With Nazar on Blackhawks, IceHogs' Replacement Named as AHL All-Star

The AHL All-Stars have already been selected for this season and Frank Nazar, as one of the most impressive players in the league when he was in the league, was the player going from Rockford IceHogs.

Nazar has since graduated to the NHL and been playing full-time, so it is highly unlikely that he is going to make his way back down this season or for the remainder of his career. That being said, the replacement is IceHogs' Cole Guttman, who has also been impressive and has earned another look in the NHL this season.

The 25-year-old Guttman is now up to 18 goals and 36 points in 36 games with Rockford and it is right at the level he was at last season as well. He's coming off a split season between the NHL and AHL where he produced four goals and eight points in 27 games with the Chicago Blackhawks, but 16 goals and 40 points in 39 games with the IceHogs.

Guttman hasn't had the same role in the NHL as he plays regularly in the AHL, which is part of the reason for the big difference in offense, but with this All-Star selection and the Blackhawks soon to be clearing out players and creating space, don't be shocked if he gets another crack at the NHL for the third consecutive season. He's earned it even if he wasn't originally chosen to be an AHL All-Star.

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