In surprising news ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks home opener on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks, defenseman Alec Martinez was missing from the morning skate group. It turns out that Martinez has been placed on injured reserve with a right groin injury. The team made the move official just a few hours after head coach Luke Richardson told the Chicago media Martinez would be evaluated for a lower-body injury following morning skate.

In a parallel move, the team has recalled defenseman Isaak Phillips from the Rockford IceHogs.

Martinez was signed by GM Kyle Davidson this summer to a one-year, $4M deal after playing 818 career games with the LA Kings and Vegas Golden Knights, having won two Stanley Cups with Los Angeles in 2012 and 2014, and another with Vegas in 2023. Through the first four games of the season, the 37-year-old has averaged 21:02 minutes per game and recorded his first point with the Blackhawks, an assist, against the Calgary Flames on Monday night.

Check out Jay Zawaski‘s Diehard Exclusive analysis for more on this story and Lukas Reichel‘s first game of the season.