Training camp for the 2026-27 Chicago Blackhawks has begun.
And it’s over.
The newly chopped-down camp and preseason has been an adjustment for everyone, with teams having to settle their lineups and schemes quickly. It’s easier for squads such as the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights — they have a good idea whom they have to complement Nathan MacKinnon and Jack Eichel, respectively.
With the Hawks, the jury’s still out.
On paper, it’s their most improved roster in a few years. Newcomers Patrick Kane and Bowen Byram still need to develop chemistry once the regular season starts Tuesday against the Golden Knights in Las Vegas.
“There’s a bunch of new rules that we’ve had to navigate,” general manager Kyle Davidson said Sept. 17, the first day of camp. “We have to get to our numbers (and) get to a more realistic NHL lineup right away and try and create some synergy, some chemistry immediately and ride that because we want to hit the ground running on Day 1.”
Coach Jeff Blashill ran the same lineup throughout camp, with Roman Kantserov, Frank Nazar and Kane on the top line and Alex Vlasic and Byram as the top defensive pair. It will change when injured captain Connor Bedard returns, likely in November.
The Hawks will need the first few games to develop a consistent flow. How does Blashill feel headed into the opener?
“I’ll let you know Tuesday,” he said after Saturday’s preseason finale. “We haven’t really played full as a group yet (and) as much as we wanted to, we didn’t get to that point, which is fine. I don’t think it’s do or die. I believe in this group. Whether that means we’re ready to be at 100% on Tuesday, we’ve worked to be as ready as we can be.”
No time is better than the preseason to give a good first impression. Here are three players who stood out.
More Top Picks Leaf Blower
Bowen Byram
That’s one way to make a debut.
It was an AHL-hefty Minnesota Wild team, but that shouldn’t discredit Byram’s hat trick in Monday’s 4-3 overtime win. He commanded the game and created a flurry of scoring chances.
Byram’s addition was intended to add an offensive figure on the power play and at full strength. He has developed an on-ice rapport with the defensive-minded Vlasic.
“We have a bit of a natural chemistry,” Byram said. “He’s a really good player. He’s so big, closes quick, ends plays, so that makes it easy.”
Byram didn’t have any points in Saturday’s 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues, but the 24-year-old has gotten comfortable quickly with the Hawks.
“He’s a very talented player who cares a ton, has a lot of swagger and confidence and he’s a great dude that the guys want to be around,” Blashill said. “He’s got a combination of those things that can help us win games.”
Roman Kantserov
The 22-year-old Russian wing called it a “good nervous” when previewing his first NHL preseason game.
Kantserov has become a favorite passing target for Kane so far, and he responded with one-timers flying off his stick. He had seven shots on goal in three preseason games — three of those shots while skating on Kane’s line.
In the second period Saturday at the United Center, Kantserov collected a pass from Tyler Bertuzzi on the power play and scored his first unofficial NHL goal.
“It’s unbelievable scoring in (the) United Center … but it’s only preseason,” Kantserov said. “Now win the game, day off and go to Vegas for regular season. Should be ready.”
Kontinental Hockey League play has helped Kantserov ease into the NHL. He can shoot from anywhere on the ice with power.
The Hawks experimented with Kantserov at center Saturday, and he won seven of 11 faceoffs. He’s expected to remain on Bedard’s left wing when the captain returns.
Kevin Korchinski
The No. 7 pick in 2022 is in an odd spot.
More Top Picks Best Kitchen Utensil Sets
The Hawks signed the 22-year-old defenseman to a two-year, $2.65 million contract in August, so he’s still in their plans. Still, Korchinski struggled to earn adequate ice time with NHL players in the preseason.
He played a team-high 25 minutes, 25 seconds in the Sept. 19 road game against the Wild — but that was with a lineup full of Rockford players. He played only 15:12 on Thursday in St. Louis when the main-roster players trickled in.
Korchinski has been reliable during camp drills and had an assist in that Sept. 19 game. Blashill tried Korchinski on special teams units in practice, but he hasn’t given a stamp of approval just yet.
“As we sit here today, he would be on the outside looking in,” Blashill said Sept. 20. “Is there a path? Of course. … Are we perfect in our decision making? No. But over the course of time, the best players always end up (being) the ones that play.”
The Hawks would have had to put Korchinski on waivers before assigning him to Rockford, which could have allowed another team to claim a young defenseman with a relatively small cap hit. To avoid that, they kept him and Ethan Del Mastro on the roster as the seventh and eighth defensemen.
Ian Cole — who scored a goal Saturday — is 37 and playing on a one-year deal, so Korchinski could be another year out from making an impact.