The Blackhawks hit the ice Wednesday looking healthier than they’ve been in months - and that’s not just a figure of speech. For the first time in a while, Chicago’s forward group is starting to resemble what head coach Jeff Blashill likely envisioned when the season began.
The biggest sign of that? Frank Nazar was back in full-contact practice and is expected to return to the lineup Thursday night when the Hawks visit the Hurricanes.
Nazar’s been sidelined since Dec. 20 with a broken jaw - a tough injury for any player, but especially for a young forward still carving out his NHL rhythm. He admitted he’s been itching to return: “I’ve been ready for four weeks, now I’m allowed to.”
That’s the kind of fire you want to hear from a guy who’s been forced to watch from the press box. During the recovery, Nazar dropped about 7-8 pounds but says he’s already put half of that weight back on.
He’ll be wearing a protective chin guard, but otherwise, he looks ready to go.
His return shakes up the forward lines in a good way. Nazar slotted right back onto the second line in practice, centering Ryan Donato and Tyler Bertuzzi - a trio that could bring a solid mix of speed, grit, and finishing touch.
Up top, Connor Bedard continues to hold down the top-line center spot, flanked by Andre Burakovsky - who’s back after missing Monday’s game due to illness - and Ryan Greene. That’s a high-skill, high-IQ line with plenty of offensive upside.
Here’s how the full forward group looked at practice:
- Greene - Bedard - Burakovsky
- Donato - Nazar - Bertuzzi
- Foligno - Dickinson - Mikheyev
- Slaggert - Moore - Lardis
No changes to the defense pairings from Monday’s win over Winnipeg, which makes sense - the group held strong in that one, and there’s no need to tinker with a winning formula.
One intriguing development is how the second power-play unit is shaping up. Nazar joined Nick Lardis and Cole Moore - three young, fast forwards who could give opposing penalty kills fits in transition.
The unit is rounded out by veteran presence Nick Foligno and puck-moving defenseman Matt Grzelcyk. That group may not have the firepower of the top unit, but if they can consistently gain clean zone entries with their speed, they’ll give themselves a real shot to generate chances.
As for the injury front, the only piece still missing is Teuvo Teräväinen. He was on the ice before practice in a non-contact jersey, which is a positive sign - he’s skating, he’s progressing, but he’s not quite ready to rejoin the full group. Blashill confirmed that Teräväinen remains day-to-day and won’t travel with the team on this road trip, but the expectation is that he’ll be back before the Olympics.
Bottom line: Chicago is getting healthier at the right time. With Nazar back and Burakovsky recovered from his illness, the Blackhawks are starting to look like a more complete team. And if Teräväinen can return soon, this forward group could finally have the depth and balance it’s been missing for much of the season.