SEATTLE — There’s nothing like stepping onto the ice with thousands of screaming school children on top of you after an early-morning bus ride to play in an early-morning game to remind you’re in the AHL rather than the NHL. But for 20-year-old Oliver Moore, who is not that far removed from being a kid himself, there’s always a sunnier side to everything. Moore knew his situation could be worse than joining the Rockford IceHogs on a short trip to play the Chicago Wolves for a recent school game.

“They get loud in there,” Moore said. “It’s better than empty seats — so, no, it was fun.”

Moore’s attitude was the same when asked about his level of patience for getting his next shot at the NHL. The 2023 first-round draft pick got a taste of the league last season after signing with the Blackhawks out of college, but he was assigned to Rockford to start this season. After scoring another goal in last week’s game against the Wolves, Moore was atop the AHL in goals, and his speed continued to be a difference-maker at the pro level.

“I think I just try to control what I can,” Moore said last week. “My goal right now isn’t to be on the Chicago Blackhawks; it’s to become the best version of myself possible. I think if every day I can do that, continue to work on my game and the results, everything will come. But I think they are coming, and we’re winning a lot of games down here. And that’s really also what I’m focused on, is just trying to be a winning hockey team and then do everything I can to help them win.”

Moore’s patience was expected to align with the Blackhawks’ patience. General manager Kyle Davidson allowed Frank Nazar to cook in the AHL for some time last season before calling him up and keeping him in the NHL. That paid off for the Blackhawks and Nazar. Considering that, the Blackhawks were planning for Moore and Nick Lardis, who also has excelled for the IceHogs, to receive similar development treatment early this season. Both started the season off well, but there was no need to rush them.

As always, injuries have a way of changing plans. With Jason Dickinson missing time due to an injury — he was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Oct. 30 on Monday — the Blackhawks have turned to Moore sooner than expected. He sat out the IceHogs’ game against the Grand Rapids Griffins on Sunday and was recalled to the Blackhawks on Monday. He is expected to be in their lineup Monday night against the Seattle Kraken.

“I don’t know that I’ll ease him in, in particular,” Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill said Monday in Seattle. “I think he’s here to help us win a hockey game. He’ll get good opportunities.”

The Blackhawks have recalled Oliver Moore and he’ll be available to play tonight.

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) November 3, 2025

Oliver Moore is here for Blackhawks morning skate in Seattle.

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) November 3, 2025

In Moore, the Blackhawks bring up one of the fastest players in their organization. He’s mostly played center in the past, but he was getting time on the wing in Rockford. His speed can impact the game in all zones. Defensively, he can get on opposing defenders quickly. Offensively, he can get away from them just as quickly. He was disappointed with his finishing ability in college — he scored 12 goals in 38 games as a sophomore at Minnesota last season — and spent a lot of time this offseason working on that. Through nine AHL games, he scored six goals.

“When Ollie’s at his best, he makes an impact on the game with his tenacity, his speed, his compete,” Blashill said. “He’s got good skill to go along with that. One of the positives when you get sent down is you have an opportunity to really gain confidence, and he’s gone down there and played well. And so I think he comes back at a point where his confidence is really high, so that’s good. Hopefully he can just add to our forward depth and make an impact with this tenacity, his speed and his overall compete.”

IceHogs coach Jared Nightingale said last week that he’s impressed by Moore.

“It’s been a good first impression for me,” Nightingale said. “Obviously, his skating stands out, and he has finished when he gets those chances. I think I’ve said this before, he’s getting chances and chances with his legs. In hockey, when you have confidence, he’s found the back of the net early in the season. I think that’s kind of built and rolled on.”

Moore has been pleased with the results. He altered his offseason to address that.

“I just put a huge emphasis on scoring goals,” Moore said. “I think, in previous summers, I’ve worked in a lot of other areas of my game. My trainer and I call it chopping wood. I’m working on it every day and being consistent and going to the cabin, not really taking a day off. So, just trying to really hone in on it and realize my potential in that area.”

While he was in Rockford, Moore was also trying to learn to be a good professional and understand what he can and can’t get away with. Valuing puck possession is part of that.

“It’s pro hockey, I think every little play matters,” Moore said. “The AHL is a different league than the NHL, but it’s still just as important, every little wall play. Transitioning to the wing, too, I think you don’t realize how much impact they have on the game, the wingers do, and making little plays all over the ice. You want to play winning hockey, and it’s every single day, every game in this league you have to. You can’t take a shift off. So it’s been a good transition.”

Nightingale has been careful not to put training wheels on too much for offensive players such as Moore and Lardis.

“Players defend better and especially when you go up to the NHL,” Nightingale said. “Not trying to overcoach them. I think they are creative players. They see plays out there. I want them to be comfortable, try to make plays, not at the judgment of a turnover and our team identity. But, no, both those kids, their play away from the puck, willingness to defend is what has really been a big difference in them producing.”