HawkTalkChi

The Chicago Blackhawks are wasting no time in the 2025 NHL offseason.

Just one day after wrapping up their 82-game campaign, general manager Kyle Davidson made his first move — and it could quietly end up as one of the most important of the summer.

The Blackhawks have signed goaltender Cameron Rowe, a local product born and raised in Wilmette, Illinois, fresh off an NCAA national championship with Western Michigan University.

Rowe backstopped WMU to their first national title in program history on April 13, riding a remarkable postseason run where he posted a 15-2-0 record and a .924 save percentage.

His .882 winning percentage led the NCAA and was the best single-season mark in program history WMU’s hockey program shared.

Goaltending has long been viewed as a soft spot in the Blackhawks’ otherwise stacked prospect pipeline.

While names like Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, Kevin Korchinski, and Oliver Moore lead the rebuild up front, the crease has largely leaned on Adam Gajan and Drew Commesso.

Now, Rowe is entering the fold with legitimate upside and a proven collegiate résumé.

Before joining Western Michigan, Rowe played two seasons at Wisconsin.

Across his NCAA career, he posted a 69-42-3 record, 2.52 goals-against average, and a .907 save percentage over 123 games.

His final season in Kalamazoo — featuring one shutout, a 2.00 GAA, and the highest save percentage in the NCHC — was his most dominant.

At 6-foot-3 and 216 pounds, Rowe has the physical tools to thrive in the pro game.

He’s expected to begin his professional career immediately with the Rockford IceHogs, Chicago’s AHL affiliate.

Davidson acted quickly to lock down Rowe before other teams could get in the mix.

The move not only adds depth to the goaltending chart but also reflects a strategic shift — building from the net out as Chicago continues its long-term retool.

Whether Rowe becomes a future NHL starter or a rock-solid AHL presence remains to be seen, but his winning pedigree and local ties make him an ideal fit for this phase of the Blackhawks’ rebuild.

With Davidson already working the phones and prospects like Rowe joining the fold, it’s clear the offseason in Chicago is off to a fast and focused start.