Just two seasons ago this would have been extremely stunning news, the Chicago Blackhawks assign a 2013 Stanley Cup hero, Bryan Bickell to their minor league affiliate in Rockford and recall the contract of Marko Dano.
The Chicago Blackhawks press release:
The Chicago Blackhawks announced today they have recalled forward Marko Dano from the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League and assigned forward Bryan Bickell to Rockford.
Dano, 20, has recorded seven points (1G, 6A) through nine games with Rockford this season; his six assists lead the team. The Eisenstadt, Austria, native tallied 21 points (8G, 13A) in 35 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets in his first NHL campaign last year. Dano also has 32 points (14G, 18A) over 58 regular-season career AHL games with Springfield (2013-15) and Rockford (2015-16); he also added two assists in five 2014 Calder Cup Playoffs games. He was selected by Columbus in the first round (27th overall) of the 2013 National Hockey League Draft.Bickell, 29, has appeared in seven games for the Blackhawks this season. The Bowmanville, Ontario, native has registered 133 points (65G, 68A) over 366 career regular-season NHL games and 39 points (20G, 19A) through 75 postseason contests, all with Chicago (2006-2015). He was also a member of the Blackhawks’ 2010, 2013 and 2015 Stanley Cup championship teams. Bickell was selected by Chicago in the second round (41st overall) of the 2004 NHL Draft.
Bickell has fallen out of favor with the fans since he signed a multi-year extension after the 2013 Stanley Cup. His inability to consistently add to the offense, and increasingly poor overall play put him in coach Joel Quenneville’s doghouse on several occasions. Now he will begin to prove himself once again while he tries to make it back to the NHL club, if the team doesn’t find a way to trade him before the end of the season.
Bryan has experienced symptoms of vertigo, which have plagued him since the Stanley Cup Final. He had some dental work done in the offseason which was supposed to relieve some of his symptoms, and although it got better, he was still suffering.
