The long wait is over — it’s showtime for the Chicago Blackhawks. The rebuild continues, but this year feels different.
The Hawks will open the 2025-26 NHL season tonight in Sunrise, Florida, facing the defending champion Florida Panthers. They’ll watch the banner rise, then it’s time to play for real.
A New Chapter Begins
Training camp is over. The excitement and emotion are real for the players, the coaches, and the fans. Everyone in the organization — from Kyle Davidson to Jeff Blashill — knows the goal this year: development.
Nobody’s pretending playoffs are realistic. Davidson’s mission is clear — give the young players every chance to grow, learn, and make mistakes. There will be ups and downs, but that’s the price of building something long-term.
This season is about experience for players like Bedard, Nazar, Levshunov, and Rinzel. It’s about turning potential into progress.
Blackhawks Opening Night Lineup
The Hawks hit the ice without Slaggert and Vlasic, both sidelined. Ryan Greene was recalled and draws in.
Coach Jeff Blashill kept his lines mostly intact all camp, emphasizing chemistry and consistency — a lesson he picked up from Jon Cooper in Tampa.
Forwards:
Donato – Bedard – Burakovsky
Teravainen – Nazar – Bertuzzi
Dach – Dickinson – Mikheyev
Foligno – Greene – Lafferty
Defense:
Grzelcyk – Rinzel
Kaiser – Levshunov
Del Mastro – Murphy
Extra: Crevier
Goalies:
Knight (starter)
Söderblom (backup)
Spencer Knight returns to Florida for the first time since being traded for Seth Jones. Drafted 13th overall by the Panthers in 2019, he’ll face his former team on the NHL’s opening night — not a bad storyline.
Blashill’s Message
Coach Blashill spoke about Lukas Reichel’s role in the bottom six:
“You have to value the puck, be strong defensively, and sometimes just chip it in and live another day. When the play’s there, make it.”
That’s the tone for the new-look Hawks — smart decisions, structure, and accountability.
Alex Vlasic, recovering from a deep leg cut, avoided a major injury to his Achilles but won’t dress tonight. Slaggert is on short-term IR but should return soon.
Power Play 1: Bedard, Rinzel, Teravainen, Nazar, Bertuzzi
Penalty Kill 1: Dickinson, Mikheyev, Murphy, Del Mastro
The Big Picture for the Blackhawks
This is a crucial season for GM Davidson. He needs answers — who’s part of the future and who isn’t. With eight veterans on expiring deals, Chicago could turn some into trade assets by the deadline.
Ten players are 23 or younger, and six haven’t played a full NHL season. That’s the cost of a rebuild, but it’s also the path to becoming a contender again.
The Blackhawks’ biggest challenge last season? Everything 5-on-5.
- Poor puck possession
- Weak faceoff numbers
- Too many shots against
- And a low goal differential (-70)
Blashill wants to simplify the game — play faster, smarter, and tighter defensively. The focus is on speed, transition, and five-man units working together.
System, Speed, and Structure
One of the most important things to watch early in the season is how the Blackhawks adapt to Jeff Blashill’s system. Last year, they lacked identity. This year, Blashill has brought a clear plan — a blend of structure and modern pace.
In hockey today, it’s all about gap control — and the Hawks were far too loose a year ago.
The concept is simple: close the space between you and the puck carrier before he builds speed. But good gap control starts in the offensive zone, not the defensive end.
When the defense pinches down the boards, the F3 forward has to stay high, reading the play and covering the blue line. That decision — to pinch or hold — defines whether you maintain pressure or give up an odd-man rush.
As the puck moves through the neutral zone, defensemen need to hold their line, stepping up early to take away space. The goal is to force dump-ins, not let opponents carry the puck cleanly over the blue line.
Then comes the defensive-zone structure. Blashill is blending concepts — not pure man-to-man, not a strict box +1.
Expect a hybrid system, where defensemen pressure quickly when the puck is below the goal line, but switch to zone coverage when it’s high. It’s aggressive but calculated — designed to create turnovers and jump-start transition.
That’s the identity Blashill wants: five players connected, defending together, attacking together.
When the puck is lost, the nearest player reacts instantly. No hesitation, no glide. That’s how you build a team that can play fast and stay in control.
The Grind Ahead
With the Olympics in February, the schedule is compact. There will be more back-to-backs and fewer recovery days. Blashill will need a strong rotation and steady discipline to keep his group fresh.
This year isn’t about standings — it’s about growth. The Hawks are still in the trenches, learning what it means to be pros for a full 82-game grind.
Key Prospects to Watch
If there’s one reason for excitement this season, it’s the kids. The Blackhawks’ future is finally on the ice — and four players in particular could define where this rebuild goes next.
Connor Bedard is ready for his breakout year. After flashing elite talent as a rookie, he’s stronger, smarter, and more confident. Expect him to push for 80+ points, possibly cracking 35 goals if the power play clicks.
Frank Nazar might be the biggest surprise. His speed, compete, and hockey IQ fit perfectly in Blashill’s transition system.
A 60-point rookie season isn’t out of the question — especially with Teuvo Teravainen and Tyler Bertuzzi on his wings.
Sam Rinzel has the poise and puck-moving skill to take a big step. He’ll make mistakes, but he reads the ice well and skates effortlessly. Expect him to grow into a top-four defenseman by midseason.
And then there’s Artyom Levshunov, the other half of that young blue-line future. He’s physical, calm under pressure, and already plays like a veteran. With Kaiser beside him, they could become a reliable shutdown pair.
These four are the core of the rebuild — Bedard, Nazar, Rinzel, Levshunov — and their development this season is more important than any win-loss record.
The Vision and the Patience
It’s not always going to be pretty. There will be games where the Hawks get outshot 40–20 and nights when turnovers cost them points.
But that’s the reality of a rebuild. The key is patience and perspective — progress over perfection.
Chicago wants to play the right way. They want to learn how to win, not just chase a few extra points in the standings. As Blashill said during camp, “You build good habits first — the results come after.”
Coach Frenchy’s Prediction: Blackhawks Make Gradual Progress
I’ve got the Blackhawks finishing with 68 points — bottom-three in the league, but trending the right way. Forget the record; focus on the process.
The true win this year will be watching Bedard turn into a star, Nazar prove he belongs, and Rinzel and Levshunov establish themselves as full-time NHL defensemen.
If those four take a step forward, the season’s already a success. That’s how you turn a rebuild into a foundation.
So buckle up, Hawks fans. The rebuild continues, the learning never stops, and the future is on the ice.
Enjoy the ride. Here we go — the 2025-26 season starts now.
68 points huh… That’s not going to be good for my rage.
One of the big things that I’m going to be looking for is accountability. If Blashill sees Bedard, or Nazar, or Rinzel or Arty not doing the things he wants/needs to see, I’d prefer that imposes a punishment on them in-game. Take some shifts away, or PP time or whatever. That is one of the things that’s been missing the last few years unless it’s Reichel or some of the lesser prospects.