Motte, 21, has scored four goals with three assists in 32 games with the Blackhawks this season. Motte started the year with the Blackhawks, so he heads to Rockford for the first time this season. He had five points (2G / 3A) in five AHL games a season ago.

Motte suffered the injury on Sunday and it is expected to keep him sidelined for two to three weeks. With Motte out, Andrew Desjardins is expected to make his season debut after being a healthy scratch on Sunday.

Motte left Sunday’s game with a lower-body injury and head coach Joel Quenneville said that Motte is expected to miss a few games.

Motte picked up one assist in 12:16 in his NHL debut on Wednesday and will be rewarded by being bumped up to the second line tonight. In the Blackhawks’ morning skate, Motte skated with Kane in Anisimov, a spot usually reserved for Artemi Panarin, who was moved to the top line with Jonathan Toews. Marian Hossa was bumped out of the top-6—this is a look the Hawks gave in the preseason, let’s see how it works out in Nashville tonight.

Motte, 21, was a standout at the University of Michigan last season, picking up 32 goals and 24 assists (56 points) in 38 games. His decision to leave Michigan to try and make the Blackhawks appears to have been a good one as it looks like the 21-year-old will not only start the season in Chicago, but start on a line with Artem Anisimov and Patrick Kane.