Blackhawks cut Dano from camp, reportedly waive Bickell
The Chicago Blackhawks assigned Marko Dano to Rockford of the American Hockey League on Friday and reportedly placed fellow forward Bryan Bickell on waivers.
Acquired in the blockbuster offseason deal that sent Brandon Saad to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the 20-year-old Dano initially was placed on the "Lottery line" with fellow Slovak Marian Hossa and captain Jonathan Toews to begin training camp.
Dano collected eight goals and 13 assists in 35 games with the Blue Jackets last season. The 27th overall selection of the 2013 draft, Dano was acquired in a seven-player deal on July 1 that saw forwards Artem Anisimov, Jeremy Morin and Corey Tropp join Chicago for Saad, fellow forward Alex Broadhurst and defenseman Michael Paliotta.
On Friday, Dano was joined by forwards Ryan Hartman, Vincent Hinostroza, Brandon Mashinter, Dennis Rasmussen and Garret Ross and defensemen Erik Gustafsson and Ville Pokka in being sent to the IceHogs.
The moves were part of a busy day for the Blackhawks, who also placed Bickell on waivers, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported.
Bickell admitted to CSN Chicago earlier this summer that he was not entirely over the vertigo issues that bothered him during the Stanley Cup final in June.
Bickell scored 14 goals and set up as many in a career-high 80 games last season, but was held to just five assists in 18 playoff contests. The 29-year-old Ontario native sat out Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup final versus the Tampa Bay Lightning, but Chicago was able to capture the championship for the third time in six seasons.
Bickell provided much better production during the Blackhawks' 2013 run to the title, when he scored the tying goal late in their clinching victory over the Boston Bruins. He finished that postseason with nine goals and eight assists.
