RELEASE: Blackhawks Acquire Ian McCoshen

The Chicago Blackhawks announced today that they have acquired defenseman Ian McCoshen (EE-uhn muh-KAH-shuhn) from the Florida Panthers in exchange for forward Aleksi Saarela (al-EHX-ee sah-REH-lah). McCoshen's two-way contract has an AAV of $700,000 and is signed through the 2019-20 season. He will report to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League.
McCoshen, 24, recorded four assists in seven games with the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL this season. He spent time with the Panthers and Thunderbirds during the 2018-19 campaign. In 19 games with Florida, he tallied a goal and an assist. With Springfield, he had nine assists in 38 contests.

Selected by the Panthers in the second round (31st overall) of the 2013 National Hockey League Draft, McCoshen made his NHL debut on April 6, 2017 and picked up an assist. He played a career-high 38 games during the 2017-18 season with the Panthers, tallying career best marks in goals (3) and points (4). Spanning parts of three seasons (2016-19) with Florida, he had seven points (4G, 3A) in 60 regular-season games. In 115 career games (2016-19) with the Thunderbirds, McCoshen recorded four goals and 26 helpers.
The Anaheim, California native represented his country at the 2014 and 2015 U20 World Junior Championships. McCoshen played collegiately at Boston College from 2013-16. He served as the alternate captain during the 2015-16 season and was selected to the 2016 Hockey East Second All-Star Team after contributing 21 points (6G, 15A).
Saarela had one assist in five games with Rockford. He was acquired by the Blackhawks with defenseman Calvin de Haan from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for defenseman Gustav Forsling and goaltender Anton Forsberg on June 24, 2019.