Chicago Blackhawks 2025-26 NHL Season Preview

Hello everybody and welcome into another season preview show at the Hockey Writers. I’m your host Matthew Zetur and we are up to the Chicago Blackhawks in our season previews as we get ready for the season that seems to been two years in the making. Off season’s been so bad. So so bad. But I got Brook Leferno here and Gail Cowak. I been on many videos uh with me before. We did the Black Ops Round Table way back when. Of course, we had Black Ops banter a long now a long time ago now, too. Um, but they’re still covering the Blackhawks here at this. So, uh, and you guys are both credentialed now, too, which is exciting. So, uh, Gail, how’s it going? Good. Excited to be here and talk about the season. I can’t wait for it to start. For sure. And Brooke, how’s it going? It’s going well. Yeah, we go way back, Matthew. Oh my gosh, it feels like a 10-year reunion. I was saying it’s been a while since we’ve been on a video together. So, uh, it’s great to have both of you here for the preview. And uh Blackhawks, I mean this off season they didn’t really make a lot of changes which uh usually like last season there was so many uh new additions at the forward group and defense but forwards there’s only two really real notable ones and that’s uh Andrew Burkovsky and Sam Laferty returning to the Blackhawks for the what is it second or third time technically third I guess. Yeah, he he loves count last year. He wants back and he’s very effective player. I know he was in Vancouver here for a season. He was really good. I was actually a little unhappy that he wasn’t resigned. Uh he was traded away, but uh yeah, he’s back in Chicago. So, I’ll start with you, Gail, and talk about Burkovski. I What do you think about his addition, uh to the team? I like the fact that he’s a veteran coming in. Uh he former first round pick. The Blackhawks seem to like uh that championship pedigree, but definitely he’s got he’s got the two cups. Uh just where will he fit in I guess is the question, right? Um will he be among the top six or the bottom? Who knows? It’ll all be about chem. So, uh, but the one thing I do like about Burkowski is, um, in his, uh, media interview when he when he came to the team, he talked about how he really feels like competing in practice and he wants to show these these kids how to win and that’s one of his examples is you’ve got to you got to go hard in practice. So, that’s cool. I think that he’ll he’ll be set a good example. Brooke, what did you what did you think about Buroxy? I think I tweeted that like when I saw him on the Capitals. There was a point where I thought he would be a good addition on the Blackhawks and that was obviously he was on the Capitals a bit ago, but he’s actually one I I actually do like the move a lot. I know maybe a lot of people are kind of like iffy on it, but I think the Hawks have made so many like interesting veteran signings just to make veteran signings at this point to kind of like fill the roster and help the young players, which is fine, but a lot of them didn’t really have high ceilings, so to say. But Burkovski is actually one that I do think actually has a lot of potential. I know he struggled with injuries and some inconsistencies before, but I do think the talent is there. So, he’s actually one I do like the acquisition a lot. Yeah, I mean he’s been in the league for a while now and uh he’s been a pretty good scorer on the teams he’s been on too. So I mean he could really add and that like you say veteran leadership as well and uh yeah I think it’s a good addition too. I I’ll stay with you Brooke for Sam Laferty. I mean we I mean at this point you know what he’s bringing but do you like him coming back? Um I think it’s fine. I think I’m not like I actually was upset too when he got uh traded from the Blackhawks because he was actually like a hard worker and he was really productive at the time too. So I guess maybe there’s a chance he could be that again on the bottom line and that’s totally fine. Right now I’m kind of like so so on it. Like I’m kind of indifferent. Like I don’t really have a strong feeling about it either way. But there is potential there too for him to refit the way he was when he was here before. And so we’ll see. But yeah, I don’t mind it either. It’s just more like he’s here. Gil, any other thoughts on Laferty? He was most successful with the with the Blackhawks when he played basically on the checking line and then also he’s really good on the penance of kill. He’s also good at uh taking face offs which is something that the Blackhawks as a whole have struggled with. So he could be helpful there. The thing that I wonder about though is there’s all these I mean is he going to hold somebody else back? one of the younger players. I think that he’s more of insurance to be honest with you. And then when some of these kids come up, you know, if Nick Lardis or Oliver Moore kind of thing, uh, he they could easily sit him. He could be kind of your extra guy. So, again, another veteran guy. I mean, they didn’t add a lot like they’ve have had in the past. So, I mean, it’s not like there’s a ton of these guys taking up spots, but they