Breaking: Blackhawks ink deal with a 22-year-old defenseman.

Blackhawks draft pick Robin Press to sign with IceHogs.

The Hawks were about to lose his NHL rights so they decided to sign him on an AHL contract. Press is a 22-year-old defenseman drafted in the 7th round of the 2013 NHL entry draft. The 6ft3, 207-pound player played 9 games with the AHL Rockford Icehogs last season.

“He had opportunities in Sweden as well,” his agent Todd Reynolds said on Wednesday to the Athletics. “It was determined with Chicago that he is a prospect. I think that’s always a question—if the player has a chance, if the player has a possibility in the National Hockey League. Yes, let’s pursue it, let’s talk about it. Ultimately, we determined that was the case. This is one more step in this prospect to get Robin to be an NHL player.”

Signing a player, whose draft rights they’re about to lose, to an AHL deal. It is basically to extend their window and fit more contracts under the salary cap. Details of the contract have not been revealed yet.