Observations:

July 2016- After a nightmare of a season last year, not surprisingly Garret Ross was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Chicago Blackhawks making him a UFA on July 1st. The Coyotes decided to give him a chance signing Ross to a one-year, two-way contract. He'll most likely play the season in the AHL for the Coyotes new affiliate in Tucson but gives the team some depth on left wing a postilion they are not very deep on. Keith Duggan

April 2016 – Ross was suspended by the Blackhawks back in March after being charged in February for sharing sexually explicit images of a woman without her consent. He was reinstated one week later when charges were dropped and returned to the lineup on April 1. In addition to the issues in his personal life, 2015-16 has been a trying year for Ross on the ice as well. He has put up just 20 points as opposed to the 43 he notched a year ago. It will be interesting to see what the Blackhawks do with the 23 year-old this offseason after this season, as he becomes an RFA. He may be forced to accept an AHL deal somewhere and work his way into fantasy relevance with another team. Matt Donohue

January 2016 – Currently in his third full professional season with the Rockford IceHogs, Ross has six goals and 15 points through 36 games. In terms of point per game production, 2015-16 has been the worst in terms of production. The 2012 fifth-rounder is in the last year of his entry level deal and hasn’t developed the way the team was hoping. Ross is an aggressive player who does contribute in other areas, but the lack of NHL action is cause for concern for his fantasy prospects. Matt Donohue

March 2015 – Ross is a hard working forward who can put the puck in the net and isn’t afraid to drop the gloves. While he isn’t going to intimidate anyone with his size, he doesn’t back down from anyone, as evidenced by him dropping the gloves just minutes into his first career AHL game. He wrapped up his junior career in 2012-13 as an overager, finishing that year seventh in the league in scoring while amassing 114 PIMs. Now in just his second full professional season, Ross leads the Rockford Ice Hogs in goals, points, plus/minus, and SOGs. Perhaps most impressive is the versatility he has shown this season, playing in all situations for the Ice Hogs and improving his two way game. The former fifth rounder has done nicely for himself, and could be rewarded with a call to join the Blackhawks as a Black Ace upon the conclusion of the Ice Hogs’ season. Matt Donohue

Fantasy Outlook C

While he has scored at every level so far, we don't expect him to be more than a bottom-six forward with some PIM upside for the Blackhawks.

Footage:

Ross scores a preseason goal against the Detroit Red Wings on 9/22/13:

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