still have a lot of the veterans if they did sign back in that free agency that they just seem to add so many guys. But, um, yeah, I mean, they’re they’re going to be good. Where they fit in, we’ll see. But, uh, Laferdy, I think he’ll probably be on the fourth line like you guys said. Yeah. So, uh, we’ll see where he kind of goes. All right, let’s, uh, move to the rest of the forwards. And we all know led by Connor Baddard as always. Uh so any big storylines you’re looking at going into training camp uh into the season? Uh Gail, I’ll start with you. Well, you already said it, Connor Bernard. Uh he’s been uh there’s all this video out there that he’s just been working and working on the off seasonason. He’s got a chip on his shoulder because he feels he didn’t have a good um season last season and let’s face it, he he still did really well, but he’s got such high expectations for himself. So, is Connor Bardar gonna come in and like, you know, just get it done this season? And of course, Frank Nazar. Um, I’ll probably I can let Brooke touch on that. That’s another big storyline. Those two guys are kind of leading the team, right, going in here. Sure. Um, Brooke, what about you for for storylines, questions going in? Um yeah, obviously Frank Nazar just to build off because Gail was like I could build off on that. But uh yeah, definitely that because he just signed that big extension and obviously now uh we’ll see. He’s definitely um one to watch. Really exciting to watch. But I’m going to say I think a burning question right now is the Hawks have a lot of forwards and this includes Laferty into that bottom six. I’m think a burning question is who exactly is making this team? Like I mean right now they have like Slagger, Landon Slagard and Colton Doc and Lucas Reichel. It’s just like it’s going to be interesting to see how everyone fits like or what the final roster is going to look like on opening night. Yeah, there are a lot of forwards all these other veteran guys that are still on the team too. And yeah, it’s going to be tough to kind of it’s really tough to forecast what what the team will look like on opening night, right? So, um, that’s going to be something to watch for sure. All right, moving to the back end. Uh, Defense didn’t see any new additions, unless I’m missing someone. I don’t think so. No that there’s anyone really new. So, let’s look at some storylines or question marks going in. So, Brooke, I’ll start with you on this one. What What are you seeing for the defense? Oh, I think a big story line right now with Sam Renzel. I think right now a lot of people project him to be on that top pair with Alex Flick and obviously depending on how things go. This would be his first, you know, full season. Um, and so I think that’s a big story line to follow. How is he going to handle that on the top pair? Is that pair going to be successful? Was successful in a short time period that we saw at the end of the season? But that definitely I think is one I’m a storyline I’m following. Yeah, Renzel, he looked almost immediately comfortable in the NHL. Let’s see. And it’s going to be nice to see what he can do over a full season if he can go into that role right away and continue on what he’s done. Uh Gail, what about you for for storylines on defense? Yeah, technically you could call Renzel new because he only played in the nine games, but he like you just said, he looked so confident and just stepped right in and basically got promoted to the top pairing and the I think he was the top power play, too, wasn’t he? He was the the back quarterback. Um so definitely Renzel excited to hope that he can because they need him to. Let’s face it, the Blackhawks have not added anyone new. They have Conor Murphy as their um as their veteran for the most part, but everyone else is brand new. So I guess another storyline would be you got Arts Leanoff and Kevin Kinsky um who are both expected to take that next step this season and hopefully they can. And then you have um Alex Classic who technically I mean people were calling him a veteran and I think he’s starting this is it his fourth season and you know he’s 24 years old but all sudden he’s the veteran guy him Murphy so young group on the back end young exciting group too like it’s a lot of mobility lots of uh creative guys back there too so I yeah I’m going be interested to see how the defense goes because I I think they could be a really good one it’s just again very young and they’re still kind of cutting their teeth in the NHL. You say Alex Blasting, it seems like he’s been in the league forever, but he’s still really young. Um, yeah, for sure. All right, goending uh entering the season with a brand new starter for the f full season, Spencer Knight. H Arvis Daughter Blom and Lauren Brasis is technically still in the mix as well. He’s in his second year of his contract. He didn’t play last season. Um, so I I threw him in there, too. So, Gail, what do you think about this uh tandem or threesome, I guess? Well, everybody’s really excited about Spencer Knight. Uh, I think he really could be the the real deal. And he was excited, too. Uh, you know, being being back up in in in Florida. Now, he