After bouncing between Rockford and Chicago, Blackhawks' Mitchell hoping to stay put

Hotels, an SUV and I-90.

"I guess I'm getting used to it now," Ian Mitchell said.

Since training camp, the 23-year-old defenseman has bounced back and forth between playing with the Rockford IceHogs and the Chicago Blackhawks. He missed training camp with the NHL team due to a left wrist injury, but now that he's back, he has played five games in Rockford and four games with Chicago.

The BMO Harris Bank Center, where the AHL team plays, is about 90 miles northwest of the United Center, and after being called up and sent down multiple times through the beginning of this season, the drive gets only more laborious.

But now, Mitchell hopes to park the car here in Chicago for good.

"I've just been in hotels," Mitchell said, "so every time I'm up and down, [I] pack up the hotel, move it, so good thing I have an SUV I can fit everything in my car."

As a member of the IceHogs, Mitchell has recorded 2 goals and 4 assists in 5 games but is still searching for a point with the Blackhawks. It certainly doesn't help that he barely has had any time to practice with the team.

With head coach Luke Richardson coming in this year, everybody had to start fresh. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, who have been here since 2007, had to learn new systems. Training camp was where a good part of that foundation was built, so Mitchell's absence there has hindered his ability to adapt smoothly with this team.

"I think this whole season, I've maybe played more games than I have had practices," Mitchell said after getting called up the first time, "so still trying to get my feet under me with that too."

It's also a struggle with playing different roles between the two clubs.

"Yeah, I think while I'm in Rockford, I get to play a lot of minutes ..." Mitchell said, "and here, I'm still earning my ice time, so hopefully I can get to a spot where I can get to play those 20-minute games like I was playing in the American League, but it's a tough league. So, obviously those minutes are earned."

And he's right. It is the NHL and nothing is really given to anybody. When you're up in the big leagues, you have to play to your strengths and hone in on what makes you stand out among the slew of massive talents.

Richardson acknowledged that with Richardson missing training camp, his stint with Rockford was necessary, but now, he's got to stay confident. Mitchell is the shortest defenseman on the team, so he's not going to be throwing too many bodies around. Instead, the team needs him to shoot pucks, skate well, and add some offense to the blue line.

"I just need to move my feet and skate," Mitchell said, "I think that's my biggest asset. So, showing the coaches that that's an element that I can bring. I think that's a little bit different than some of the other defensemen here and just being a smaller guy, I can move the puck and get involved in the offense, and I think that's something that I can bring to the team."

Jarred Tinordi had been out with an injury for about a week, which caused Mitchell to be called up a second time this season, and in that span, Mitchell was paired up with Jake McCabe, one of the grittier and hard-hitting players on that back line, so as to compliment Mitchell's smoother style of play.

"Jake's a hard guy," Richardson said of the pairing. "He's a hard guy in the zone. So when he goes into a corner, he generally hits and pins his guys, so he settles things down. You're not running and switching a lot, which will help a guy like Mitchell. Michell's a guy who can scoop those pucks and skate and move the puck."

Whatever the pairing, Mitchell just needs some time up with the NHL squad. Last year, he played in eight games, and the year before that, he played in 39 with the Blackhawks. He's been around, and he knows what his strengths are. Yes, it's not easy to bounce up and down the American/National Hockey League trampoline, but for now, he's embracing it.

"It's definitely difficult when you're making the drive up I-90 [what] seems like every couple days," he said. "Kind of getting used to one spot and moving to the other is definitely tough, but I'm just excited to be here hopefully for a long time. I think I've proven myself at the American League level. Now I want to try to prove myself at this level."