Tanner Kero

June 2022 – Turning 30 next month, Kero spent another season split between the NHL and the AHL. Performing well in the AHL with 17 points in 28 games, Kero has remained among the top players on the list of dependable call-ups when needed by the big club. With the emergence of younger, more intriguing players such as Riley Tufte, Joel L’Esperance, Ty Dellandrea and Joel Kiviranta, Kero’s NHL window could be closing. Aaron Itovich

July 2019 – Kero has signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Stars.  Jokke Nevalainen

December 2017- Kero has been assigned to Rockford of the AHL. Things just weren’t working for the bottom six forward at the NHL level. He will get ample time to work on his game at the AHL level and earn a trip back to the show. Tony Carr

October 2017- Kero broke camp with the big club and looks like he wants to stay. Playing in a bottom six role, he has been counted on to kill penalties this year, mostly playing with veteran Patrick Sharp and super rookie, Alex Debrincat. Tony Carr

April 2017- Kero was a bit of a surprise this season, seeing action in 47 regular season games as well as all four playoff games. A very responsible player on the ice, Kero played in all situations late in games, gaining valuable experience, while affording the veteran centers a chance to get some rest. Kero has two years left on his current contract before becoming an RFA. Tony Carr

January 2017- Kero is certainly making his case to stay with the Blackhawks since his late December call up. Contributing offensively while maintaining his strong two way play, he is averaging over 13 minutes of action per night. ~Tony Carr

March 2016 – With 17 goals in 42 AHL games in 2015-16, Kero is tied for the IceHogs’ lead in goals in his rookie campaign. He has made the transition from the NCAA seamlessly and is a big reason that the IceHogs are leading the Western Conference. He has found a home on the top line of the IceHogs after finding himself overmatched at times during his stint with the big club in November. Still, he plays a strong two-way game and was given a chance to kill penalties with the Blackhawks and this play will likely keep him in the Blackhawks’ plans for 2016-17, especially with the recent departures of Marko Dano and Philip Danault. Matt Donohue

November 2015 – After a four year career at Michigan Tech where he compiled 111 points in 153 career games, Kero signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks in April of this year. He spent the latter part of the 2014-15 season getting accustomed to the professional game with the Rockford IceHogs where he scored eight goals in just 12 games including the playoffs. Kero went undrafted during his college career mainly due to concerns around his smaller stature. He developed his physical game over the course of his time at Michigan Tech and is now more willing to go to the dirty areas of the ice. This will be important as he embarks on his professional career if he is going to consistently contribute in the offensive end.

So far in 2015-16, Kero has split time between the AHL and the NHL. Playing for the most part on the third line with Blackhawks, he is averaging almost 13 minutes per night and has just one goal to his name. Despite the low offensive output thus far, he is holding his own on the defensive zone and in the faceoff circle against NHL competition. We anticipate Kero spending some more time in the AHL this year, as Chicago will likely shuffle him and other youngsters like Hinostroza and Hartman between Rockford and the big club as the season goes on. Matt Donohue