Back to work after a quick weekend, the Blackhawks’ news cycle opened with a mix of prospect buzz, front office movement, and a fresh look at a recent draft pick.
A.J. Spellacy was part of the latest development camp conversation, with Brooke LoFurno speaking with the prospect and sharing what they discussed. LoFurno is set to take over as Blackhawk Up’s site expert on Sept. 1, and she’ll be a familiar presence around the coverage going forward.
There was also a notable scouting department update. The Athletic’s Scott Powers reported that Mike Doneghey has been promoted to vice president of amateur scouting after previously serving as director of amateur scouting.
On the draft front, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times took a closer look at defenseman Xavier Villeneuve and the kind of high-risk, high-reward swing he represents.
The 2023 draft class came up as well on the CHGO Blackhawks Mini Pod, where it was discussed as Kyle Davidson’s best draft group so far.
And on this date in 2020, the Edmonton Oilers pushed the Blackhawks to the edge in Game 2 of their Qualifying Series, winning 6-3 to even things up. Connor McDavid set the tone almost immediately, scoring twice in the first four minutes before completing his hat trick later.
Chicago cut the gap to 4-3 with goals from Patrick Kane, Slater Koekkoek, and Olli Maatta, but never got all the way back. Kirby Dach and Alex DeBrincat each finished with two assists in the loss.
Around the league, St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas spoke with Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic and said that, despite trade rumors swirling around him for a while, he was never asked to waive his full no-move clause. Rutherford also reported that after several conversations with new general manager Alexander Steen, Thomas and the Blues are back on the same page again.
In Utah, prospect Caleb Desnoyers left the World Junior Summer Showcase with a lower-body injury after Wyatt Cullen fell into his legs. Team Canada head coach Misha Donskov did not have an update on his condition after Saturday’s game.
In Other News...
Blackhawks Season Plans Are Finally Starting To Take Shape
The Blackhawks are beginning to put some structure around the coming season, and one of the clearest signs so far is the clubs newly released promotion schedule. For a team still trying to re-establish momentum with its fan base, those dates are part of the broader picture now, giving a better sense of what the organization wants this season to look and feel like on and off the ice.
Around the league, front offices are already settling into their next phase of work, from the Islanders bringing in Evan Gold as assistant general manager to handle duties tied to their new AHL affiliate, to the Maple Leafs adding Andy OBrien as vice president of sport performance. The Wild have also been active with several hires and a promotion for Alex Goligoski, a reminder that while training camps are still ahead, the business of shaping a season is well underway everywhere. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Still Have Two Blue Line Decisions Left After Bedard Deal
Connor Bedards five-year extension took care of the biggest item on Chicagos offseason to-do list, and the Blackhawks also locked up goaltender Drew Commesso for the next two years. Even after those moves, there is still work left on the blue line before the organization can close the book on this stretch of roster business, with a pair of young restricted free agents still waiting on their next contracts as the team looks ahead to the 2026-27 season.
The remaining decisions sit with two defensemen at different points in their development, each trying to carve out a longer-term role in Chicago. Their next deals are expected to be relatively straightforward compared with the Bedard contract, but they matter all the same for a rebuilding club trying to keep its young core aligned and its depth organized for the seasons ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Scoring Race Could Look Very Different Than Fans Expect
The Blackhawks internal scoring picture for 2025-26 may not line up with the one most fans would sketch in their heads. The team is coming off a recent look at point totals and individual projections that puts Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, Patrick Kane, Tyler Bertuzzi and Bowen Byram at the center of the conversation, with the young core and veteran help all expected to shape the offense in different ways.
Connor Bedard still looms as the obvious headline name, but his offseason shoulder injury changes the early-season math and forces Chicago to navigate the opening stretch without its most explosive scorer. From there, the intrigue shifts to how the new arrivals fit in, especially the way Patrick Kane and Bowen Byram could tilt the top offensive and power-play roles, which might leave the Blackhawks scoring race looking a lot different from the usual assumption. [Read more 🡒]