With Patrick Kane now officially back in the fold, the Chicago Blackhawks forward group for the 2026-27 season appears to be set. That gives head coach Jeff Blashill roughly two months to sort through potential line combinations ahead of training camp, and there are some tough decisions he’ll have to make.
Who will fill into the top-line center role until Connor Bedard returns from injury? Where does ‘Showtime’ get positioned in the lineup, and who are his linemates? What’s the proper balance between the future generation and remaining veterans?
Check out the links for a projection on how the Blackhawks forward group shakes out come opening night on Sept. 29, without Bedard in the lineup.
Also in Blackhawks news, one 2026 draft selection has been ruled out of the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase in Ontario, while a 2025 first-rounder found the back of the net in a win for the United States.
Around the league, Connor McDavid’s frustration following Darnell Nurse’s departure, Nick Foligno pitches Quinn Hughes to sign an extension with Minnesota, and a minor trade between the Anaheim Ducks and Montreal Canadiens.
All that & more in the Daily!
Blackhawks Offseason, News & Trade Rumors
Chicago Hockey Now: Without Connor Bedard to start next season, will Frank Nazar or Anton Frondell serve as the first-line center? Which one does Patrick Kane play wing alongside? Who will play down the middle in the bottom six? Here’s a prediction of how Jeff Blashill goes about the Blackhawks forward lines early in the 2026-27 campaign.
Speaking of Kane, his Chicago media tour continued on Monday, as he joined “Pardon My Take” for a fun chat. He mentioned that Blackhawks’ CEO and Chairman Danny Wirtz reached out just minutes after the free-agent market opened on July 1. Kane said it was an emotional call, with Wirtz telling him a return would be something the city has never seen before.
It was also interesting to hear Kane say that he was impressed by Blashill during a recent conversation, as the Hawks’ head coach went through the roster and where he foresees Kane fitting into the group.
More CHN: The Blackhawks originally had four prospects attending this week’s 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase in Windsor, but that number is down to three after some unfortunate injury news on Monday. Defenseman Xavier Villeneuve, set to represent Canada, won’t be able to participate in the event as he continues to rehab from nagging hip issues. Here are all the details known about Villeneuve’s injury.
One of Chicago’s three prospects remaining in the Showcase is 2025 first-round pick Mason West, who scored his first goal of the event in a 6-4 win for USA White over Sweden on Monday night. After centering the team’s fourth line on Sunday, West was bumped up to right wing on the second line.
Lastly, just a few hours after Villeneuve was ruled out for the Showcase, Canada practiced together for the first time on Monday, providing a first look at potential forward lines and defensive pairings. Blackhawks 2026 second-round pick Ryan Roobroeck played right wing on a line with Caleb Desnoyers and Chase Harrington. Canada’s first game comes against Sweden on Wednesday.
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
The Athletic: Harman Dayal ranks every NHL team’s top-six center duos, starting from best (Tier 1) to worst (Tier 8). The Blackhawks find themselves in the middle of the pack, with one star center but a below-average 2C. Seems like a harsh judgment on Anton Frondell only 12 games into his career.
Daily Faceoff: Edmonton Oilers GM Stan Bowman has put on a masterclass this summer on how to run Connor McDavid out of town. McDavid spoke with the media at Zach Hyman’s Golf Classic on Monday, and even though he claimed to be excited about the offseason additions and a new head coach, his voiced displeasure about Darnell Nurse’s departure grabbed the headlines.
Montreal Hockey Now: The Montreal Canadiens completed a trade on Monday, acquiring Sasha Pastujov from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for prospect Sean Farrell in a change-of-scenery transaction. Pastujov, 23, tallied 57 points (21G, 36A) in 71 AHL games for the San Diego Gulls in 2025-26. Both players still need new contracts following the trade.
Sportsnet: Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes became eligible to sign a contract extension on July 1, but the two sides have yet to reach an agreement, leading to some speculation about his future. Former Blackhawks captain and current Wild forward Nick Foligno recently made a pitch for Hughes to remain in Minnesota, calling the decision a ‘no-brainer’.
Colorado Hockey Now: Regarding the projected Central Division winners for 2026-27, Aarif Dean writes that Jaden Schwartz is the Colorado Avalanche player with the most to prove next season. Schwartz could step directly into Valeri Nichushkin’s former spot in the top six, a role that comes with significant expectations.
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