Day 2 of Chicago Blackhawks’ rookie camp was filled with much more intensity than the opening day. Fifth Third Arena was also filled with a lot more bodies, as Blackhawks NHLers like Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, and Ryan Donato, among others from the main roster, participated in an informal skate on the other sheet.
While the NHL group was getting some reps in together, the Blackhawks’ prospects scrimmaged on Thursday morning after a practice session. For the first time during rookie camp, Rockford IceHogs head coach Jared Nightingale, who’s calling the shots for Chicago during the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase, rolled out some forward lines and defensive pairings.
Let’s talk about what the Blackhawks’ lineup could look like in Minnesota this weekend, and all the notable takeaways from Thursday.
Blackhawks Tease Prospect Showcase Lineup
The three most talented forwards on the Blackhawks’ showcase roster are Oliver Moore, Nick Lardis, and Marek Vanacker. Moore and Vanacker were both first-round selections by Chicago, while Lardis, an early third-round pick, scored an incredible 71 goals in the Ontario Hockey League last season. It would make sense for the trio to serve as the team’s top line this weekend, and Nightingale had them skating together during the scrimmage on Thursday for Team White.
Aidan Thompson, Ryan Greene, and Jack Pridham skated together for Team Red, which could be the second line utilized in Minnesota. Pridham and Thompson both provide some good wheels on the wing, while Greene is a well-rounded center iceman.
2025 3rd-round pick Nathan Behm, A.J. Spellacy, and Martin Misiak played together for Team White, serving as a line with loads of size. Behm probably provides the most skill of the three prospects, but both Spellacy and Misiak can play with pace. This would be an intriguing checking line for the Blackhawks, given all three players are at least 6-foot-2 or taller and have thicker frames.
Behm scored a nice redirect goal on Thursday, which was captured by former Chicago Hockey Now writer Greg Boysen!
Defensively, the Blackhawks rolled with Taige Harding and Sam Rinzel as the top pairing for Team Red, while Belarus countrymates Dmitry Kuzmin and Artyom Levshunov were the top pairing for Team White.
Rinzel might have grabbed the most attention of any prospect on the ice Thursday, as his smooth skating ability and offensive instincts led to several notable plays.
Here’s a look at the full forward lines and defensive pairings from Thursday’s practice and scrimmage.
#Blackhawks rookie camp lineup:
Vanacker-Moore-Lardis
Thompson-Greene-Pridham
Behm-Spellacy-Misiak
Holmes-Gagner-Israels
Robinson
Harding-Rinzel
Kuzmin-Levshunov
Cumby-Bucheler
Henry-Mast
Berezhnoy
Flores
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) September 11, 2025
Spellacy Dodges Serious Scare
During the scrimmage, Spellacy skated into his offensive zone along the boards with the mammoth defenseman Harding on his hip. When Harding took an awkward tumble, his left skate came up high and clipped Spellacy across the face. That’s never something you want to see happen, especially in a camp setting.
Immediately upon Spellacy getting up, Thompson is seen skating into the frame behind him and saying a few words in his direction. Spellacy didn’t take too kindly to the chirp, so he responded by throwing a shot at Thompson’s head while he passed by. Oh boy.
Fortunately, Spellacy returned to the ice moments after being taken back to the dressing room, and he seems to be alright after only needing some glue to help the small cut. He also took the time to hash out any issues with Thompson before calling it a day on the ice.
“I got lucky, it wasn’t too bad, Spellacy said after practice. “I felt the skate to the face. I thought it was going to be worse, but I’m fine.”
Regarding his reaction and throwing a job at Thompson on his way off the ice, Spellacy added, “That was just us being competitive. When you’re scrimmaging, that’s hockey. That was just the competitive side of us.”
“I think you need to have high intensity and stuff like this. It just brings everyone together. Even when you’re battling against a guy, you get off the ice and you’re best buddies.”
Hockey season is SO back! Thank goodness Spellacy is okay.
Henry Takes Nasty Spill
Sadly, the Blackhawks weren’t able to stay completely injury-free on Thursday, as 2024 6th-round pick Ty Henry crashed hard into the boards during the scrimmage.
Henry, a 19-year-old left-handed defenseman, couldn’t put much pressure on his left leg and needed help to get off the ice.
After practice, Nightingale said that Henry is dealing with a left-ankle injury and that he’s still being evaluated. Henry is expected to return to the Erie Otters in the OHL for the 2025-26 season.
Let’s hope the Blackhawks can dodge another injury scare from Thursday’s scrimmage.
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