The Blackhawks’ rookie camp is in the books, and the next step arrives tonight: a two-game prospect showcase against the St. Louis Blues that gives Chicago its first game-like action of the 2026-27 season.
Puck drop is set for 6:00 p.m. CT at USG Arena, where the Blackhawks prospects will host their division rival. Chicago Hockey Now will be there for both games and will have postgame analysis, takeaways, and quotes after the action.
The setup has already taken shape over the last three days. Rookie camp opened with fast, high-intensity drills on day one, then shifted into more specific group work over days two and three.
IceHogs head coach Jared Nightingale also finally laid out forward lines and defensive pairings for the showcase, giving a clearer picture of which players will be linked up for the two-game set with St. Louis.
The Blues have their own early look, too. Lou Korac of The Hockey News reported St. Louis’ forward lines and defensive pairings from Saturday’s practice, though there could still be changes before the evening game.
There’s also plenty of Blackhawks-related chatter elsewhere around the league. During the NHL/NHLPA player media tour, a former Buffalo Sabres teammate praised Bowen Byram, and Alex DeBrincat said Patrick Kane still has plenty to offer this season. Mark Lazerus of The Athletic also spoke with DeBrincat about Kane’s remaining gas tank and checked in with Buffalo forward Taige Thompson on Byram’s potential as a No. 1 defenseman.
Outside Chicago, the San Jose Sharks made noise in the first game of the Rookie Faceoff, rolling past the Los Angeles Kings while “Beat LA” chants echoed through the 4,000-seat arena. Top 2026 draft pick Ivar Stenberg scored his first two goals with the Sharks, and seven-foot prospect Alexander Karmanov also got into a scrap.
In Montreal, the Canadiens added another piece, re-signing Zachary Bolduc to a four-year, $16.8 million extension with a $4.2 million cap hit. Bolduc put up 12 goals and 30 points in 78 regular-season games in 2025-26 and led Montreal’s forwards in hits.
The Canadiens were also part of a separate conversation involving Chris Kreider and Carey Price. Many fans still hold onto the memory of Kreider’s collision with Price in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but Price himself does not, and Marc Dumont argued Canadiens fans shouldn’t either.
And in Columbus, the Blue Jackets signed veteran left-handed defenseman Carson Soucy to a pro tryout contract. Soucy, 32, finished last season with the New York Islanders after a January trade from the New York Rangers.
One more item from around the league: there are still burning questions hanging over NHL training camps, including what happens with Connor Hellebuyck and whether the Detroit Red Wings will finally have a general manager in place.
In Other News...
Sacha Boisvert Is Giving Blackhawks Fans A Reason To Watch Closely
Sacha Boisvert arrived at his first Blackhawks prospect showcase with a different look and, just as important, a different level of comfort. The former 18th overall pick already has NHL experience, but coaches and Boisvert have both pointed to the confidence and physical progress he showed after a summer of work, a good sign for a player trying to turn promise into a real chance.
For Chicago, that makes the next stretch worth watching closely. Boisvert is trying to stand out in training camp and prospect games as he competes for a roster spot, and the Blackhawks would love to see more than just steady minutes from him. He knows the challenge is proving there is more offensive upside to his game, not simply a role at the bottom of the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Now Face A Legacy Question Their Greatest Captains Defined
The Blackhawks are back in familiar territory, staring at a leadership question that goes beyond the next roster move. With the captaincy open again, it is a good moment to look back at the standard this franchise has set over the years, from Johnny Gottselig and Darryl Sutter to Pierre Pilote and Dirk Graham, all of whom wore the C through significant stretches of team history.
What stands out most is how high the bar has been for Chicagos modern leaders, especially Jonathan Toews, who became the youngest captain in team history at 20 and helped define an era built on winning. His long run at the top of the room helped deliver three Stanley Cup titles, which is why any new appointment will be measured against more than just hockey sense. The Blackhawks are not simply choosing a next captain. They are choosing the next link in a lineage that has never been easy to match. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Need More Than Promise From Artyom Levshunov This Season
Artyom Levshunov is still one of the most important development projects on the Blackhawks blue line, and the expectations around him have been obvious since he came in as a premium pick. His offensive skill gives Chicago a real reason to believe he can grow into a major piece, but the team is still waiting to see that talent show up in a way that can be trusted every night.
What matters this season is less the flash than the habit of making the right play again and again. Levshunovs progress will be judged by whether he can tighten up the parts of his game that have been less steady so far, because the Blackhawks are counting on him to become more than an exciting prospect and eventually fit into a top-pairing role with the rest of their core. [Read more 🡒]