As the Chicago Blackhawks begin training camp Thursday at Fifth Third Arena, there are more questions than answers. A long list of impressive young talent will be competing for limited NHL roster spots.
Here are three questions facing the Hawks heading into camp.
1. Which forwards will make the team?
The Hawks camp roster lists 30 forwards. About a third of them can be comfortable they will make the opening-day roster, players such as Connor Bedard, Ryan Donato and Frank Nazar.
Several young forwards impressed last weekend in the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase in Minnesota. Ryan Greene had a great performance Saturday against the St. Louis Blues, though he followed it up with a shaky Sunday versus the Minnesota Wild. Oliver Moore displayed his speed both days, getting ahead of defenses in transition and scoring a game-winning overtime goal against the Blues.
AJ Spellacy made his presence felt with aggressive shots on goal and by dropping the gloves. Nick Lardis skated well, and the line of Lardis, Greene and Jack Pridham created quality scoring opportunities. Lardis scored 71 goals for the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs last season.
So which forwards will grab the last few roster spots? It’s a large pool and only a few can swim.
There’s also the question of Lukas Reichel, whose name has been mentioned in trade rumors lately. There’s a good chance he’ll be on the roster if he does stay in Chicago, which would close up another spot.
2. What will a Jeff Blashill camp look like?
As the new Hawks coach takes the reins, we’ll get a first look at how he views his team.
This isn’t Blashill’s first go-around with a rebuilding team. He took over the Detroit Red Wings in 2015-16 but was unable to get his hometown team turned around, posting a 204-261-72 record in seven seasons before his firing in 2022.
After spending the last three seasons as a Tampa Bay Lightning assistant under coach Jon Cooper, Blashill will have a lot to improve upon in Chicago. The 2024-25 Hawks ranked in the bottom half of the league in nearly every offensive and defensive category. He doesn’t have a timetable for when the Hawks will become contenders again, but the young players he has could turn the clock on its head.
General manager Kyle Davidson is banking on what Blashill learned from previous coaching gigs. Blashill has an ever-growing group of players who have shown flashes of what they can do. We’ll see if any are ready to make that leap.
3. How ready is Sam Rinzel?
Against the Blues in the prospect showcase, the 21-year-old defenseman collected a pass. Three Blues prospects swarmed around Sam Rinzel to hinder his shot, so instead he found defenseman Taige Harding by himself for the game’s first goal.
Rinzel’s ice vision had the Blues defense confused all game. His equal abilities as a defender and a playmaker probably will earn him a spot on the Hawks roster.
He impressed in nine NHL games late last season, tallying five assists, three of them on the power play. He averaged 23 minutes of ice time.
Rinzel could be leading the first power-play unit when the season opens. The Hawks ranked 19th in power play goals last season, so they could use a boost in that area.