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Blackhawks Ink AJ Spellacy to Entry-Level Contract

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AJ Spellacy addresses the media after being drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2024 NHL Draft.

Every year at training camp, there is a young player with whom the fanbase falls in love. A longshot that fans rally behind and hope they make the team. This past preseason, that player was AJ Spellacy. On Thursday, the Blackhawks signed Spellacy to a three-year entry-level contract that runs through the 2026-27 season and has a $975,000 salary cap hit.



Spellacy has 11 goals and 25 points in his 40 games for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League. He’s been having a dry spell lately, with no points in his last six outings, so maybe the NHL contact will spark a hot streak.

The 6-foot-2 forward was taken in the third round of last year’s NHL Entry Draft. He was a surprise hit during training camp with his speed and willingness to finish a check. What makes Spellacy’s quick rise even more impressive is that hockey wasn’t even his first sport of choice. Before dedicating his focus to hockey, he was a big-time high school football player in suburban Cleveland, OH.

“Obviously, there aren’t too many guys who are physical nowadays,” Spellacy said after being drafted. “So, playing that physical role, everyone in the NHL needs someone like that. So, I think that’s something that’s going to keep me there for a long time.”