The Chicago Blackhawks have spent much of the opening stretch of the 2026-27 season searching for answers, and the early returns have been uneven at best. Connor Bedard missed the first six games with an injury, the team sat last in the Central Division with four points heading into Thursday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets, and the standings have reflected how little has gone smoothly.
But amid the slow start, Anton Frondell has given the Blackhawks something they desperately needed: a real reason to pay attention.
Through just eight games, the rookie forward has become the team’s clearest bright spot and an early Calder Trophy candidate. He has six points already, which puts him atop all NHL rookies in both assists and points, and he also leads the Blackhawks in those same categories. For a team that has been short on offense, that matters.
Frondell’s rise has been especially noticeable because of the situation around him. Without Bedard in the lineup, Chicago’s offense often looked stuck in place.
The Blackhawks opened with three straight losses, allowing 15 goals while scoring only five against the Golden Knights, Mammoth and Sabres. Goaltending wobbled too, whether it was Knight or Söderblom in net.
After a 4-2 win over the Blues in Patrick Kane’s return to the United Center, the Blackhawks dropped games to the Islanders and Hurricanes while giving up nine goals and scoring only three.
Then Bedard came back, and the team’s results started to shift. Chicago beat the Penguins 5-3, its highest-scoring game of the season, and followed that with a 4-3 overtime win over the Jets on Thursday night, Oct.
- But even before the captain’s return, Frondell was already forcing his way into the conversation.
Last season, Frondell played only 12 games and posted three goals and six assists. This year, he has moved into a full-time rookie role and is already outperforming that brief sample.
Head coach Jeff Blashill has shown real trust in him, even using him in a matchup against Sidney Crosby in the win over Pittsburgh. Frondell won 14 of 23 faceoffs that night, another sign of how quickly he has earned responsibility.
His work at the dot has been one of the biggest jumps. Frondell’s faceoff percentage is up to 46.2% from 30.2% last season, and Chicago has also leaned on him on the penalty kill. Bedard’s return may trim some of those assignments, but the Blackhawks have already seen what happens when Frondell gets chances.
For a club that has needed help from somewhere, he has provided it. And right now, that makes him the one clear bright spot in Chicago’s early season.
In Other News...
Blackhawks Finally Have A Real Chance To Build On This Start
After a rough opening stretch, the Blackhawks have started to look more like a team with some direction, and a big reason is simple: the forward group is finally getting healthy. Connor Bedards return earlier than expected from shoulder surgery gave the lineup an immediate lift, and the recent reinforcements have helped stabilize a group that needed more skill and more options up front. The difference has shown up in the results, with the team playing better hockey as the roster has filled back in.
Jeff Blashill has talked about what it means when the forwards are available and contributing, and the confidence level around the team has clearly changed with that fuller group on the ice. Frank Nazars return from suspension, along with Patrick Kane and Anton Frondell being back in the lineup, gives Chicago more speed, more depth and more ways to attack. The bigger question now is whether this stretch can become something more than a brief reset, because this is the first real chance the Blackhawks have had to see what this version of the roster can actually build toward. [Read more 🡒]
Roman Kantserov Is Giving Blackhawks Fans A New Reason To Watch
Roman Kantserov has started to look more comfortable in a Blackhawks sweater at just the right time, and his recent run has given fans a fresh reason to tune in. After settling in through his early games, he has found his footing on the first line with Connor Bedard and Patrick Kane, a spot that can accelerate a young players growth in a hurry. The result has been a burst of offense, highlighted by his first career goal and a multi-goal night that showed why the organization has been eager to see what he can do.
The bigger question now is how much of this stretch can carry over as the season goes on. Playing alongside Bedard and Kane gives Kantserov a chance to learn from two of the most influential players on the roster while also giving the Blackhawks another developing scorer to watch closely. For a team looking for signs of progress, his recent production has been one of the more encouraging developments, and it may only be the beginning of a much more interesting rookie year. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Winning Formula Suddenly Looks Bigger Than Just Their Stars
The early signs around the Blackhawks are starting to look a lot more encouraging than just a couple of hot nights from their top names. With Connor Bedard back in the lineup and Frank Nazar rejoining the mix after his two-game suspension, Chicago has found contributions from new additions and returning players alike, and the results have followed with a pair of recent wins. Patrick Kane and coach Derek Blashill have both pointed to the same thing: the lineup is starting to feel deeper, and that matters when a team wants its performance to hold up beyond one line or one pair of stars.
What makes that more interesting for Chicago is the way the scoring has been spread around in those wins, with multiple players finding the scoresheet in each game. For a young team still trying to build something more stable, that kind of balance can be just as important as highlight-reel talent. The Blackhawks are still early in the season, but the bigger question now is whether this depth is a short burst or the start of a more consistent formula. [Read more 🡒]