Blackhawks sign Ethan Del Mastro to two-year contract

The Chicago Blackhawks won’t miss defenseman Ethan Del Mastro when the team opens training camp this week, having signed the left-handed blueliner to a fresh two-year deal before preseason preparations officially begin on Thursday.

Del Mastro’s signing removes him from the RFA pool and secures his future for the next two seasons with a total value of $1.9 million, for an average annual value of $950,000 through the 2028-29 NHL campaign.

With his departure from the RFA list, only five others remain not locked down ahead of training camp: Adam Fantilli, Alexander Nikishin, Smon Edvinsson, Matthew Poitras and Brennan Othmann, all of whom could face complicated starts to the season without putting pen to paper on new agreements.

Del Mastro played 19 games with the Blackhawks in 2025-26, recording a single assist. Yet he was more productive in the AHL, where he netted two goals and 16 assists in 45 games with the Rockford IceHogs, ranking third among Rockford’s blueliners with 18 points.

In total, Del Mastro played 45 NHL games on his three-year entry-level contract, scoring twice and adding five assists as he adjusted to the level of the game with the rebuilding project in Chicago.

Outside of his NHL and AHL experience, Del Mastro also boasts two gold medals with Canada from the 2022 and 2023 IIHF World Junior Championships, netting three assists in 13 games and also captured a title with Canada at the 2021 IIHF U18 Championship.

Originally drafted 105th overall in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Draft, Del Mastro will look to lock down a more regular spot with the NHL club this season, with the Blackhawks looking ahead to their regular-season opening against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sept. 29, marking their first game under the leadership of recently appointed captain, Connor Bedard.