The Chicago Blackhawks wasted no time giving training camp a little bit of everything on Thursday: a hard collision at center ice, Patrick Kane back on the ice with the group, and a Connor Bedard update from Kyle Davidson to close out the day.
That opener brought the usual camp chaos, the kind that comes with everyone trying to sort out who’s staying, who’s headed to Rockford, and who’s going to get a real look.
The loudest moment came when Artyom Levshunov absolutely leveled Ryan Donato. In a clip captured by @BedsysBurner98 on X, Levshunov came up the middle and ran into Donato at center ice. Both players were reportedly fine after what ended up as a funny mistake.
Kane’s return was the other big draw. Since July, there had been plenty of buzz around his comeback, and Thursday marked his first skate with his new teammates and old team. He said it feels good to be back, even though a lot around him has changed.
“A lot of it is so familiar in a lot of ways, and then you get out there on the ice, and you look at all the players out there, and everyone’s completely different. Different coaches, different players, so different in that way.
But yeah, so exciting. Great to be back at camp.
Great to get this thing rolling.” (per Charlie Roumeliotis)
Mario Tirabassi also reported that “Showtime” still has the same touch. During breakout drills, Kane went to his signature spin-o-rama off the rush, and it looked just as dangerous as ever.
After the first day wrapped, Davidson handled the questions everyone expected about Bedard. The Blackhawks’ new captain hurt his shoulder in July during offseason training, and the team is still waiting on his full return.
Davidson said Bedard’s rehab has been moving in the right direction and that he has “checked every box so far.” He added that “…in terms of an altered timeline, either positive or negative, we’re not there yet, but he’s checking every box so far.”
For now, Frank Nazar is set to center line one with Roman Kantserov and Patrick Kane on his wings.
In Other News...
Blackhawks First Practice Put Two Huge Early Season Storylines In Focus
The Blackhawks first official practice of the season offered an early look at how Derek Blashill wants to sort out his lineup, with the opening combinations and defensive pairings giving the staff a first real chance to test ideas in camp. Blashill pointed to the top line as a focal point and noted the kind of physical edge he expects from the fourth line, while also making clear the blue line is still very much a work in progress.
Kyle Davidsons update on Connor Bedard added another layer to a day that already carried plenty of early-season intrigue. The general manager said Bedards recovery is moving along on a planned timeline, which leaves the organization in the familiar wait-and-see stage as camp gets underway and the Blackhawks keep sorting through both immediate roles and longer-term concerns. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Special Teams Look Suddenly Matters For More Than Chemistry
The opening days of Blackhawks training camp were always going to be about sorting lines and defensive pairs under Jeff Blashill, especially with so many new faces expected to matter right away. Patrick Kane, Anton Frondell, Roman Kantserov and Bowen Byram are all part of the early picture, and Byram already looks positioned to give the blue line a steadier anchor next to Alex Vlasic as Chicago starts to define what this roster is supposed to look like.
Special teams may end up telling as much of the story as the even-strength combos, though, because the penalty kill and power play are already getting a serious reset. Greenway, Smith and Cole have been working into key roles on the kill, while the top power-play group is being built around Kane, Kantserov, Frondell, Bertuzzi and Byram. For a team trying to turn camp into a foundation, those units are no longer just about chemistry - they are one of the clearest early signs of who Blashill trusts when the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Patrick Kane Faces A Different Challenge In His Blackhawks Return
Patrick Kane is back in Chicago with a very different assignment than the one he carried during the peak of his playing days. Beyond what he can still provide on the ice, the Blackhawks want his return to help shape the next wave of the roster, giving a young group a veteran presence that can ease the transition from prospects to NHL regulars.
The bigger test now is less about points and more about presence. For Kane, the job includes being the kind of teammate younger players can turn to every day, the sort of player who helps build trust and cohesion in the room while setting an example for how to handle the grind around the team. [Read more 🡒]