Connor Bedard’s return is going to force the Chicago Blackhawks into some tough lineup decisions, and that’s the kind of problem Jeff Blashill will gladly take.
With the NHL moving to an 84-game regular season and opening night pushed up to late September, the Blackhawks are expected to be without Bedard for somewhere between 14 and 21 games to start the 2026-27 season. Bedard underwent successful surgery in early July and was given an approximate four-month recovery timeline, which points to a November return.
Once he’s back, Bedard goes right back into his natural spot as the team’s top-line center. The ripple effect comes after that.
Plenty of forwards on the roster could be pushed down the depth chart, and Blashill will have to sort out how to arrange the four lines. One possibility being kicked around is whether Patrick Kane ends up on Bedard’s wing, while Frank Nazar and Anton Frondell could also factor into the center picture.
There was also another bit of Blackhawks prospect news on Thursday. 2025 seventh-round pick Ilya Kanarsky has apparently signed a tryout contract with the KHL’s Lada Togliatti for the 2026-27 season. Chicago Prospects on X first reported the move, and Elite Prospects already lists Lada Togliatti as Kanarsky’s club for next year.
The 21-year-old goalie has put up strong numbers in Russia’s VHL and MHL lately. In 2025-26 with AKM Tula Region, he posted a 2.67 GAA, a .922 save percentage and one shutout in 35 VHL appearances, all while playing for one of the league’s worst teams.
Elsewhere, Michigan State freshmen Mason West and Jack Hextall were interviewed by Johnny Lazerus and talked about their summer training and workouts. Another clip that surfaced Thursday had West discussing representing the United States and his 12-day stay at a hotel during the World Junior Summer Showcase.
Around the league, Zach Werenski made headlines by saying he would have “no issues” committing to the Columbus Blue Jackets for the long term and wants to help lead them into the postseason this year.
The Athletic’s Peter Baugh and Max Bultman also continued their annual Hall of Fame tiers, and Patrick Kane was the lone Blackhawks player mentioned from the remaining “Dynasty Era” group still active in the NHL.
There’s also a possible front-office angle involving a former Blackhawks executive. Elliotte Friedman said on NHL Tonight that former Blackhawks associate general manager and current Detroit Tigers general manager Jeff Greenberg could draw interest from the Detroit Red Wings this summer.
Greenberg’s time in Chicago was his first professional hockey job, though he has worked in front-office roles with multiple MLB teams. The Tigers and Red Wings share ownership.
In another former Blackhawks note, Boris Katchouk signed a one-year KHL deal with Traktor Chelyabinsk on Thursday, which takes him out of North America for now. The 28-year-old played only three NHL games for the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2025-26 season.
And in Boston, even a 100-point season in 2025-26 hasn’t won the Bruins much favor with the major sportsbooks. Jack Studley wrote that the odds-makers’ skepticism is hard to dispute, even if Boston did improve this offseason.
In Other News...
Blackhawks Suddenly Face A Big Penalty Kill Debate
The Blackhawks head into the offseason with one of those quiet questions that can turn loud in a hurry: what happens to a penalty kill that was among the leagues best a year ago after several of its most important pieces are gone? Chicago still has reasons to feel encouraged after finishing last season second in the NHL on the kill, but the units success was built on more than one player, and the roster looks different now after the departures of Jason Dickinson, Connor Murphy, Ilya Mikheyev and Louis Crevier.
The organization has tried to patch things over with additions such as Ian Cole, Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway, but replacing the chemistry and reliable minutes from that short-handed group is never simple. The expectation around the league is that the penalty kill will slip some in the 2026-27 season, and for a Blackhawks team trying to keep building momentum, even a modest drop could matter in a big way when the margins tighten. [Read more 🡒]
Roman Kantserov Could Change How Dangerous The Blackhawks Offense Looks
Roman Kantserov is still waiting on his NHL debut, but the Blackhawks already sound ready to give him a serious runway when he arrives in 2026-27. The 21-year-old forward has built his case overseas as a high-end scorer, and Chicago views him as more than just another young name in the pipeline. General manager Kyle Davidson has pointed to Kantserov as a player who can add real offense, which matters for a club trying to make the most of its emerging core.
The fit is what makes the possibility especially intriguing. Chicago has already started imagining how Kantserov could slot into the lineup around Connor Bedard, with Patrick Kane also part of the offensive picture, and that kind of support could ease the transition for a player coming from the KHL. Kantserov has acknowledged the chance to learn alongside established talent while adjusting to the NHL, but the bigger question is how quickly he can turn that promise into production once he gets to Chicago. [Read more 🡒]
Ian Cole Gives Blackhawks Fans One More Reason To Watch Early
The Blackhawks added Ian Cole on a one-year deal with a clear purpose in mind: steady the blue line and give a young defensive group a veteran they can lean on. Chicagos front office has pointed to his durability and experience as part of the appeal, and Cole arrives with the kind of resume that usually matters most on a team still sorting out its future. For a club trying to build structure while developing talent, a seasoned defenseman can be just as important off the ice as he is in his own end.
Cole also comes with a nearby career milestone that will be worth keeping an eye on as the season opens. He is on the doorstep of 1,000 NHL games, a marker that speaks to longevity, health and a role that has kept him in demand for years. It gives Blackhawks fans one more early-season reason to follow along, even as the bigger questions about how this defense settles in will take longer to answer. [Read more 🡒]