Blackhawks AHL defenseman Philip Holm terminates contract, will sign with European team

Blackhawks minor-league defenseman Philip Holm, long considered a leading candidate for an NHL call-up, was placed on unconditional waivers Sunday for the purpose of mutual contract termination.

Holm’s agent, Peter Wallen, said Holm has signed an agreement with a European team and the contract will be announced when he clears NHL waivers Monday.

The 28-year-old defenseman signed a one-year contract with the Hawks in August after playing for a Russian team in 2018-19 and in the Canucks and Golden Knights organizations in 2017-18.

“He’d been offered a lot of very good European contracts last summer, but when we sorted things out with the Blackhawks, he saw it as his last opportunity to get a shot at the NHL,” Wallen said.

Holm impressed in training camp, nearly earning an Opening Day roster spot. General manager Stan Bowman said at the time that he “fits in with how we want to play.”

Thus, even once assigned to Rockford of the AHL, he seemed likely to return to Chicago at some point, especially as his productivity on the blue line — 15 points in 30 games for the IceHogs — continued.

The Hawks never called Holm up, though, instead making Dennis Gilbert and Adam Boqvist NHL regulars and establishing fellow minor-league veteran Ian McCoshen as their go-to next option.

“As the season progressed, and a lot of other defensemen from the IceHogs have been called up but not him, he thought it was about time to take care of the rest of the his career,” Wallen said.

“In the end, he signed with the European team and Mr. Bowman was understanding of it. It’s all good, there’s no fight, there’s nothing going on.”