The Blackhawks left preseason at 2-2-0, and the final tune-up only sharpened the conversation around how quickly this young group is coming together. Chicago’s 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night had a little bit of everything the Hawks have been looking for: strong work from the kids, a power-play spark, and more evidence that the roster picture is about to get interesting.
Roman Kantserov made the strongest case of the night. The 44th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft scored a slick power-play goal to push Chicago ahead 3-0, and he did it while looking comfortable on a second line with Teuvo Teravainen and Nick Lardis.
The Hawks created quality chances from their top two lines against St. Louis, with Anton Frondell opening the game by scoring first.
Tyler Bertuzzi played his part, too, delivering the saucer pass that set up Kantserov for his first unofficial goal for Chicago.
That kind of chemistry matters, especially with the power play expected to be a real launch point if Kantserov earns a roster spot. Bertuzzi and Patrick Kane would be the kind of setup men who can make life easier for the 22-year-old as he adjusts to NHL ice time.
There’s also a clear reason the Kantserov buzz feels different. The source material draws a line between him and Artemi Panarin, who came over from the Kontinental Hockey League in 2015.
In Panarin’s case, Chicago’s core was already deep into its run. With Kantserov, the timing is flipped: the foundation is still being built.
Both are described as big goal scorers with a high hockey IQ, and Kantserov’s 5-foot-9 frame hasn’t stopped him from being called a strong two-way forward who can play center or wing. If he ends up alongside Kane, it would give Hawks fans a familiar kind of KHL-to-Chicago connection.
Oliver Moore is making a strong argument of his own. He signed a five-year, $21.25 million extension on Sept. 24, and the way he has progressed from the end of last season to now makes that deal look like a smart bet on the future. Moore, the 19th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, debuted on March 30 in the final stretch of the 2024-25 season, and his skating remains his best weapon.
Chicago now has Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore and Alex Vlasic locked up through the end of the decade at the very least, and that group gives the Blackhawks a fast, talented core to build around. Moore’s game has taken another step since his debut, even though the offense around him hasn’t always been there.
After the preseason finale, his development looks ahead of schedule. He has shown he can slide anywhere in the lineup and still contribute as a two-way forward, which only adds to the excitement around seeing more of him at the United Center this season.
The Hawks’ week now turns to a three-game road trip: at the Vegas Golden Knights on Tues., Sept. 29 at T-Mobile Arena at 9:30 P.M. CDT, at the Utah Mammoth on Thurs., Oct. 1 at Delta Center at 8:30 P.M.
CDT, and at the Buffalo Sabres on Sat., Oct. 3 at KeyBank Center at 6:00 P.M. CDT.
One more preseason note stood out: Chicago was perfect on the penalty kill, a notable development after losing two key special teams players in Ilya Mikheyev and Jason Dickinson. If the Blackhawks can push their opponents in that opening road stretch, it will say plenty about how quickly this young core is maturing.
In Other News...
Blackhawks Make Early Roster Cuts With One Forward Suddenly At Risk
Chicagos early camp roster math took a sharp turn as the Blackhawks began trimming the group and shifting players toward Rockford. Dillon Boucher and Drew Commesso were loaned to the AHL, and the forward group now sits at 14 players, a sign that the front office and coaching staff are starting to get a clearer look at who belongs in the next round of decisions.
Landon Slaggert and Dominic Toninato were placed on waivers with the intent of sending them to the IceHogs, which immediately opens up more room for the blue-line evaluation that is still unfolding. That extra space could keep Kevin Korchinski and Ethan Del Mastro with the NHL team a little longer, giving the Blackhawks one more chance to assess them before the roster picture tightens again. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Camp Battle Just Tipped As Opening Night Roster Nears
The Blackhawks are at the point in camp where the margins get thin and every final decision starts to carry real weight. Chicago moved closer to setting its 23-player roster for the 2026-27 regular season by placing forwards Landon Slaggert and Dominic Toninato on waivers, while defenseman Ethan Del Mastro appears to have edged out the competition for the last spot on the blue line.
The rest of the roster picture is beginning to take shape around those moves, with goaltender Drew Commesso and forward Dillon Boucher already loaned to the AHL after the preseason wrapped up. For Chicago, the next step is less about sorting through auditions and more about seeing which familiar names clear the final hurdle before opening night. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Face One Roster Question Before Early Vegas Test
The Blackhawks are down to the final days before their season opener against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sept. 29, and the roster picture is coming into sharper focus. Chicago has already made a handful of camp cuts, sending Sacha Boisvert, A.J. Spellacy and Drew Commesso to Rockford as the club trims toward its opening-night group and starts to settle on who will be part of the early-season mix.
Head coach Jeff Blashill has already acknowledged there will be a learning curve when the games start to count, which makes the final personnel decisions all the more important. One more roster move has added to the intrigue, leaving Chicago with a lingering question as it prepares for a tough first test and begins sorting out how the lineup will look once the season gets going. [Read more 🡒]