he’s got the gig, right? And so, I think he’s really excited about that. He seems so just smart and intuitive in his in his interviews and he’s already a leader even though he’s uh well how many games did he play? 19 or something. Um so very excited there. Sodlam uh Arvis Sodblam I think that uh we’re hoping. I don’t know what’s up with with Lauren Bris like right is are we ever going to see him? I don’t know. But um Sodom had a real solid uh season as a backup uh last year. So hopefully the two of them, Knight and Sodor Blam, will make a good tandem. Um, but uh, Knight’s probably going to have most of the he’ll be he’ll definitely be the the one A. Mhm. Yeah, I think so, too. I Brooke, what do what do you think about the goalending? I honestly agree with everything Gail said. I really honestly have nothing more to add to that other than I do feel really um, bad for Laura. he was really kind of expected to be kind of that 1B behind Peter Morazzic and that really is unfortunate that he has that injury that we still don’t really have a concrete update or answer on what’s happening. So yeah, that definitely will be a big storyline to follow um at training camp. Yeah, I was trying to look at what Bruis what’s his status and the last thing I saw was he was shut down for the season. So, I mean, what else? I haven’t really seen anything about if he’s going to play this season or we’ll find out in training camp if he’s there, right? If he’s healthy, I could see, you know, maybe the Blackhawks trying to trade him to someone that needs a backup goalender. Uh maybe making some kind of a deal like that because I really do think I mean they they’ve committed. They gave Sodor Blom a two-year extension. So, they’ve they’ve committed to him. And I I do like that, Tanner. I do agree. I think I think Knight’s ready to take over as a starter um in the NHL and he’s been, you know, in Florida and, you know, with the NHL PA player assistance program there for a bit. So, it seems like he’s back um being what I mean, he’s still relatively young as well. So, I think he could be here for a while. And you got Drew Kso still kind of marinating in the AHL. So, that goalending is actually looking pretty good for the first time in probably a long time, too. um that kind of weren’t sure about. Right. All right. The new guy behind the bench. Let’s talk about Jeff Blill. I mean, he’s he’s been in the NHL before as a head coach, of course, with the Detroit Red Wings. I know a lot about him because I hosted Grind Line for a number of seasons. So, I do know a bit more than I probably should as a Canucks writer, but I you know, Brooke, I’ll start with you. What do you think about the new head coach? Um, I do think he seems very genuine. He seems very excited about what this team could be. So, I obviously appreciate seeing that. And I think the big thing is the Hawks have had so much inconsistency behind the bench. They’ve been through a few head coaches in the past few years. And so, I guess the thing really I’m looking at Blashel for is just let’s see how he commands this like team. Exactly. like if he motivates them and he gets a lot out of them, that’s a win. So, I mean, like right now, I don’t really know kind of what to say about just because I don’t know him, I don’t really know, you know, if it’s going to if it’s going to be a good move or a bad move, but he does seem very genuine and excited. So, hopefully that translates. And I mean, he’s got a lot of experience in the NHL as a head coach. It’s not like he’s new. Um, so, but he hasn’t been a head coach for a bit. We’ll see. uh taking over a young team. Uh Gail, any other thoughts on on Blash coming in? Well, he has that experience working with young players um with the with the Red Wings, also with the US uh program. Uh and then, you know, you can’t discount his three years, I think it right, that he worked uh in Tampa Bay as an assistant under John Cooper. So, he probably has a lot to bring to the table from that. He talked in his uh presser uh about working with elite players. Uh so he’s got the youngsters and uh good experienced players as well. Uh I just think that you know his his concept is to hold everybody accountable. Uh I think he has the experience to do that. I think he’s excited to become you know chance as a head coach again. And another thing that I feel that he’s brought up in interviews is he really wants to work around the players that he has. he wants to work towards their strengths instead of forcing them into like a set system. So uh hopefully he can do that and uh you know push the right buttons. I mean you mentioned the experience in Tampa Bay. I think that was a big thing. It it’s the same thing as being you know coming in you’re it’s adjusting like when Glen Gulitson comes back to Dallas and he was an assistant for a while in Edmonton. you grow and you gain some experience that you can take into your next head coaching job because again was a head coach before too. It’s the same type of situation really. I mean he’s coming from being a head coach for a while. You’re going to be assistant you kind of grow and gain some lessons and yeah coaching some elite players in Tampa. I mean