Blackhawks’ prospect opts for Russia

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Blackhawks prospect Ivan Vishnevskiy has signed with Atlant of Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League, the team announced Tuesday on its website.

Vishnevskiy was acquired from the Atlanta Thrashers with a 2011 second-round pick for winger Andrew Ladd last summer when the salary cap forced general manager Stan Bowman to reshape the Hawks’ Stanley Cup-winning roster.

The 23-year-old Russian defenseman’s entry-level contract expired after the 2010-11 season. He had five goals and 15 points in 46 games for the Rockford IceHogs.

Vishnevskiy was the 27th overall pick in the 2006 draft by the Dallas Stars, playing in only five NHL games over two seasons.

The Stars traded him and a 2010 fourth-round selection to the Thrashers for goalie Kari Lehtonen on Feb. 9, 2010. He never played for Thrashers, seeing time only with the Chicago Wolves (Atlanta’s American Hockey League affiliate).