The Chicago Blackhawks hit the ice for their first day of training camp on Thursday with new head coach Jeff Blashill at the helm. There are plenty of familiar faces and only a handful of new additions to the team’s training camp roster this year, but all 53 players are facing a fresh start with a complete overhaul behind the bench. There’s plenty to prove for prospects and veterans alike over the next 19 days.
Another season having come and gone means a new wave of talented youngsters vying for full-time NHL roster spots. More and more of GM Kyle Davidson’s high-end draft picks are finally arriving to the professional scene, making the 2025-26 season much more intriguing than recent years. It’s finally time to see some of these top prospects in action together.
Then, of course, there’s the duo of Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar, who look to establish a dynamic 1-2 punch down the middle for the Blackhawks. Ryan Donato, Teuvo Teravainen, Tyler Bertuzzi, Connor Murphy, and captain Nick Foligno lead the group of returning veterans gearing up for another NHL season.
Here are all the Blackhawks’ key storylines and position battles to watch before the regular season begins on October 7th in Florida.
Jeff Blashill’s Tendencies & Impact
It’s been a long time since the Blackhawks had a head coach with previous NHL experience in the position. Jeremy Colliton, Derek King, Luke Richardson, and Anders Sorensen have filled the role since the firing of Joel Quenneville back in November 2018, with all four being first-time NHL bench bosses.
While Blashill has only one previous stint as a head coach in the league, it was for a healthy seven seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. Like the Blachawks are currently, the Red Wings were rebuilding throughout Blashill’s tenure, and his experience with that situation likely played a big factor in him landing his new gig.
The Jeff Blashill Era officially begins tomorrow at Fifth Third Arena, and it starts during a crucial point in development for several key players and prospects. The Blackhawks are hoping Blashill’s background and expertise will aid in the likes of Bedard and Nazar taking the next step. Sam Rinzel and Oliver Moore both showed promise last season — can Blashill help them pick up where they left off? The new head coach’s impact and how he handles the young players will be interesting over the next few weeks.
Training camp and preseason games also provide the first look at the systems, combinations & pairings, and the overall mentality of the team under Blashill. When speaking with the media in August, Blashill referenced some of his on-ice tendencies and how he wants to instill them during camp. We’ll start to see that in action tomorrow.
Connor Bedard’s Growth
Regardless of what some people think, Bedard is off to a strong start to his NHL career. He was the Blackhawks’ leading scorer both as an 18 and 19-year-old with little support around him. He’s tallied at least 60 points in back-to-back seasons while playing for one of the worst teams in hockey. Not to mention handling the pressure of being labeled a “generational talent” and being drafted by an Original Six franchise remarkably well, for still being a kid.
However, there are certainly areas to improve and room for growth in Bedard’s game for him to become a superstar. One aspect Bedard focused on in particular during his offseason training was his speed, which is arguably the most crucial trait in becoming a dominant player in the modern-day NHL. Through his first two seasons, Bedard has lacked the top speed that elite guys like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon possess, among others. If Bedard wants to make a significant leap in his third NHL season, he must improve on his skating.
Bedard also has struggled mightily at the faceoff dot as an NHLer, and he’ll need to make strides in that area if he wants to be a full-time center. The Blackhawks brought in two-time Selke Trophy winner Michael Peca as an assistant coach this summer, and he’ll be in charge of faceoff duties. Peca helped the New York Rangers’ team faceoff-win percentage rise during his stint with the club.
As always, all eyes will be on Bedard — and what kind of growth he made over the summer — as he hits the ice tomorrow ahead of his third NHL season.
Who Plays With Bedard?
The Blackhawks’ top-six forward group doesn’t feel like much of a mystery, given the lack of additions in the offseason. Donato, Teravainen, and Bertuzzi are back, while Bedard and Nazar are locked into the first and second-line center roles. The sixth and final spot likely goes to one of the few new faces on the team — Andre Burakovsky. But there is still the question of which two wings open up with Bedard, and which two wings open up with Nazar.
