Sports · updated 1h ago · 2 min read
Chicago Blackhawks Sign Defenseman Ethan Del Mastro To $1.9 Million Two-Year Deal
Two-year, $1.9 million contract signed with the Chicago Blackhawks. Begins in 2026-27 season and runs through 2027-28 (cap hit $950k annually).
10 outlets, one story, no spin found.
8 of 10 outlets skipped it: del Mastro won gold at IIHF World Juniors (2022, 2023).
10outlets compared
Second City Hockey and the Chicago Tribune stress roster difficulty in different ways, but both largely treat the deal as depth/waiver-or-bust.
Del Mastro Deal Details
Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Ethan Del Mastro agreed to a $1.9 million, two-year contract, the team announced Wednesday, with the deal coming as he was a restricted free agent.
“agreed to a $1.9 million, two-year contract”
The Blackhawks start training camp Thursday and play their season opener on Sept. 29 at Vegas, according to the Associated Press report.
Del Mastro, a 23-year-old fourth-round pick in the 2021 draft, had one assist in 19 games with Chicago last season.
He also posted two goals and 16 assists in 45 games with Rockford of the American Hockey League, and made his NHL debut in April 2024.
The contract agreement was also described as a two-year deal worth $950,000 annually by Second City Hockey on Sept. 16, 2026.
Training Camp and Role
Second City Hockey said the last item remaining on the Blackhawks’ offseason agenda was completed on the eve of training camp, with Del Mastro signing a two-year contract.
It noted Del Mastro appeared in 19 games with the Blackhawks last season, picking up one assist with an average ice time of 14:08.
CBS Sports said Del Mastro will compete for a third-pairing spot during training camp, but he is more likely to start the season as Chicago's seventh defenseman or be sent to the minors.
Daily Faceoff said his 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.
The Chicago Tribune reported that if Del Mastro doesn’t make the NHL roster out of training camp, he would be placed on waivers and would head back to Rockford if he clears.
What It Means Next
The NHL release said the contract will begin in the 2026-27 season and run through the 2027-28 season, with Del Mastro tallying one assist in 19 games during the 2025-26 campaign.
“The contract will begin in the 2026-27 season and will run through the 2027-28 season”
It added that he recorded 18 points (2G, 16A) in 45 games with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League and ranked third among Rockford defensemen with 16 assists and 18 points.
The Chicago Tribune tied the signing to the Hawks locking up their final restricted free agent a day before training camp opens, and it listed Connor Bedard, Kevin Korchinski and Drew Commesso as having signed over the summer.
The Tribune also quoted coach Jeff Blashill praising Del Mastro: "He doesn’t play afraid to make a mistake — I like that piece of it for sure," and said the Hawks brought in defensemen Bowen Byram and Ian Cole during the offseason.
Looking ahead to the opener, Daily Faceoff said the Blackhawks regular-season opening is against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sept. 29, marking their first game under recently appointed captain Connor Bedard.