The Chicago Blackhawks officially opened training camp Thursday with both optimism and realism. General manager Kyle Davidson made it clear the organization is entering a new phase, while new head coach Jeff Blashill wasted no time setting a demanding tone on the ice.
Davidson on Blackhawks Roster Direction
Kyle Davidson didn’t hold back when asked about the contrast between this year’s roster and last season’s group.
“The makeup of this team is night and day from a year ago,” Davidson said. “To be honest, I thought we’d perform better out of the gate last season.
We intentionally built a veteran-heavy roster, one of the older groups in the NHL, because we believed that experience would push us higher in the standings.
It didn’t work out that way, and the results forced us to make changes. That veteran approach didn’t translate to where we are organizationally.”
This season, Davidson said, is about embracing the youth movement.
“Now that we’ve seen this influx of young talent at the end of the season and coming in, there will be a patience factor with young players in the NHL,” he explained.
“But there’s also an excitement factor and a future impact that we should see throughout this season for some players that will be here for a very, very long time.”
Injury Updates
The Blackhawks will have to manage several injuries early in camp.
- Laurent Brossoit (hip surgery) is month-to-month, though Davidson emphasized the 32-year-old intends to play again in the NHL.
- Ty Henry (2024 6th-round pick) suffered a serious knee injury during rookie camp and will undergo surgery.
- A.J. Spellacy (2024 3rd-rounder) is dealing with a shoulder injury and is expected to miss 7–10 days.
- Jack Pridham (2024 3rd-rounder) has an infection but should return within days.
Key Players in Focus
- Wyatt Kaiser: Signed his two-year extension just in time for camp. Davidson praised him as “a big part of our team this year” with room to keep growing into an NHL role.
- Spencer Knight: Recently signed an extension, the young goaltender is being positioned to take on more responsibility. “We traded for Spencer for a reason,” Davidson said. “We believe in his potential to be a top starter in this league.”
- Lukas Reichel: Called this camp a “prove-it” opportunity after inconsistent play. Davidson acknowledged Reichel’s talent but stressed he needs to earn his role.
- Kevin Korchinski: The GM pointed to a “nice step” in the second half of last year and strong AHL playoffs. While the NHL remains in reach, Rockford is also an option to ensure heavy minutes and confidence-building.
Veteran on a Tryout
The biggest surprise on the first day was veteran defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, who arrived on a professional tryout.
After a 40-point season with Pittsburgh, he could provide stability on a young blue line if he makes the roster.
Blashill’s First Impressions
Jeff Blashill wasted no time laying out his vision on Day 1. The new Blackhawks coach split the roster into two practice groups and structured both sessions with a clear purpose.
“Training camp’s always a lot,” Blashill admitted. “But honestly, I woke up this morning and I was pumped. I’m just pumped. …
Obviously, we have lots of work to do, but you can see out there, the guys put the work in. And if we put the work in, good things will happen.
How quick, I have no idea, but I love the work ethic today. Our execution has to get better, but I love the work ethic.”
Blashill explained that the first day revolved around three main goals:
- Build a culture.
- Lay down fundamentals within the system.
- Start sorting out roster roles.
The morning session zeroed in on “winning fundamentals” — stopping on pucks, angling, winning transitions, and explosive first strides.
In the second practice, he layered in some of the team’s track principles, while still hammering home that culture and work ethic would be the foundation of everything.
Bedard’s Contract Questions
Connor Bedard, entering his second NHL season, was already fielding questions about his next contract. The 19-year-old brushed it off.
“I’ve had three interviews and it’s 3-for-3 with contract questions,” Bedard said. “It’s going to be like that until it happens. I don’t care too much. I’ve said I want to be here for a long time, and I think the team feels the same.”
Davidson confirmed there’s “zero concern” about Bedard’s future in Chicago.
Blackhawks Line Combos
It’s dangerous to read too much into Day 1 lineups, but fans always want to see who Connor Bedard is paired with.
On Thursday, he skated between André Burakovsky and Ryan Donato, a trio Blashill said could “play off each other’s strengths.”
Here are the notable practice lines:
Team 1
- Donato – Bedard – Burakovsky
- Slaggert – Dickinson – Mikheyev
- Moore – Greene – Reichel
- Vanacker – Ludwinski – Behm
- Savoie – Seney
Defense: Del Mastro–Rinzel, Vlasic–Murphy, Kuzmin–Harding, Fitzgerald–Mast
Goalies: Knight, Commesso
Team 2
- Teravainen – Nazar – Bertuzzi
- Dach – Foligno – Lafferty
- Thompson – Toninato – Lardis
- Cates – Hayes – Anderson
- Misiak – Holmes
Defense: Kaiser–Levshunov, Grzelcyk–Crevier, Korchinski–Allan, Cumby–Perrott
Goalies: Söderblom, Berezhnoy
Bottom Line: Blackhawks trend in a positive way
The Blackhawks are making a clear pivot: a young roster, tough competition for spots, and a coach demanding accountability from Day 1.
Davidson admits patience will be necessary, but the upside of this group could define the organization’s future.
With Bedard leading the charge and prospects pushing hard for roster spots, camp is already showing what kind of identity this Blackhawks team wants to build.
Home › Forums › Blackhawks Open Camp: Davidson Sets Direction, Blashill Demands Intensity