The injured-reserve designation is retroactive to Friday, and players placed on IR cannot participate in games for a minimum of seven days. Using Blashill’s marker of the new year, the Blackhawks play eight games between now and Jan. 1, starting Tuesday in Toronto. They play 17 games between Jan. 2 and the Olympic break, which begins Feb. 6.

After a hot start to the campaign, the Blackhawks have stumbled a little, pushing them outside of the playoff picture. Following a couple of lopsided defeats at the hands of the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks, Chicago picked up a 3-0 win over the New York Rangers on Thursday night.