Blackhawks Send Wyatt Kaiser Down to Rockford

Wyatt Kaiser was sent down to Rockford on Dec. 20 and recalled on Dec. 29. Overall, Kaiser has played 35 games with the Hawks this season, scoring one goal and two assists, while posting a minus-3 plus/minus rating. He had a 47.36 5-on-5 Corsi rating (second best on the team), a 46.31 expected goals share (sixth best on the team), and averaged 17 minutes and 39 seconds of ice time. 

Analysis

So, what gives? Why are we yo-yoing this kid up and down?

Veterans are on this roster who could sit a couple of games, and that's being nice. Wyatt Kaiser makes his share of mistakes, but he's a young defenseman. Meanwhile, certain veteran players make egregious errors that lead to goals against, and they may get scratched.

For what it's worth, Kaiser has a rate of 2.09 goals against per 60 minutes at 5-on-5. That's the fourth-lowest on the team. T.J. Brodie is at 3.33 goals against per 60, and that's the sixth highest. And no, Pat Foley does not approve.

Coach Anders Sorensen likely wants to pair a rookie with a veteran player. He probably won't play Kaiser and Allan/Del Mastro together (which wouldn't be horrible), so sending Kaiser to Rockford gets him ice time.

Roll with it.