Jeff Blashill’s first season behind the Blackhawks bench comes with a simple but unforgiving mandate: show that Chicago is moving out of the rebuild and into something more competitive.
This isn’t really about Blashill being on the immediate hot seat. It’s about whether he’s the right coach to steer a team that Kyle Davidson has already pushed past the patient phase.
Davidson made that clear when he dealt a fourth-overall draft pick for Bowen Byram and then locked up the still-unproven No. 1 defenseman on a long-term extension. Whatever anyone thinks of the contract itself, the message was loud: the waiting game is over.
That’s why the focus now shifts to whether the Blackhawks are actually ready to take the next step. There are reasons for optimism.
Spencer Knight gave Chicago real evidence last season that he can handle starting duty, finishing with a 2.82 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage on a team that went 19-25-11. Put a better group in front of him, and there’s reason to think his numbers could climb with it.
Still, the offseason may not have changed the ceiling as much as Chicago hoped. The biggest internal growth bets remain the ones tied to Anton Frondell and Roman Kantserov, two players whose development could push the roster forward if it comes quickly enough.
Patrick Kane’s return adds a feel-good element to the start of the season, but he is not walking back in as the kind of player who can single-handedly drag a rebuilding club into contention. And beyond that, the Blackhawks are asking for a lot if they expect Connor Bedard’s continued rise and Byram’s arrival to do most of the heavy lifting.
Bedard may end up being the swing piece in all of this, and his absence to start the year only complicates the picture. He’s not expected back until mid-November after offseason shoulder surgery, leaving Chicago to navigate roughly the first 20 games without its leading scorer. If the team stumbles badly during that stretch, then steadies itself once Bedard returns, the early hole could become a convenient explanation if the Blackhawks fall short.
Chicago doesn’t have to make the playoffs this season. A San Jose Sharks-like jump would be enough to count as real progress. The Sharks were in the mix for most of last season before fading late, then still positioned themselves well in the draft and now have their eyes on that elusive playoff berth.
If the Blackhawks end up near the bottom again, Blashill may not deserve all the blame. But he’s probably the one who would pay for it if Davidson doesn’t see the growth he wants.
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Alex Vlasic's Growing Role Could Shape The Blackhawks Blue Line
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As the Blackhawks look ahead to next season, Vlasics role figures to grow even more central. New head coach Jeff Blashill has already pointed to Vlasics professionalism and the way he leads by example, a sign that Chicago sees him not just as a top defender but as a player who influences the room every day. For a team still building its identity, having that kind of presence on the back end matters just as much as the matchup work on the ice. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Rebuild Faces Early Pressure For One Big Reason
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Chicagos biggest concern is the hole created before the season even gets rolling. Connor Bedard is expected to miss the start after shoulder surgery, and the roster around him is still being judged for its inexperience, especially on defense and in key top-six roles. For a team that needs progress to feel real, that combination makes the opening stretch a test of depth as much as direction. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Enter Camp With Big Questions Around Bedard And The Rebuild
As the Blackhawks head toward the 2026-27 season, the opening of camp carries the familiar weight of a rebuild that is still trying to find its shape. Connor Bedard remains the centerpiece of the conversation, but Chicago is also watching the next wave closely, with Roman Kantserov and Sam Rinzel among the prospects viewed as possible difference-makers if they can translate promise into NHL impact.
Preseason will arrive quickly in mid-September, giving the staff an early look at how those young players fit around a roster still sorting out leadership and expectations. The camp mood figures to be as much about roles and responsibility as raw talent, with the Blackhawks hoping the right mix starts to reveal itself before the games begin to count. [Read more 🡒]