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Hinostroza Called Up to Save Blackhawks' Season

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Vinnie Hinostroza was called up from the Chicago Blackhawks’ minor-league team, the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs. To clear up roster space, the Blackhawks sent down forward Tanner Kero, who was scratched for the past few games. Hinostroza lead the IceHogs in points, with 22, and assists, with 13. He also has nine goals, which ranks second on the team only to Matthew Highmore. Hinostroza has played in 56 games with the Blackhawks over his career, with six goals and eight assists for a total of fourteen points. Kero played in eight games for the Blackhawks this year before being scratched for the next ten games. He had one goal to go with his two assists for a total of three points. Kero generally played on the Blackhawks’ fourth line until he was squeezed off of the roster by Hawks forwards Tommy Wingels, Lance Bouma, and John Hayden. Kero is a talented player, but the Blackhawks didn’t have room for him on their roster filled with talented forwards. Kero was sent to waivers and cleared them, sending him to Rockford. He will make his season debut tonight against the Buffalo Sabres. Hinostroza could take the place of either Ryan Hartman or Patrick Sharp, neither of which have been particularly productive during their stints with the team.

I think that this move is a good one. The Blackhawks haven’t had scoring recently-they got beat up by the Washington Capitals in a game where they scored only two goals-and they needed someone to add a spark. I believe that Vinnie Hinostroza is the spark that the Blackhawks have been needing. Obviously the AHL is a whole different world from the NHL, but once he dominates it’s time to call him up. He should that he’ll start scoring goals no matter who he plays with-the superstar Patrick Kane, the captain Jonathan Toews, or rookie phenom Alex DeBrincat-he’ll make an immediate impact on the Blackhawks. Hinostroza will hit his stride immediately, and the Blackhawks will be back in playoff contention.

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