Ethan Del Mastro, the No. 9 prospect in the Chicago Blackhawks system per THN Future Watch scouts, is set to make his NHL debut on Friday when Chicago hosts the Nashville Predators.
The 21-year-old Del Mastro was recalled from AHL Rockford on Thursday and practiced with veteran Connor Murphy as his partner at the team's training facility in Chicago. Murphy, out since Jan. 13 with a groin/hip soft tissue injury, is expected to return on Friday.
Del Mastro has progressed in his first pro season at Rockford, often being paired with Nolan Allan, Chicago's No. 8 Future Watch prospect in 2024. Both defensemen skated with Connor Bedard and Kevin Korchinski on Canada's gold-medal winning World Junior Championship team in 2023.
"Just I guess a real solid season down there and give him a bit of a cookie as an appreciation for the work that he did," Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said. "And give him a chance to see and evaluate where he is at this level when he's playing his best hockey." See following video.
Picks Up Pace As A Pro
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Del Mastro has appeared in 66 games with Rockford, posting seven goals and 30 assists. His 37 points rank fourth on the team. The Burlington, Ontario native represented the IceHogs at the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic.
Chicago drafted Del Mastro in the fourth round, 105th overall in 2021 when he played for the Ontario Hockey League Mississauga Steelheads.
A shutdown defenseman in the OHL, Del Mastro has grown into lead role as an all-purpose D-man at Rockford. He’s played lots of minutes even-strength, on the power-play and penalty kill while adjusting to a faster game
"I think just making plays quick," Del Mastro said of the top lesson he's learned as a pro. "I think for me and (Allan), obviously our first year, it's a little bit of a jump from junior and just kind of the pace of the plays you're making and how fast you have to think out there.
"You know, just getting used to how fast they are and how strong they are. It's pretty cliché, but it's true."
Del Mastro will return to the IceHogs for the playoffs next week.