The Chicago Blackhawks are giving forward Kyle Beach another shot to realize the potential that made him the 11th overall pick in the 2008 NHL draft.
The club announced today that it had agreed to terms with the 23-year-old on a one-year contract.
Beach has spent his entire pro career with AHL Rockford. Last year, he scored 16 goals, with 10 assists, in 66 games while amassing a hefty 204 penalty minutes.
A star in junior, Beach scored 52 goals for the Spokane Chiefs in 2009-10; however, questions about his attitude have followed him from his days in the WHL (see: this article from 2007 for background).
Does Beach have a shot at making the Blackhawks next season? That remains to be seen, though it’s worth noting that Dan Carcillo, just traded to Los Angeles, is a similar-type player, so perhaps there’s an opportunity there.