Teuvo Teravainen didn’t crack the Chicago Blackhawks’ opening-night lineup, but it took only one game for his name to be back in the mix.
The Blackhawks opened the regular season by choosing Andrew Mangiapane over Teravainen after the two had spent training camp fighting for ice time. That call raised eyebrows given Teravainen’s track record, but Jeff Blashill made it clear he was going to stick with the lineup he believed gave Chicago the best shot to win.
Then the Blackhawks dropped their season opener to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday, and the depth chart shifted almost immediately. Mangiapane took one shift in the second period before leaving because of injury, and after the game Blashill told reporters that Mangiapane would miss the rest of the road trip - Thursday against Utah and Saturday against Buffalo. What happens after that remains uncertain.
On Wednesday in Salt Lake City, during practice ahead of the matchup with the Utah Mammoth, Teravainen was put into the line rushes and stayed there. He skated on the second line at left wing, with Roman Kantserov in the middle and Nick Lardis on the right.
Teravainen couldn’t quite secure a spot for opening night with his camp and preseason performance, but the door has opened again. Now it’s on him to make sure it doesn’t close.
The lineup shakeup goes beyond just that one change, too. The top line is set to have Patrick Kane and Tyler Bertuzzi on the wings with Anton Frondell in the middle.
Kane looked better once he was paired with Bertuzzi in Tuesday night’s loss, and Blashill is keeping that combination together for now. For Frondell, it’s a strong early-season chance to get things rolling.
If the Blackhawks pick up another injury or illness during the rest of the road trip, they would probably dress 11 forwards and 7 defensemen. Chicago has eight defensemen on the roster, which is why there isn’t an extra forward available beyond Teravainen after Mangiapane’s injury.
Should the team need a call-up, Landon Slaggert would likely be the first name considered, with Dominic Toninato also in the picture. AJ Spellacy and Sacha Boisvert are other options waiting in Rockford for their shot at becoming NHL regulars.
Blashill and Kyle Davidson probably aren’t thrilled to be dealing with an injury this early, but that’s hockey. Connor Bedard will be back before long, and his return should give the Blackhawks another elite piece up front.
When that happens, the forward group should settle into more natural roles. Until then, Teravainen has a chance to stay in the lineup and make the most of it.
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The tension now is less about Kanes arrival than about who gets left out when the lineup is finalized. Tervinen has been in the middle of that uncertainty as the Blackhawks balance experience, roles and ice time, and it is the kind of roster call that can say plenty about where a team thinks it is headed. For a fan base that already knows what Kane brings, the more immediate question is how Chicago manages the pieces around him without creating a bigger problem elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Opener Raised An Early Question Fans Cant Ignore
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Jordan Greenway gave Chicago its first goal of the season, and the Blackhawks also got a score from Patrick Kane in his first game back with the club since 2023, which at least gave the opener some energy before Vegas pulled away. The bigger question now is how quickly Chicago can turn those individual bright spots into something more stable, because the opener did not exactly hide the gaps in structure, discipline, or depth that can show up fast once the schedule starts to tighten. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks May Already Be Testing Roman Kantserov For A Bigger Role
Roman Kantserov arrived in Chicago with a reputation built in the KHL, where he finished as the leagues leading goal-scorer, and the Blackhawks have already treated him like more than a newcomer easing into NHL life. He has spent time on the top line, and the team has also been willing to move him around, including a look at center during the preseason, a sign they are trying to find out how much he can handle right away.
Jeff Blashill has pointed to Kantserovs hockey IQ, two-way play and adaptability as traits that could help him become a solid piece for the Blackhawks. The bigger question now is how far Chicago wants to push that experiment, and whether the early testing is simply part of the learning curve or the start of a much larger role in the middle of the lineup. [Read more 🡒]