The Blackhawks have their 2026 training camp picture in place, and the race to opening night is already taking shape.
Chicago announced its 50-player camp roster and schedule Wednesday afternoon, with camp set to open Thursday morning at Blackhawks Ice Center and run through Monday, Sept. 28. That leaves just 13 days before the games start counting for real, and with the NHL shifting to an 84-game regular season in 2026-27, there’s even less time than usual for head coach Jeff Blashill to sort through the roster.
Blashill is expected to break the group into NHL and non-NHL players right away, starting with the first practice on Thursday. The goal is simple: identify lines, pairings, and the quickest path to opening night.
The camp roster includes 29 forwards, 16 defensemen, and 5 goaltenders, mixing returning young players with several high-profile first-year pros and a couple of notable offseason additions.
Among the forwards, Connor Bedard is the lone injured player, which opens another spot at the top end of the roster. Tyler Bertuzzi, Ryan Donato, Jordan Greenway, Patrick Kane, Andrew Mangiapane, Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore, Teuvo Teravainen, and others are part of the mix, along with first-year pros AJ Spellacy, Sacha Boisvert, and Marek Vanacker, who will try to force their way onto the NHL roster out of camp.
Not everyone in the forward group is staying put. Parker Holmes and Ryan Roobroeck are the only two prospects expected to play junior hockey this year, and both will be reassigned before the regular season begins - Holmes to Brantford and Roobroeck to Niagara in the OHL.
A cluster of forwards is expected to head to Rockford to start the season: Dillon Boucher, Jiri Felcman, Gavin Hayes, Paul Ludwinski, Martin Misiak, Connor Mylymok, Samuel Savoie, Brett Seney, and Dominic Toninato. That leaves 17 forwards fighting for 14 spots on the opening-night roster.
On defense, the Blackhawks brought 16 players into camp, led by Bowen Byram, Ian Cole, Wyatt Kaiser, Kevin Korchinski, Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel, and Alex Vlasic, who project as the seven defensemen on the opening-night roster.
Ty Henry is the only defense prospect expected to return to junior hockey, heading back to the Erie Otters in the OHL after his college path to St. Thomas University was delayed until next year. Because he’s 20, he remains eligible for the OHL this season.
The rest of the likely minor-league group on defense includes Dylan Anhorn, Ashton Cumby, Cavan Fitzgerald, Jake Furlong, Taige Harding, Connor Mackey, and Derrick Pouliot. Ethan Del Mastro also appears headed to Rockford, though getting him there would require waivers.
In goal, Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom project as the Blackhawks’ tandem to start 2026-27. Drew Commesso could still push for the backup job if he has a strong camp and preseason, while Commesso and Stanislav Berezhnoy are likely headed to Rockford. Adam Gajan’s path is less clear; the 2023 second-round pick could either serve as a third goalie with the IceHogs or take a larger role with the ECHL’s Indy Fuel.
The Blackhawks also have four preseason games scheduled during camp as they get ready for their regular-season opener on Sept. 29 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Training camp practices at Blackhawks Ice Center are free and open to the public, giving fans a first look at how the roster is coming together before the season begins.
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 🡒]