Blackhawks prospect Xavier Villeneuve will miss the World Junior Summer Showcase due to ongoing rehabilitation from a hip injury, after recording 37 games with QMJHL Blainville-Boisbriand last season. Jake O’Brien, a Kraken prospect, is resting from knee tendinitis to prepare for Seattle’s training camp, while Isak Posch was traded to Nashville and will back up in AHL Milwaukee. Antoine Keller hopes to return to North America from Switzerland, and Tomas Chrenko will remain in Slovakia’s HK Nitra instead of moving to North America.