Going back to last season, Bedard’s most consistent linemate was Donato, who capitalized on the opportunity and had a career year. Donato potted a team-leading 31 goals and was second on the team with 62 points, leading to a four-year contract extension this summer. Donato is now cemented as part of the core during his time under contract, and I’m expecting him to get a look with Bedard on the top line out of the gate. They established clear chemistry with each other last season.
The other top-line wing spot feels like it’s much more up for grabs. Bertuzzi signed a four-year contract extension in July 2024 and seemed likely to open up the following season with Bedard… only to never receive a consistent top-line opportunity under Richardson. Teravainen finished last season on a high note and probably is the most talented option… but he also didn’t spend much time with Bedard. Burakovsky’s goal-scoring abilities and speed for a player of his size make him an intriguing potential weapon, but he’s been inconsistent since leaving the Colorado Avalanche.
Time will tell which of the five likely options opens up the regular season with Bedard on the Blackhawks’ top line.
Which Young Defensemen Win Jobs?
The Blackhawks’ blue line will be loaded with young talent this season. There’s a chance six of the seven defensemen on the opening night roster are under the age of 25, with Murphy being the only exception.
After an excellent first stint late last season, on top of a strong showing at the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase, Rinzel looks ready to man the team’s top defensive pairing alongside Alex Vlasic. That’s where Rinzel spent most of his first nine NHL games, and I expect him to be there come October 7th.
In addition to Rinzel, Artyom Levshunov, Kevin Korchinski, Wyatt Kaiser (still awaiting a new contract), Ethan Del Mastro, Louis Crevier, and Nolan Allan are up-and-comers gunning for the NHL roster. There are likely only four NHL spots available for seven players, so which young defensemen rise to the occasion in camp?
Levshunov, Kaiser, and Del Mastro seem the most likely of the bunch to make the team, although nothing is certain. Especially after the Blackhawks signed veteran defenseman Matt Grzelyck to a PTO earlier this week, which made an already crowded group even more clogged up.
Which Young Forwards Win Jobs?
With Foligno, Dickinson, and Ilya Mikheyev returning this season, three of the bottom-six forward slots are already tied down. Sam Lafferty, who’s back with the Blackhawks yet again, is likely opening up the year on the fourth line. There goes a fourth spot.
Then, there’s Lukas Reichel, who seems to be in limbo in terms of his current AND future role with the team. Trade rumors involving Reichel have popped up again recently, but if he’s still with the Blackhawks on October 7th, he’ll be part of the NHL roster.
That doesn’t leave much room for young forwards like Oliver Moore, Landon Slaggert, Colton Dach, and Ryan Greene. Realistically, the Blackhawks only have room for one or two of those four players. Moore is undoubtedly the most skilled of the bunch, but Dach’s build and playing style fit a need for the team.
There aren’t many jobs to be earned, but the internal competition between the young forwards for the few available will be excellent.
Lukas Reichel vs. Blackhawks
Reichel, the 17th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, has struggled mightily to find his role since joining the Blackhawks’ organization. Now 23 years old, Reichel is entering a make-or-break season, and there’s a chance it doesn’t even occur in Chicago.
Personally, I don’t expect Reichel to get dealt before the regular season begins. It feels like it would have already happened. But remaining with the Blackhawks likely means another season down in the bottom six, where Reichel has found little to no success so far. He’s a phenomenal skater and brings skill to the table, but he’s probably not getting a chance in the top six. Not unless he looks like a different player during training camp.
While the Blackhawks probably should have given Reichel more opportunities on the first and second line in recent years, he also didn’t do himself any favors with his lack of consistency. Is this the season that Reichel finally puts it all together? Can he finally become an effective, speedy bottom-six winger? Do the Blackhawks end up trading him?
There are lots of questions surrounding Reichel — and the Blackhawks — as training camp opens up.
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