you know looking at Stamos Hedman and all those guys uh Cuchov that’s a big deal I think. So, I mean I I do agree. So, and John Cooper being, you know, being under him. So, that Yeah. Plus, I really do feel like they they’ve set up a good um coaching team. Uh bringing in bringing in the assistance. They they still have I mean, might people might say Ander Sorenson wasn’t good as the head coach, but at the exit interviews, all the players have positive things to say. I think he’ll be a really good transitional person because he’s already started this relationship and knows all the players and he can help uh kind of ease the other coaches into that. Yeah, it’s a good point. And again, it’s a team. So, coach, you’re not you’ve got quite a few other guys that are helping you out. And I think when when it’s a big deal with the with what team you’ve got behind the bench, too. Okay, let’s talk about the division. Um, the central division is uh topheavy. That what you’re looking at. It’s always having to go through the Winnipeg Jets, the Okay, I’m just Okay. Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars, and the Colorado Avalanche. Alex, my mind went blank. Um, and then you’ve got those upand cominging teams, the Minnesota Wild, which are they’re always in the mix. And then the Blackhawks are are still at the bottom, but you know, there really a point where they’re going to emerge into that group, too. But this season, uh, Gail, where do you see them? Uh, again, like you said, this is one of the best divisions in the league. So, I still see them basically at the bottom. I I mean, they’re not going to be at the bottom of the league, but this division, uh, 70 75 points. I mean, they had 61 points last. I think they’re definitely going to improve. Not sure that they’re going to get, you know, be get to that point where they can hurdle over other teams yet. Brooke, you agree with that? Is that where you see them? Yeah, I don’t exactly see how they jump unless Nashville is the one I’m still looking at because considering they had such a bad year last year and I’m not really sure if that was a fluke or if they’ll if if they’re kind of trending downwards now. If they continue to take a step back or if Utah really like I don’t see I actually see them kind of on the up and up, but if somehow they take a big step back somehow some way. But yeah, otherwise I see the Blackhawks really still at the bottom there. I don’t see how they jump everyone. Those those four games they play the Predators will be pretty important hopefully, right? Those funds to see if maybe they can. Yeah. Yeah. It It’s still tough. And I I think like I say, the Blackhawks, there’s going to be a point where that it will change because so much young talent and uh once they’re all in their primes that this team’s going to be very dangerous and won’t be this season, I don’t think, but it’s coming. This division is going to get even tougher. Um for sure. Okay, let’s uh go our quick fire round and uh these are all just quick one or two sentence answers here and I’ll start with uh Brooke for this one. biggest storyline or question mark going into this season. I’m gonna go storyline here and it’s got to be Wyatt Kaiser, defenseman Wyatt Kaiser in his contract because right now he’s still without a contract. The Hawks gave him, you know, a qualifying offer and there’s no update there. So, right now, that’s the biggest story line. All right, Gail, what about you? We already touched on it earlier. I think it’s is Conor Bard going to have a breakout season and also Frank Nazar. Is he gonna establish himself as that elite player? Two good ones. All right, breakout stars and Gail, I’ll start with you. Uh, Sam Renzel like we talked about or maybe some underdogs in Kchinsky or Levino. I guess I’m going all defense here since we already Yeah. Well, I mean, all guys that could definitely do it, especially if Renzel continues what he did at the end of last season. Uh, Brooke, what about you for breakout stars? Uh, when you first said that, my first thought was Spencer Knight. So, I’m gonna Yeah, I’m gonna just go there because I think the Hawks actually kind of need him to be have a breakout year. So, hopefully that’s the case and I think he can do it. Yeah. I mean, I say he’s he’s shown flashes of he just hasn’t been given the crease for a full season as a starter. So, I Yeah, I can definitely see that. All right, Brooke, I’ll stay with you. Uh, bounce back. Who needs to bounce back this season? um player to Riel, Lucas Reichel. And like I don’t even know. I know there’s questions about if he’s even going to make the team out of training camp. I don’t know. But point is either way he’s got to have a a bounceback year. He did not have the year that you know he anticipated. Yeah, for sure. You’d hope he’s also falls into the breakout star category as well. Yes, exactly. He’s done that. Exactly. Gail, what about you? All right, I’m gonna go kind of off off here. Uh uh Tyler Bertusi, I’m going to say because now granted he had 23 goals which was tied for second with Bard, but I just feel like he’s so streaky. Uh and a lot of his goals and points came from the power play, you know, being