with Chicago. Previously, he was on IR from December 20 to 31 because of the same injury. In his absence, the Blackhawks recalled Ethan Del Mastro from Rockford, while defenseman Wyatt Kaiser was assigned to their AHL affiliate. Del Mastro, a fourth-round draft pick in 2021, previously made his NHL debut last April.

Under interim coach Anders Sorensen, the Blackhawks have struggled, recording a 7-12-2 record. They are set to face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night. Additionally, the Blackhawks announced a three-year contract with forward AJ Spellacy, which carries a nearly $1 million salary cap hit. The 18-year-old impressed during training camp after being drafted in the third round last year and has tallied 11 goals and 14 assists in 40 games with Windsor of the OHL this season.

The Chicago Blackhawks have placed defenseman Connor Murphy on injured reserve due to a groin injury, marking a significant blow for the team. The 31-year-old has not played since a 6-2 defeat to the St. Louis Blues on December 31, where he logged over 19 minutes of ice time. Murphy's current season statistics show one goal and 12 assists across 38 games. His IR status is retroactive to the last game against the Blues, with interim coach Anders Sorensen indicating that Murphy's absence will extend beyond a few days.

In contrast, defenseman Alec Martinez has been activated from injured reserve after recovering from a neck injury and played in Saturday's game against the Edmonton Oilers, replacing Wyatt Kaiser. Meanwhile, veteran forward Craig Smith continues to be sidelined with a back injury and is listed as day-to-day. The Blackhawks are struggling, having lost seven of their last nine games and entered the matchup with a record of 14-26-2.

Following a disappointing 5-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, coach Sorensen made adjustments to the team's lineup, notably grouping young talents Lukas Reichel, Frank Nazar, and Colton Dach together. Sorensen expressed a desire to see Reichel, who is typically a center, shift to the wing to potentially ignite his performance.

In the latest updates from the NHL, several teams are dealing with injury concerns as they prepare for upcoming games. The Chicago Blackhawks will have forward Taylor Hall back in the lineup, while Craig Smith is listed as day-to-day due to a back injury.

The Colorado Avalanche welcomed Jonathan Drouin back from an upper-body injury, while the Montreal Canadiens reported that David Savard and Patrik Laine are not traveling with the team due to injuries and illness, respectively.

In Nashville, the Predators are missing Luke Evangelista for four weeks, alongside Jeremy Lauzon and Adam Wilsby, both on the IR. The New York Islanders are hopeful that Semyon Varlamov and Isaiah George will return to practice soon, but Hudson Fasching is sidelined for two weeks. The New York Rangers saw Igor Shesterkin return after an injury absence.

Further updates include Ottawa's Noah Gregor being out with a lower-body injury, Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin missing another game due to an upper-body injury, and San Jose's Fabian Zetterlund as a game-time decision. The Winnipeg Jets anticipate the return of Dylan Samberg and Josh Morrissey for their next matchup.