The Blackhawks keep showing up near the top of every prospect conversation, and this week brought another nod for Kyle Davidson’s rebuilt pipeline. On Tuesday, Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis ranked every NHL team’s 2026-27 prospect pool from 1 to 32, and Chicago landed at No. 1.
Ellis singled out Anton Frondell, Roman Kantserov, and Nick Lardis as the names driving that ranking. Lardis getting that recognition stands out after Corey Pronman gave him no love in last week’s U-23 rankings. CHN plans to react to Ellis’ list in the coming days.
There was also a fresh Blackhawks note from the NHL/NHLPA European Media Tour. Anton Frondell spoke with Michael Traikos of The Hockey News and was asked about the possibility of handling the team’s top-line center role until Connor Bedard returns from injury. Frondell said he’d rather play center than wing, but he’s prepared to do whatever the coaching staff wants.
Bedard, meanwhile, got another bit of league-wide recognition. Chicago Hockey Now noted that he was ranked among the NHL Network’s top-20 centers for the first time after posting career highs across the board in 2025-26.
The Blackhawks’ national profile will be on display often in 2026-27 as well. The NHL released its national TV schedule on Wednesday, and Chicago will play 12 games on either ESPN or TNT, plus five on ESPN+.
Around the league, Quinn Hughes’ situation with the Wild drew more attention on Tuesday. Elliotte Friedman reported on a surprise episode of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast” that extension talks with Minnesota have slowed considerably. James Nichols then laid out the obvious ripple effects for the New Jersey Devils.
Michael Russo followed that up at The Athletic, saying the trade rumors are completely fabricated. His read is that the two sides still expect to land on a new deal, even if the situation is getting more interesting by the day.
The Wild also made a smaller roster-related move, signing hockey operations analyst Peter Thome as the emergency backup goaltender for 2026-27. Thome will wear No. 00, the same number all NHL EBUGs wear.
Expansion chatter popped up again too. Sportsnet reported that while the NHL has not yet awarded an expansion franchise to Atlanta, a return may already be taking shape.
An Alpharetta city council approved an NHL arena plan, though it still needs further approval. The Thrashers played in Atlanta from 1999 to 2011 before relocating to Winnipeg.
There were also a pair of former Blackhawks notes. Kevin Hayes is heading to Russia for the KHL season after signing a one-year deal with Ak Bars Kazan on Tuesday. Hayes, who was a first-round pick of Chicago and later became a Rangers star, spent 2025-26 with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
And Alex Nylander has landed a professional tryout with the Flames ahead of training camp. The 2016 No. 8 overall pick spent most of 2025-26 in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, where he put up 24 goals and 53 points.
In Other News...
Blackhawks Face One More Tough Camp Decision On Veteran Scoring
After a busy offseason that included a reunion with Patrick Kane and a trade for Bowen Byram, the Blackhawks still have one more roster choice to sort through before training camp settles in. The front office has been weighing whether to bring in veteran scoring help on a professional tryout agreement or even go further and sign a free agent who has produced enough recently to merit a closer look.
The case for adding another experienced forward is easy to see on paper, especially for a young team that wants more offense and some insurance up front. But there is also a real roster squeeze to consider, since Chicagos forward group already looks crowded enough that another addition could squeeze the path for a prospect trying to win an opening-night job. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Suddenly Have A Real Andrew Mangiapane Ice Time Dilemma
Andrew Mangiapanes first run with the Blackhawks barely got started before injuries knocked him off course, limiting him to just 10 games after he arrived in a trade during the previous season. When he was available, Chicago used him mostly in a bottom-six role, and head coach Jeff Blashill has already made clear that Mangiapanes style and competitiveness line up with what the team wants to be.
The issue now is less about whether Mangiapane belongs and more about where he fits. Chicagos bottom six is crowded heading into next season, and there are enough forwards pushing for minutes that even a veteran with his experience and skill set does not have an obvious lane yet. That makes him one of the more interesting roster questions on the Blackhawks, because the team seems to value him, but the ice time may be hard to sort out. [Read more 🡒]
Connor Bedard Is At The Center Of A Blackhawks Identity Debate
Connor Bedards rise in Chicago has already moved beyond the promise of a No. 1 pick. He has worn an alternate captains A, signed a five-year contract extension and made clear he has an interest in eventually taking on the full mantle of leadership for the Blackhawks. For a franchise still sorting out its next era, the conversation around Bedard is no longer just about production or potential. It is about identity.
Patrick Kanes return only adds another layer to the discussion, but not necessarily a reason to delay the decision. The Blackhawks are looking at a player in Bedard who figures to be part of the franchise for the long haul, while Kanes stay is expected to be shorter. With that in mind, the argument for making Bedard the captain now grows harder to ignore, even if the final call still carries plenty of weight inside the room. [Read more 🡒]