With the NHL Olympic break just two days away, the Chicago Blackhawks are gearing up for one last showdown before the league hits pause. They'll face the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday night, wrapping up their pre-break schedule with a chance to split the season series after a 4-2 loss to the Jackets just five days ago.
And there’s a little extra juice to this one: it’s a return to familiar territory for captain Nick Foligno, who spent nearly a decade in Columbus and wore the "C" for six of those years. After missing the last two games with an undisclosed injury, Foligno is trending toward a return in time for what could be a meaningful night for him and the team.
Line Juggling and Momentum Building
Even after a solid 6-3 win over the San Jose Sharks, head coach Jeff Blashill isn’t standing pat. At Tuesday’s practice, he shuffled the forward lines again, giving young center Oliver Moore another look in the top six.
Moore’s speed and creativity continue to intrigue, and Blashill seems intent on finding the right mix ahead of the break. With Foligno likely back in the mix, the forward group could be getting a timely boost in both leadership and depth.
That win over San Jose marked a rare offensive outburst for the Blackhawks, who hadn’t scored more than three goals in a game since January 7. The third line of Ryan Donato, Jason Dickinson, and Ilya Mikheyev led the charge, combining for 10 points in the win. That kind of depth scoring has been hard to come by for Chicago this season, but it’s exactly what they’ll need more of down the stretch.
And while Connor Bedard didn’t steal the spotlight in that game, he quietly extended both his goal and point streaks. The rookie phenom continues to make history almost nightly, even when he’s not lighting up the scoresheet. His ability to contribute even on quieter nights is a sign of just how special he is-and how much he’s already meant to this team.
Prospect Watch: Behm Breaks Out, Nestrasil Banged Up
On the prospect front, Nathan Behm continues to turn heads in the WHL. The Kamloops Blazers forward recorded five assists in an 11-1 rout of the Victoria Royals, pushing his season total to 70 points (28 goals, 42 assists) in just 48 games. That puts him third in the league in scoring-a clear sign that the Blackhawks may have found something special in the young playmaker.
But it wasn’t all good news. In the NCAA ranks, 2025 first-round pick Vaclav Nestrasil suffered an apparent injury during UMass’ 6-4 win over UMass-Lowell on Sunday.
A video surfaced showing Nestrasil taking a high hit into the boards early in the game. He didn’t return, and the team has yet to provide an update on his condition.
The 18-year-old freshman has 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 26 games this season and has been a bright spot for the Minutemen. His status will be something to monitor closely.
Around the League: Trade Buzz, Olympic Shakeups, and Kucherov’s Tear
Across the NHL, the Olympic roster freeze is set to go into effect at 2 p.m. CT today, and that’s kicked trade chatter into overdrive.
Artemi Panarin’s name is once again in the spotlight, with teams reportedly wary of his asking price on a potential extension-somewhere in the $40-50 million range. While nothing appears imminent, the Washington Capitals are rumored to be among the teams still in the mix, reportedly willing to meet his demands.
Whether Panarin wants to go there is another story entirely.
Meanwhile, Olympic rosters are undergoing some late changes. Team Canada has replaced Anthony Cirelli, who was injured in the Stadium Series game against Boston, with Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett. Though Bennett has been dealing with some bumps and bruises himself, there doesn’t appear to be concern about his availability for the tournament.
Team Sweden also took a hit, as Buffalo Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been ruled out due to a lower-body injury. Finland, on the other hand, added Boston Bruins netminder Joonas Korpisalo to its Olympic roster.
And then there’s Nikita Kucherov, who’s been on an absolute tear to start 2026. He added a goal and three assists in a comeback win over the Sabres, including helpers on both the game-tying and game-winning goals. Since the calendar flipped, Kucherov has racked up 39 points (11 goals, 28 assists), once again reminding everyone why he’s one of the most dangerous offensive players in the league.
In Philadelphia, the buzz around Flyers forward Matvei Michkov continues to grow. With speculation swirling, GM Danny Briere addressed the media ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Capitals, though details remain scarce.
What’s Next
For the Blackhawks, the focus is squarely on closing out the pre-Olympic stretch with a strong showing in Columbus. With Foligno potentially back and the lines getting a fresh look, there’s a chance to build on the momentum from the San Jose win and head into the break on a high note. And with young players stepping up and prospects making noise at every level, the future in Chicago continues to take shape-even if the present is still very much a work in progress.