Blackhawks make first cuts, including 2024 first-round pick Marek Vanacker

The Chicago Blackhawks have announced that the first four players will be eliminated from training camp. These four players include Marek Vanacker, Martin Misiak, Alex Pharand and Ty Henry.

All four players were sent back to the OHL, where they will play and develop this season.

Vanacker was the Blackhawks' 27th pick in the draft this year and the 18-year-old signed his entry-level contract on August 5. He finished his second season in the OHL for the Brantford Bulldogs before being drafted, with 36 goals and 82 points in 68 games. The winger also played for Canada at the U18 World Junior Championship in 2023-24. Chicago hopes their first-round pick can improve once again before he makes the step up to the pro league.

Misiak was drafted 55th overall in the second round by the Blackhawks in 2023. He made the jump from Slovakia/USHL to the OHL last season in 2022-23, scoring 23 goals and 47 points in 60 games for the Erie Otters. At the end of the season, he was allowed to play one game in the AHL for the Rockford IceHogs, but he will be sent back to Erie for one more season before making the jump to the professional league.

Pharand is still unsigned, but attended training camp anyway. He was selected in the fourth round (99th overall) by Chicago in 2023. He was sent back to the Sudbury Wolves, where he will play his fourth season. He finished the 2023-24 season with 17 goals and 30 points in 68 games, which is a step down from his previous season. He will need to show improvement this season if he wants to have any hope of the Blackhawks signing him to an entry-level contract.

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Henry is also out of contract and was also sent back to the Erie Otters. The Blackhawks drafted him in the sixth round (163rd overall) this year. The 18-year-old was a rookie in the OHL last season and recorded seven assists in 54 games. He will have a few more years to develop.

The Blackhawks' roster for training camp has now been reduced to 49 players, including 29 forwards, 14 defensemen and 6 goaltenders.

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