Following a pair of preseason games over the weekend, the Chicago Blackhawks announced a fourth round of training camp roster cuts on Monday morning.
Drew Commesso, Ashton Cumby, Nick Lardis, Samuel Savoie, Aidan Thompson, and Mitchell Weeks all have been reassigned to the Rockford IceHogs. The IceHogs opened their AHL training camp on Sunday at the BMO Center in Rockford, and the team is set to play its first preseason game on Thursday, October 2nd, against the Chicago Wolves. Now, they have a full lineup to put on the ice.
AJ Spellacy, who made his preseason debut on Sunday in the Blackhawks’ 4-1 win over the Wild, was also sent back to the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL.
Another round of #Blackhawks training camp cuts this morning.
Drew Commesso, Ashton Cumby, Nick Lardis, Samuel Savoie, Aidan Thompson, & Mitchell Weeks have been assigned to Rockford.
AJ Spellacy has been sent back to the OHL.
Training camp roster is now down to 31 players. pic.twitter.com/BEKkY9Dhk0
— Jack Bushman (@JackBushman2) September 29, 2025
Commesso, Lardis, and Thompson are the three notables among the latest roster cuts. All three players had an outside chance at cracking the NHL roster, so it’s not shocking to see them as part of this group.
Lardis, in particular, will be very intriguing to follow throughout his first professional campaign. The 2023 third-round pick netted a jaw-dropping 71 goals with the Brantford Bulldogs in 2024-25, becoming the first player in nearly two decades to record 70 goals in a single OHL season. I’m a little surprised the Blackhawks only had him appear in one preseason game before being sent down to the AHL, but it was always going to be an uphill battle for him to make the NHL team out of camp.
Thompson, a third-round pick in 2022, is also entering his first pro season. His speed and two-way play were noticeable throughout camp, and he should receive a major role with the IceHogs right out of the gate. Thompson was among the NCAA points leaders last season as a junior with the University of Denver, tallying 55 points (21G, 34A) in 44 games.
Commesso, no stranger to the AHL scene at this point, is heading into his third year with Rockford. The 2020 second-round pick posted an 18-15-4 record with a 2.54 GAA, .911 Sv%, and four shutouts in 39 games with the IceHogs last season. Commesso will be utilized as the team’s No. 1 goaltender once again and will look to build on a stellar finish to his sophomore year.
It’s also worth noting that Cumby, a fifth-round pick by the Blackhawks this past summer, was assigned to the AHL instead of returning to his junior club, the Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL). Scott Powers of The Athletic reported that the Blackhawks remain undecided on what to do with the 20-year-old blue-liner. He could still rejoin the Thunderbirds, but he’s also a candidate to remain with the IceHogs for the entire season. As a 6-foot-5, 216-pound defensive defenseman, he could perhaps benefit from playing against grown men immediately. Cumby is expected to spend at least a few days in the IceHogs’ training camp before the Blackhawks ultimately make a decision.
TONINATO CLEARS WAIVERS
Another roster move that the Blackhawks made recently was placing 31-year-old veteran Dominic Toninato on waivers, with the purpose of being sent to the AHL.
Toninato, who tallied two points (1G, 1A) in the Blackhawks’ 4-2 comeback victory over the Blues on Saturday, cleared waivers on Monday afternoon and has joined the IceHogs.
The Blackhawks’ training camp roster is now down to 30 players, including 16 forwards, 11 defensemen, and three goaltenders. Things are starting to get spicy! Only eight days remain until the 2025-26 regular season begins against the Florida Panthers.
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