The Chicago Blackhawks made a big swing this offseason when they landed Bowen Byram, but that move may not be the final word on their blue line.
For all the talent Chicago has collected, the defense still looks lopsided. Byram, Kevin Korchinski, Alex Vlasic and Wyatt Kaiser give the Blackhawks plenty of left-handed options, but that group doesn’t solve the same-side issue. On the right side, Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel are two promising young pieces, yet they may not be the kind of blueliners a team leans on for a playoff push right now.
That distinction matters depending on how fast Chicago wants to move its rebuild along. If the Blackhawks are willing to wait another two or three seasons for the whole group to settle in, the need for a proven right-shot defenseman becomes less urgent. But if the goal is to speed things up this season, the lack of a dependable right-handed partner is a real problem.
That’s where Byram comes back into the picture. One option would be to play him on his offside, possibly alongside Alex Vlasic.
On paper, that setup makes some sense. In reality, it would ask Byram to do more than just carry the load as Chicago’s best defenseman.
He can handle the switch, but it raises the question of whether that is the best long-term use of him.
A short-term move could work. If Byram spends part of the season on the right, that would not be a disaster. But making that arrangement permanent could create more issues than it solves, and it leaves Jeff Blashill without a true top-line right-handed defenseman.
There is always the possibility that Levshunov develops into the answer. If he becomes the right-shot defender Chicago needs, then a Byram-Levshunov pairing would clean things up quickly. But that is a big ask for such a young player, and there is no guarantee it happens soon enough.
So the Blackhawks may still need another addition on the back end. A veteran right-shot defenseman who can fit next to Byram would let Chicago keep Byram on his natural side, which seems like the cleaner solution.
The catch is simple: those players are hard to find. If one becomes available during the season, the Blackhawks may jump.
Until then, the option to move Byram over may be the only move left on the board.
In Other News...
Blackhawks Fans Have A Unique Reason To Remember Barry Melrose
Barry Melrose, the former NHL player, coach and broadcaster who became one of hockeys most familiar television voices, died at 70. His career stretched from the ice to the bench to the studio, with stops as a player for the Maple Leafs, Jets and Red Wings, then later as a coach for the Kings and Lightning before he settled in as a longtime ESPN and NHL Network analyst.
For Blackhawks fans, Melroses name carries a little extra weight because of how often he crossed paths with Chicago during his playing days. He was part of a generation of NHL personalities who seemed to show up everywhere the league mattered, and for a lot of viewers, his presence on broadcasts helped define the modern NHL conversation long after he stopped coaching. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Prospects Are Getting Hype For A Reason This Season
The Blackhawks prospect pipeline keeps drawing attention, and this latest round of buzz comes with some real substance behind it. NHL Networks new top-prospect list underscores why Chicago remains one of the more interesting teams to watch on the developmental side, with Anton Frondell and Roman Kantserov both generating legitimate anticipation as they head into the NHL conversation and remain eligible for the Calder Trophy this season.
Frondells reputation has been building off strong showings in previous leagues, while Kantserov has also shown enough to suggest there is real upside waiting to be unlocked. The question for Chicago is less about whether the talent is there and more about how quickly it can translate at the next level, especially as both players begin the transition from promising names to possible rookie-impact pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Prospects Have A Real Chance To Change Camp Expectations
The Blackhawks are set to open their 2026 Prospect Showcase with practices beginning Sept. 11, then a pair of games against St. Louis prospects that should offer an early look at the next wave of talent in the system. Even with the event missing some key names because of college commitments, Chicago still has a group worth watching, with A.J. Spellacy, Sacha Boisvert and Marek Vanacker expected to take part and push for attention as the organization keeps leaning into development.
Taige Harding will add another physical element on the blue line, while Ryan Roobroeck brings a fresh look from the 2026 draft class and gives the weekend a little extra intrigue. For a team trying to reshape expectations around camp and beyond, the showcase is less about a final answer than about which prospects can force their way into the conversation earlier than planned. [Read more 🡒]