The Blackhawks have already handed Connor Bedard the captain’s job, but the real long-term question is who ends up wearing the A around him once the current bridge pieces move on.
Chicago announced Bedard as the 37th captain in franchise history, with Nick Foligno having been traded to the Minnesota Wild at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. Foligno’s run helped bridge the gap between Jonathan Toews and Bedard, and now the spotlight shifts to the next layer of leadership behind the new captain.
For the moment, that layer is made up of Patrick Kane and Tyler Bertuzzi, who were both named alternate captains. It’s an obvious fit. Kane and Bertuzzi have been around long enough to understand the grind and the scrutiny that comes with life in the NHL, and both bring the kind of steadiness teams want next to a young star.
That setup probably won’t last forever, though. Kane is 37 and on a two-year deal.
Bertuzzi is 31 and also has two years left on his contract. When those deals run out, Chicago may be back in the market for new alternate captains, and the roster could look very different by then.
Still, there are a few names already lining up for that conversation.
Frank Nazar looks like one of the strongest candidates. He’s viewed as a major piece of the franchise and has the ceiling of a top-six forward who can deliver meaningful offense.
Just as important, he can handle all situations and already comes across as a natural presence in the room. He works well with the media, takes on challenges head-on, and seems built for a formal leadership role down the road.
Alex Vlasic fits the classic quiet-leader mold. He’s the kind of defenseman who doesn’t need to say much to matter.
If the Blackhawks had not signed Patrick Kane during the offseason, Vlasic might already be wearing an A. He’s established himself as a respected blue liner, and if a defenseman rises to the top of Chicago’s leadership list, Vlasic is the one most likely to be there.
Bowen Byram belongs in that mix too. He’s on a lucrative long-term contract, which often brings leadership expectations with it, and he has already built a strong resume as a productive NHL player.
The thought was that he might have been a candidate for the second A alongside Kane, but holding off makes sense while he settles into a new team. Eventually, that role should come into view.
Then there’s Anton Frondell, who is still early in his career and hasn’t played many NHL games yet. Even so, he’s already described as mature beyond his years and someone who has led at every level he’s played.
Sometimes leadership shows up in the personality before it shows up in the résumé, and Frondell sounds like one of those cases. If Chicago ever gets to the point of rotating letters among three or four players, he figures to be in the conversation.
There are more names worth keeping on the radar, too. Wyatt Kaiser, Sam Rinzel, Ryan Greene, Oliver Moore, and Nick Lardis have all been leaders before, and over time there may be more candidates than available letters.
The larger point is simple: the best teams have players who set the tone whether they have a patch on their sweater or not. That was true during the dynasty years, when Marian Hossa, Brent Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Johnny Oduya helped lead without always carrying official titles.
For Chicago, the formula is clear enough. Play the game the right way, bring maximum effort, and let the leadership sort itself out. If the talent keeps growing and the standard stays high, the rest tends to follow.
In Other News...
Blackhawks Just Made Ethan Del Mastro A Much Bigger Camp Story
Ethan Del Mastros summer took another meaningful step when the Blackhawks signed the defenseman to a new contract, turning a player who was already on the radar into a much bigger camp storyline. Drafted 105th overall in 2021, Del Mastro has already logged professional time with the AHLs Rockford IceHogs and even got a taste of the NHL with Chicago, so this is no longer just about long-term projection. It is about how soon he can carve out a real role on a blue line that has gotten more crowded.
For the Blackhawks, that makes his camp worth watching closely. Del Mastro now has a clearer path to stick around, but it is still no sure thing he opens the season in Chicago, especially with the competition on defense tightening. The signing gives him another chance to push his way into the picture, and it also leaves the organization with a decision that could matter just as much for the roster as for Del Mastros immediate future. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Just Added Another Young Defenseman To A Crowded Camp Battle
Ethan Del Mastros place in the Blackhawks future got a little clearer with a new contract extension, giving the organization another young defenseman to sort through as its blue-line picture continues to take shape. Drafted by Chicago in 2021, Del Mastro has already split time between the Blackhawks and the Rockford IceHogs, and he has added a pair of gold medals at the IIHF World Championships to his rsum along the way.
The extension also puts a bow on Chicagos roster signings heading into the 2026-27 training camp, which only sharpens the competition that will unfold when camp opens. For a team still trying to define which young defensemen will stick long term, Del Mastros new deal keeps him in the conversation and adds another layer to a battle that is only getting more crowded. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Just Settled One Camp Issue Around Ethan Del Mastro
Ethan Del Mastro has his next chapter lined up in Chicago after the Blackhawks settled one of the quieter roster questions of camp. The defensemans path has already included time in both the NHL and AHL since turning pro, and the new agreement gives the organization another young blue-liner under contract as it continues sorting out its back end for the season ahead.
The bigger question now is where Del Mastro fits once camp decisions start getting made in earnest. He is still on the fringe of the NHL group and could wind up back in Rockford if the Blackhawks choose to go that route, but doing so would not be a simple paper move. [Read more 🡒]