The Chicago Blackhawks still don’t have a settled answer for the wing spot next to Connor Bedard, and that uncertainty is carrying into another offseason.
Since Chicago won the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery and the right to select Bedard, the biggest question around the franchise has been simple: who plays with him? That search has yet to produce a permanent solution. Philipp Kurashev, Ryan Donato and Tyler Bertuzzi have all had moments, but none has locked down the job the way some elite centers around the league have with their regular linemates.
At Development Camp, general manager Kyle Davidson said there are still plenty of possibilities in the mix.
"There’s a number of guys that could work there," Davidson said. "Whether it’s a younger guy like Nick Lardis, or one of the guys we have planned to play in the middle (Nazar or Frondell) can play on the wing, Ryan Greene’s a year older, Oliver Moore has a growing game, and then there’s a number of different vets."
That doesn’t sound like a front office that has already settled on a plan for opening night. It also suggests the final call may not rest entirely with Davidson, since Jeff Blashill will be the one running the team on the ice.
Davidson also described the process as something that may take some time to sort out.
"A lot of those things are trial and error," Davidson said. "Sometimes you work in pairs rather than in threes, so you get a pair and mix and match and see what works from there."
One name that could factor in early is Roman Kantserov. He led the KHL in goals last season, and the Blackhawks believe that scoring touch can carry over to the NHL. The current expectation is that Bedard will get a shot to play with him early, though Davidson made it clear nothing is guaranteed.
"We don’t know if Roman’s going to work there," Davidson said. "We believe it will, based on the traits and how they play and see the game, but that’s what training camp and games are for."
For now, the Blackhawks are still sorting through their internal options. Nick Lardis, Anton Frondell, Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore and Ryan Greene are among the players who should continue getting looks with Bedard and in the top six, especially if outside help never arrives.
The bigger-name scorer the Blackhawks were expected to add through a trade or free agency has not shown up yet, so the search continues with what they already have in-house.
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