The Blackhawks are officially back on the ice, and the timing could not be cleaner. Training camp opened Wednesday at Blackhawks Ice Center, the first preseason game is a little more than 48 hours away, and Chicago has already handled the last bit of offseason housekeeping by getting defenseman Ethan Del Delastro under contract on a new two-year deal.
That means the roster is set for the start of camp, and the next 12 days will be all about sorting out the details. The Blackhawks have a 50-player camp roster in place, a full schedule ahead of the season opener against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sept. 29, and a long list of questions to answer before opening night. Among them: who centers the top line until Connor Bedard returns, who skates with Patrick Kane, and whether any NHL jobs are actually up for grabs.
Chicago also had a big day off the ice. The team named Connor Bedard the 37th captain in franchise history on Tuesday, and head coach Jeff Blashill revealed the two alternate captains for 2026-27.
On Wednesday, the Blackhawks’ social media account shared Media Day photos and clips, including the first look at Patrick Kane back in a Blackhawks sweater with the “A” on his chest. Bedard, naturally, was shown wearing the “C” as well.
For fans tracking the prospect pipeline, Wednesday brought a couple of preseason polls. In the NCHC Preseason Media Poll, 2025 third-round pick Nathan Behm and Arizona State were projected ninth out of 10 teams. The Hockey East preseason coaches poll had John Mustard, Julius Sumpf, and Providence at No. 1, followed by Vaclav Nestrasil, Samu Alalauri, and UMass at No. 2, with Blackhawks 2026 top draft choice Xavier Villeneuve and Boston University coming in third.
Around the league, there was no shortage of noise. The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn and Scott Wheeler placed the Blackhawks in the “Win Later” tier in their NHL Contention Cycle column, alongside the San Jose Sharks.
In Winnipeg, Connor Hellebuyck did not report for the start of camp after his trade request was not met, and the Jets suspended him. Detroit’s Dylan Larkin is dealing with an upper-body injury suffered during offseason training and will not be on the ice at camp.
In Colorado, Cale Makar is out at the start of camp with a minor lower-body injury, while the Islanders said Mathew Barzal will miss the next two weeks after reaggravating a prior injury that has caused inflammation.
Elsewhere, the Devils signed Luke Evangelista to a five-year deal, taking him out of next summer’s offer-sheet conversation.
And in one more note from the wider hockey world, Ryan Reaves announced his retirement on social media Wednesday. Reaves was one of the last four NHL skaters eligible to play without a visor, and his career spanned 1,075 games with St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Vegas, the New York Rangers, Minnesota, and Toronto.
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 🡒]