Aidan Thompson is set to embark on his professional hockey journey following the University of Denver’s loss to Western Michigan in the Frozen Four. The Chicago Blackhawks, looking toward the future, have officially signed one of their promising forward prospects to an entry-level contract. The two-year deal carries an $895,000 cap hit but is structured to begin next season. In the meantime, Thompson will join the team’s AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, on an amateur tryout (ATO) for the remainder of this season.
Thompson, a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, made a name for himself during his time at Denver. After two solid seasons, he had a breakout junior year, finishing second in NCAA scoring with 55 points. Despite his rapid development, he narrowly missed being included in The Athletic’s list of the Blackhawks’ top 15 prospects. Still, there’s optimism surrounding his potential, with CHGO’s Blackhawks beat writer Mario Tirabassi projecting a strong NHL future for him.
Given that the Blackhawks have only three games remaining in their season, there wasn’t enough time to properly integrate Thompson into the NHL roster. That likely influenced the team’s decision to delay the official start of his contract until next year. Nonetheless, his time with Rockford will provide him with a brief but valuable taste of professional hockey. The IceHogs, not qualifying for the Calder Cup Playoffs, still have five games left on their schedule—including one tonight—which should offer him a solid starting point.
Now that Thompson is stepping into the pro ranks, speculation is building that his college coach might soon join him. David Carle, the head coach at the University of Denver, is seen by many as a strong candidate for the Blackhawks’ head coaching role. With two NCAA national titles under his belt and a gold medal as coach of Team USA’s World Junior team, Carle is highly regarded for his ability to develop young talent and win.
The Blackhawks are in the midst of a rebuild, and Carle’s résumé makes him an intriguing option to guide the next generation. While success at the college and junior levels doesn’t always translate to the NHL, there’s genuine interest in seeing whether Carle can bring his championship pedigree to the professional stage. The potential reunion with Thompson could mark the beginning of a new era in Chicago hockey.
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