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player ready...The Chicago Blackhawks have signed 23-year-old defenseman Ethan Del Mastro to a two-year, $1.9 million contract, the team announced Wednesday. The one-way deal runs through the 2027-28 season.
Del Mastro’s contract locks up the Hawks’ final restricted free agent a day before training camp opens. Connor Bedard, Kevin Korchinski and Drew Commesso signed over the summer.
It’s the second straight year the Hawks signed a defenseman right before training camp. Last year Wyatt Kaiser signed his two-year, $3.4 million contract less than 24 hours before camp opened.
Del Mastro was a fourth-round pick (No. 105) in 2021 and is one of only two players from that draft class still in the Hawks system, along with defenseman Taige Harding, 24.
He saw significant NHL playing time last season after injuries to Matt Grzelcyk and Artyom Levshunov, recording one assist, 22 blocked shots and five takeaways in 19 games. Coach Jeff Blashill praised Del Mastro on multiple occasions.
“He doesn’t play afraid to make a mistake — I like that piece of it for sure,” Blashill said March 31. “(You want) guys who are going to go out to play to win.”
Del Mastro has two goals and five assists in 45 NHL games over parts of the last three seasons. He also had 64 points (nine goals, 55 assists) in 161 games with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs during that time.
The Hawks brought in defensemen Bowen Byram and Ian Cole during the offseason along with re-signing Korchinski, and Alex Vlasic, Wyatt Kaiser, Sam Rinzel and Levshunov also return.
If Del Mastro doesn’t make the NHL roster out of training camp, he would be placed on waivers and would head back to Rockford if he clears.