right there in the front of the net. Uh so let’s see if he can be consistent and do that five on five as well. Yeah, I think that’s that’s a big one as well. I mean, Bertusi’s he’s always been a streaky player, though. Again, former Red Wing. I know too much about him. I I He is a very streaky scorer for sure, but when he’s on, he seems like he’s on. So hopefully I mean problem is when there he’s a veteran already, he’s established that way. He’s just going to be a streaky scoreer. I don’t know. It’s going to change. Well, an interesting point. I know we’re supposed to be doing, you know, short answers here, but he uh when he broke into the league with the Red Wings, Splash was the coach. Two of them have an established relationship. And so we’ll see if maybe BLO can pull pull some pull the positives out out of Bertusi. Yeah, that’s a good point. Yeah, he when he broke into the league that Blash was the coach for sure. All right, let’s go to potential X factors. This can be a player, this can be a situation, wherever you want to go with this. Uh Gail, I’ll start with you. I my the first thing that pops into my head is Spencer Knight. I I just I think that where he goes, if if he’s doing well, the Blackhawks are going to do well. Yeah, I I see that. Brooke, what about you? Yeah, this question is tough because it seems like everyone could be an X-factor here, you know, like Renzel Le could go down the list, but honestly, I’m going to say Burkovsky. I’m going to stick there because if he has a year like I think he has the potential to have with like around 40 points, whatever it is, then yeah, I think that he could be the X-factor on this team. Well, I mean, he’s has a history of uh production, so definitely could be uh one to do that. Okay. Uh let’s look at some prospects. They have a lot. Blackhawks have tons of prospects. I don’t know if this is going to be surprising, but do you see anyone right now that you’re looking at the roster and you’re not expecting to make the team? Uh, Brooke, what do you have any anyone in mind? Okay, so this is a weird answer probably by me, but I’m going to say Colton Doc because I don’t think many people have him making this team. And I mean, that’s a fair probably that’s a fair assumption, but he needs to have a big training camp. I don’t think there’s any ifands or buts about it. So, if he wants to make an impression, he has to have a big camp and maybe if he does, he makes the team. So, I guess we’ll go that route. Oh, that that could be a surprise because he’s not expected to do it. So, definitely definitely falls in the category. Uh Gail, what about you? Um I think I’m going to go defense here and I’m gonna say Nolan Allen on defense. He made the team out of uh camp last season and I just feel like him and Ethan Delmastro. Both are have good potential to, you know, be solid solid third pairing guys. So, we’ll see. Yeah, defense is I mean, no new additions, but there’s lots of competition in there. So many young young defenseman that could potentially u make the team. So, yeah, those two guys are definitely ones to watch. and other prospects. And they’ve got a lot like I said and lots more. They drafted and the last few drafts they just got so many good guys. Um Gail, who should everyone be watching specifically this season? All of them. I know. Okay. Uh I’m gonna go with uh Merrick Vaner. Uh Brford Bulldogs now, right? Nick Lardis was was with them last year, but now he’s more than likely going to be with the Icehawks or maybe the Blackhawks. We’ll see what happens with that. But I uh I think Merrick Vaner is going to have a good year this year and I’m excited for when he’s eligible to come to the Blackhawks. Yeah, that’s another another guy to watch. Uh Brooke, you have anyone? Um, I I will say Anton Fondal, especially in Sweden, because obviously if he has a really strong year in Sweden and he makes his way over to the Blackhawks by the end of the year, I think that’d be very exciting. Um, and then obviously Nick Lardis was going to be my other my other one. Yeah, I think yeah, with his goalc scoring potential, yeah, definitely one to watch, man. He had a heck of a season last. Um, yeah, it I think he’s he’s definitely one to watch wherever he’s playing. Um, like I say, could make the Blackhawks. Uh, we’ll see. But definitely has a lot of potential. All right. This could be as there’s some teams that this question is very easy to answer. I’d say probably this was an easy one for the Blackhawks, too. But I defense maybe not. The team in scoring. You can you can break it down. So, goals and points or if it’s the same guy, I guess you could say for both. But who do you got? Who? I’m sorry you cut out. Is it you want me to be or Brooke? Yeah. Gale. Yeah. Yeah. So forwards. I think it’s going to be a competition between Bard and Nazar. I really do. I think they’re going to do that back and forth thing. Even if they’re not going to be on the same line, they’re going to be in power play together. They’re going to be they’re going to be competing. Uh so one of them. And then you want me to go defense or Yeah, defense. You can do both. Yeah. Defense is a tough one because it was Seth Jones. It’s