The Blackhawks are about two weeks from preseason action, and the list of things worth watching is already long. Chicago opens exhibition play against the Minnesota Wild on Sept. 19, and the early storyline mix is packed with familiar names and a few prospects who could force their way into the conversation.
Connor Bedard is right in the middle of it, as is Roman Kantserov, and Sam Rinzel is another name drawing attention heading into the season. There’s optimism around the group, but plenty of questions come with it too.
One of the biggest is how the leadership group will come together. Another is whether head coach Jeff Blashill will feel real heat if the season doesn’t go well.
And beyond the NHL roster, the Rockford IceHogs could be one of the more interesting parts of the organization with so many prospects in the pipeline.
Bedard, meanwhile, was placed in the third tier in The Athletic’s recent players tier rankings. The case being made is that the ranking says as much about the roster around him as it does about Bedard himself, with general manager Kyle Davidson’s construction of the team playing a major role in that discussion.
There’s also plenty of buzz around Sam Rinzel. One look at his swagger, according to the reporting, and it’s easy to see why there’s belief he could put together a strong 2026-27 campaign.
The IceHogs are set up to be a fun watch in their own right. With a wave of talented prospects in the fold, Rockford could become a constant source of intrigue. That includes players nearing the end of their entry-level contracts, as well as names who may eventually get a shot with the Blackhawks.
Leadership is another major thread. With the captaincy still vacant, the debate has gone beyond Bedard and Patrick Kane and into the larger structure of who should wear what. The case has been made for a potential captain and alternate captains, and that conversation is still very much alive.
Roman Kantserov is another prospect generating serious excitement, and the key point here is simple: he needs a fast start once he gets going with the Blackhawks.
Blashill enters the year with a lot of new pieces to sort through, and the pressure is obvious. The sense is that he has to prove he’s the coach who can move this team from rebuilding into contention.
There’s also one more area where Chicago wants improvement: overtime and shootouts. The Blackhawks struggled there last season, but there are reasons to think that can change this year.
Marek Vanacker is another prospect to keep on the radar. He’s slated to go pro with the Rockford IceHogs this season, and there’s at least a chance he can work his way into the Blackhawks’ picture down the line.
The season countdown keeps ticking, and the ice at the United Center is already painted for the upcoming 2026-27 campaign. The Blackhawks posted the freshly prepared rink, calling it “a work of art 🤌”
Fans will get their first look in person during two exhibition games at the United Center: the Minnesota Wild on Monday, Sept. 21, and the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, Sept.
- The regular season opener comes after a three-game road trip, with Chicago finally dropping the puck for real on Tuesday, Oct. 6 against the Blues.
The countdown is at 24, and that means it’s Bowen Byram days until Blackhawks opening night. Byram made a quick impression with fans by choosing No. 24 instead of the No. 4 he wore with the Colorado Avalanche and Buffalo Sabres.
He said he didn’t want to take No. 4 with the Blackhawks out of respect for Niklas Hjalmarsson, who is described as arguably the best defensive defenseman in franchise history. That move, along with his understanding of what Chicago values, has already helped him connect with the fan base.
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