The Chicago Blackhawks started to pare down their training camp roster after just one preseason game. Four prospects were sent back to their junior clubs:
- Marek Vanacker → Brantford (OHL)
- Parker Holmes → Brantford (OHL)
- Jack Pridham → Kitchener (OHL)
- Nathan Behm → Kamloops (WHL)
Vanacker and Pridham both dressed for Chicago in Detroit on Tuesday night, while Holmes and Behm didn’t see NHL action.
The moves leave Chicago with 49 players in camp: 26 forwards, 17 defensemen, and six goaltenders.
Spotlight on Marek Vanacker
Vanacker, Chicago’s 27th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, is already viewed as one of the organization’s more promising forward prospects.
The Brantford Bulldogs winger produced 24 goals and 42 points in 45 OHL games last season, then added 11 points in 11 playoff games.
He also signed his entry-level deal in August, which shows the Blackhawks’ investment in his future.
Sending Vanacker back to junior isn’t a knock — it’s the right step. Chicago wants him to dominate at the OHL level, continue to polish his two-way play, and gain the confidence of being a go-to offensive driver before he makes the leap.
Spotlight on Jack Pridham
Pridham, taken 92nd overall (3rd round) in 2024, quietly turned heads with his strong second half in the OHL. A pure goal scorer, he projects to push for 35 goals and 70 points this season with the Kitchener Rangers.
He saw preseason action against Detroit, and while he won’t stick in the NHL yet, he’s tracking as a dangerous finisher who could push his way into Chicago’s future middle six.
Holmes and Behm
Holmes heads back to Brantford, while Behm returns to Kamloops. Both are long-term projects, but the camp experience will help them prepare for key roles on their junior teams this season.
Forwards Still Fighting for spots on Blackhawks
Colton Dach
Few players have more on the line than Colton Dach. The 22-year-old checks nearly every box Chicago wants: size (6’4”, 220 lbs), physicality, willingness to chirp, and a power-forward style that wears opponents down.
He’s been used mostly on the fourth line in camp, but also filled in higher when injuries opened spots.
Blashill raved about his versatility, even suggesting Dach could work his way into a top-six role if he brings a consistent edge:
“It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he ended up into a top-six spot… Where he can separate himself is by being a big power forward, being physical on the forecheck, being hard at the net front, and adding team toughness.”
Dach himself embraces that identity:
“I like to play with an edge. I like to be in the middle of things. I think that’s really going to help me break into this league.”
For now, the spot feels like his to lose.
Ryan Greene
Greene didn’t dominate at the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase, but he’s been steady in camp. His strength lies in how he thinks the game — defensively sound, but with more offensive upside than he gets credit for.
He could be a natural replacement for Jason Dickinson down the road, though in the short term he’s likely competing for a depth spot. Unless he pushes someone like Sam Lafferty down to 13th forward, Greene may have to bide his time.
Oliver Moore
Moore’s speed makes him one of the most noticeable players on the ice. He looked dangerous at the Prospect Showcase and has continued that form in camp.
The question is whether he can slow his game down at the right times to make smarter plays. If he figures that balance out, his speed could turn him into a PK threat and depth piece sooner than later.
Odds are still against him cracking the roster this fall, but he’s very much in the mix.
Lukas Reichel
Reichel’s story is one of uncertainty. Once penciled in as a top-six forward, he found himself in more of a bottom-six role last year and didn’t always deliver.
The arrival of even more young talent puts pressure on him to prove he belongs. Davidson was blunt: it’s a “prove-it camp” for Reichel. Waivers make him tough to move, but his role is far from guaranteed.
Nick Lardis
Lardis has the skill to be one of the top offensive prospects at camp, but the logjam in the top-six likely sends him to Rockford to develop in a scoring role.
He’s not the fit for a grinding fourth-line role, and Chicago knows patience is the better play here.
On the Blackhawks Blue Line
Kevin Korchinski
The Blackhawks continue to show patience with Korchinski, despite his pedigree. They want him to build confidence, make plays, and eventually grow into a top defenseman.
Camp will determine whether he earns a roster spot right away or heads back to Rockford for major minutes.
Matt Grzelcyk
Grzelcyk, surprisingly unsigned until camp, has looked steady early. He could be a reliable veteran presence if the young defenders stumble. But if Chicago’s kids prove NHL-ready, Grzelcyk might be squeezed out.
Ethan Del Mastro
Del Mastro was one of last season’s pleasant surprises, showing a steady, mistake-free game.
Paired with Sam Rinzel in camp, he may not have the same ceiling as Korchinski or Levshunov, but his reliability could earn him NHL minutes sooner than expected.
The Bigger Picture
With Levshunov, Murphy, Vlasic, and Rinzel all locks, the fight for the final left-side spots will come down to Korchinski, Del Mastro, Grzelcyk, Nolan Allan, and Louis Crevier. Every preseason game will matter for this group.
What It All Means for the Blackhawks
The first round of cuts was expected, but the next few weeks will bring clarity. Dach is staking a real claim. Greene and Moore are forcing decisions.
Reichel has to prove himself. On defense, Korchinski’s development path could swing the lineup balance.
For Vanacker, Pridham, and the rest sent back, this is about dominating at their levels. If Pridham hits 35 goals and Vanacker continues to lead Brantford, they’ll be back in the conversation soon.
This is still a rebuild, but the pieces are taking shape. Every practice and preseason shift matters — because if you don’t make the roster, you want to be the first call-up when the time comes.
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