been Seth Jones forever. Well, Seth Jones is gone now. So, who’s going to do it? Um, Renzal, I guess. I mean, I’d like to say uh uh Alex Classic, but he’s more defense defensive minded. So, I’m going to say Sam Renzal is gonna going to be the new the new guy. There you go. Uh Brooke, uh who do you got? Yeah, I I’m going with Connor Baddard, honestly, to lead the team in scoring. He has so before. So, I that’s just a very safe bet, I think. And um yeah, on defense I’m gonna pick. Yeah, unfortunately with Seth Jones being traded, yeah, he was our easy answer for this question all the time. Um but he did have 30 points last year and that was even a big jump from 16 the year before. So he does have that potential. So maybe that’s a safish pick for that. So I’ll go with that. Yeah, I’m gonna go with Renzel. I think he he can definitely do that. Um I mean, you could say Lev Shunov might might be in that category. He’s or Kinski. Yep. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, all three could definitely they have that potential in them. They’re they’re all offensively driven. So, we will see. But I do agree. I think Bard’s leading team, but I I Nazar is an interesting one. I I think he definitely is going to be in that conversation for sure. All right, let’s finish the show. I love these bold predictions. Bold prediction, hot take. I Brooke, what do you got? I had a hard time with this one. I I don’t know. Yeah, I I don’t know where my brain is going with this one, but I’ll say I think a lot of people right now are expecting the Blackhawks to finish like bottom three again. So, I’m going to say that my hot take is that they will not finish in the bottom three. I will say like they’ll be like fifth worst or like that’s not even a great one. I’m sorry guys. I don’t I don’t know. I’m really lost on this one. Sorry. They they won’t be last. That That’s like I mean people are expecting them probably to be in that conversation again. I don’t agree. I think they’re going to be better than everyone. They should. They should. It is tough. Uh Gail, you have one. Okay. I got a bit of a scenario here. So, I think Nicolardis is going to do the same thing that Frank Nazar did last year. He’s going to go tear it up in Rockford. They’re going to call him up before the end of the year, mid December or something. He’s going to play on the right wing next Conor Bard and they’re going to just go wild. It’s going to be great. Yes. Yes. I like that. I like that. I I’ve done this a few times with guys on like I did it on with the Blue Jackets. Kent Johnson getting 100 points. I’m going Bard getting 100 points this Okay. Yep. So I I think Oh, he’s capable obviously of doing it. I just don’t know about this. I’m say I just don’t know. I just made the prediction he is. So he is gonna hit 100 points uh this season. And if that happens, the Blackhawks won’t be lost. That’s didn’t he have what did he have? I think 67 this season, this past season. So, that’s a big step up, but he can do it. If anyone can, he can. Yeah. I mean, again, someone else would have to help him out. Well, for sure, you know, scoring 100 goals, need assist. Um, yeah, I’m I’m going to do it. I I think he’s going to do he’s going to hit 100 points this season, first time. Okay. Well, that’s the Blackhawks uh season preview coming up. It’s still a few weeks away before we get into training camp and stuff, but uh Gail and Brooke will both be there covering the Blackhawks. So, uh thanks thanks thanks for coming on and talking Blackhawks and probably have you on throughout the season and some roundts and stuff, but I it’s going to be I I mean every season is fun to see what the Blackhawks do because one season they will do it and all the young guys will just destroy the league. So, it’ll happen. So, we’ll see. Make sure you’re checking out everything at the hockey.com. We got content, lots of preview stuff coming out. We got uh player previews, lots out for the Blackhawks right now. Both of you guys are going doing that. So, check those out if you haven’t already. They’re going to keep coming. And then lots of other preview stuff on the site as well. Um, make sure to check out the Substack. I’ll keep you up to date with everything going on. But until our next preview, uh, we will see you next time.

Host Matthew Zator welcomes Chicago Blackhawks writers Gail Kauchak and Brooke LoFurno to the show to preview the 2025-26 season.

They go through everything from the new additions and burning questions/storylines surrounding the forwards, defense and goaltending to where the Blackhawks stack up in the Central Division and expectations for new head coach Jeff Blashill. They also highlight some potential breakout stars, players that need to bounce back from last season, prospects to watch, X factors, bold predictions, and more.

Check out Gail and Brooke’s writing:

Gail Kauchak – https://thehockeywriters.com/author/gkauchak/
Brooke LoFurno – https://thehockeywriters.com/author/blofurno/

And the rest of the Blackhawks writers at THW as they preview the season in written form – https://thehockeywriters.com/tag/blackhawks-season-preview/

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