The Blackhawks are getting back into view, and training camp is almost here. Connor Bedard has been seen on the ice and skating, the rookie showcase has already produced fresh quotes from Chicago’s young players, and the season suddenly feels a lot closer.
That makes this the right time to zero in on a few of the biggest things worth watching once camp opens.
One of the most intriguing questions sits right at the top of the lineup card: how will Jeff Blashill handle it, especially with Bedard most likely out for a month? That opens the door for some younger players to get real chances, and one name to watch is Roman Kantserov. Scott Powers of The Athletic said he believes the rookie could begin as the first-line center with Patrick Kane on the wing.
“I think he’s [Roman Kantserov] going to start as the #1 Center from the little whispers I’ve heard. I think he’s going to play with [Patrick] Kane to start the season. It’s not definitive but there’s a good chance he plays center.”
- @ByScottPowers
Link:
- Chicago Prospects (@Chi_Prospects) September 1, 2026
Kantserov has played center before during his time with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in Russia, though he later moved to the right wing. His scoring touch is already established - he put up 36 goals in 63 games in the KHL last season - but the real test, if he gets a look down the middle, will be whether he can handle the defensive side of the job.
That matters in Chicago because the Blackhawks were the second-worst team in the league last season in expected goals against per 60 minutes. That number tells the story of how many chances they gave up, and there’s no reason to expect a dramatic leap overnight. Being young explains part of it, but the team still has to start tightening things up if it wants to move forward.
Blashill’s choices won’t stop there. There’s also the question of how much trust he’ll place in Anton Frondell, how much ice time Nick Lardis will get, and whether the coach leans more on veterans than on the youth pushing to break through. That mix is part of what makes this camp so interesting: Chicago is in the middle of a transition, and the decisions now will say a lot about how the season starts.
Another battle worth tracking is in goal, even if it doesn’t have the flash of a top-line center fight. Arvid Soderblom has improved since entering the league, and the way this team plays has not made life easy on any backup. Still, Drew Commesso deserves a serious look after a strong season in the American Hockey League.
In 37 games with the Rockford IceHogs, Commesso posted a .901 save percentage. He also appeared in three games for the Blackhawks last season, including a 36-save shutout on the road against the Nashville Predators. He’ll have to win the job, of course, but at 24 years old, this feels like the right moment for him to push hard for it.
Soderblom is entering the final year of his contract with a $2.75 million average annual value. If he were sent down, $1.225 million could be buried, leaving $1.525 million on the cap. A trade doesn’t seem especially likely, but he is only 27, carries NHL experience, and has a relatively modest deal that could appeal to a team looking for goaltending depth.
So while both goalies have value as a third option, the real pressure point is whether Commesso can turn this into more than a competition on paper.
Then there’s Artyom Levshunov, who may be facing the biggest season of anyone on this list. The second overall pick has already had a rocky first two seasons, with time spent in the AHL and even in the press box. Patience is still part of the equation, but Chicago needs to see progress now, especially in the defensive zone.
His numbers underline the concern. Last season, Levshunov posted an expected goals against per 60 minutes of 3.53, which was higher than his rookie season mark of 3.26. The talent is there, but he has to make his game less chaotic if Blashill is going to trust him.
There were signs he was starting to settle in after the Winter Olympic break, though there was still plenty left to clean up. Camp can only tell you so much, but if Levshunov doesn’t look sharp there, it would be hard to ignore.
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