After losing Andrew Shaw and Teuvo Teravainen in separate trades last month, the Blackhawks are in need of veteran depth along their bottom six forwards next season.
The Hawks added to that on Tuesday by signing right winger Jordin Tootoo to a one-year deal, the team announced.
Tootoo has played in parts of 12 NHL seasons and had four goals and five assists in 66 games last season with the Devils.
The Hawks have been quiet in free agency, which began Friday. They signed Brian Campbell to a one-year deal worth $2.25 million on Friday and filled a need for a No. 4 defenseman but have not made any significant moves since. The Hawks figure to remain in the market for bottom-six forwards even after signing Tootoo.
The Hawks will have a lot of young players vying for playing time in those roles once training camp opens in September. Now they can add Tootoo to that mix.
Tootoo is known as a fighter in the league _ he mixed it up nine times last season, according to hockeyfights.com, and Tootoo has chronicled much of his tumultuous career in his memoir "All the Way: My Life on Ice," which was released in 2014.
The book chronicles Tootoo's life on and off the ice, including his battles with alcoholism and how he dealt with his brother's suicide.
