SECOND STINT FOR HINOSTROZA
Vinnie Hinostroza is coming home.
The Hawks acquired the Chicago-area native — one of their former homegrown prospects — in a small trade with the Panthers on Friday, sending minor-league center Brad Morrison the other direction.
Hinostroza, a 26-year-old forward, will join the Hawks for the final month of the regular season in what could be a chance to revive his career. He appeared in only nine NHL games with the Panthers this season, tallying zero points, and is set to be an unrestricted free agent in July.
The Hawks drafted him in 2012 and developed him into a solid depth forward; he had 25 points in 50 games for them in 2017-18. But they dealt him to the Coyotes in the Marian Hossa trade the following summer, and after an impressive 39-point performance in 2018-19, his play declined immensely the last two seasons.
The trade is essentially a contract dump from the Panthers’ standpoint. From the Hawks’ standpoint, it’s a no-risk opportunity to add a familiar face for a potential playoff push.
Hagel enters COVID-19 protocol
The Hawks put forward Brandon Hagel on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list one day after he played and scored a goal in a 4-3 loss to the visiting Hurricanes. Coach Jeremy Colliton said he couldn’t give an update on Hagel’s exact status, but his placement on the list means he either tested positive for the virus or is involved in high-risk contact tracing.
Hagel is the first Hawks player to go on the list since Feb. 13 — the end of an outbreak that infected defenseman Adam Boqvist and forwards Ryan Carpenter and Lucas Wallmark and briefly sidelined wing Alex DeBrincat and defenseman Nicolas Beaudin.
The Hawks still held practice Friday, with the rest of the team present. ✶