Veteran defenseman Jamie Allison was a no-show at Tuesday’s practice after being told that the Blackhawks will leave him unprotected in Friday’s waiver draft. “He didn’t make the team,” general manager Mike Smith said. “If he clears waivers he probably will go to Norfolk.”
Allison also was left unprotected last year but wasn’t claimed. Despite not playing for most of the first two months of the season and spending time on the disabled list because of torn knee ligaments, Allison played in 44 games and tied center Michael Nylander for a team-best plus/minus rating of plus-7.
Teams can protect 18 skaters and two goalies in the draft.
– Steve Sullivan probably will miss the three remaining exhibition games because of a groin injury sustained in Sunday’s 1-0 loss in Nashville.
Another right wing, Steve Thomas, will be absent from the lineup Wednesday because of a hip-flexor injury.
