2026 NHL Global Series in Germany
The Chicago Blackhawks are heading overseas.
Chicago will face the Ottawa Senators in the NHL Global Series at the PSD Bank Dome in Düsseldorf, Germany on December 18 and 20, 2026.
Ottawa could easily be the “home favorite” in those games thanks to German superstar Tim Stützle, who will surely draw a lot of support from local fans.
For the NHL, it’s another big opportunity to grow the game internationally, and for Chicago it will be a great experience for a young roster that continues to develop.
Blackhawks Prospects Shine in Craig Button Rankings
On Friday morning, Craig Button released his updated ranking of the Top 50 affiliated prospects in the NHL for TSN.
The Blackhawks are once again very well represented.
Two Chicago prospects landed inside the top 10:
• Anton Frondell — No. 2
• Roman Kantserov — No. 10
Button also ranked Václav Nestrašil at No. 26.
Frondell, playing in the SHL, and Kantserov, playing in the KHL, are currently the two highest-ranked prospects on the list playing overseas. That’s excellent news for Chicago’s rebuild and shows the pipeline remains strong.
Top Players Elevating Their Game
Since returning from the Olympic break, several key Blackhawks players have stepped up offensively.
In the last eight games:
• Connor Bedard — 4 goals, 5 assists, 9 points
• Tyler Bertuzzi — 4 goals, 3 assists, 7 points
• Teuvo Teräväinen — 3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points
• Frank Nazar — 3 goals, 5 assists, 8 points
That kind of production is exactly what Chicago needs from its top players as the team continues building around Bedard.
Time for Tough Decisions?
While some players are producing, others are struggling.
Andre Burakovsky has had a difficult stretch. In his last eight games, he has just one goal, only four shots on goal, and has committed several costly turnovers.
Since December 1st, Burakovsky has scored just four goals in 40 games, which is a major disappointment considering his role on the team.
At some point, the coaching staff led by Jeff Blashill may need to consider benching him or making him a healthy scratch if the effort and production don’t improve.
Mangiapane Making an Impression
Meanwhile, Andrew Mangiapane has quietly been a good addition.
Since joining the lineup, he has brought energy, speed, and secondary scoring. Right now he looks like a solid middle-six forward, and he could very well become a player the Blackhawks consider keeping for next season.
If things continue this way, Mangiapane could realistically fit inside the top nine forwards moving forward.
Davidson’s Next Moves
General manager Kyle Davidson will soon face some important contract decisions.
Connor Bedard Extension
The biggest one is obviously Connor Bedard.
Bedard looks like the future face of the franchise and could eventually become the next captain in Chicago. His next contract could land above $11 million per season on a long-term deal of seven or eight years, depending on the next collective bargaining agreement.
Ilya Mikheyev’s Situation
Ilya Mikheyev is another interesting case.
With several veteran players leaving the roster, Mikheyev has taken on a larger role. A deal around three years at roughly $5 million per season could make sense as a bridge contract while the next wave of prospects arrives.
If the term goes to four years, the AAV should probably stay closer to $4 million.
Free Agency Is Not the Best Option
Looking ahead to the 2026 free-agent market, there are very few players who would make sense for Chicago.
Names like Mason Marchment and Alex Tuch are among the most attractive options, but both will be around 30 years old, and Tuch could be looking for a contract above $10 million.
For a rebuilding team like Chicago, that kind of risk may not be worth it.
Veteran depth players such as Charlie Coyle or Anders Lee could make more sense as short-term additions, but overall free agency is unlikely to be the main solution for this rebuild.
Standings Update
The Blackhawks currently sit 30th in the NHL standings, one point behind the Rangers and Jets and two points ahead of the Flames.
Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers are sitting around the middle of the league in 20th place.
Next Game
Chicago returns to action tonight against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Puck drop is scheduled for 9:00 PM CDT in Las Vegas.
That’s what i love about the Blackhawks abundance of players drafted.
Kantserov was no where to be found in the top 50 prospects on anyone’s list but now he’s top 10? Drafted with one of 3 second round picks.
The beauty of blowing it all up and accumulating the most amount of draft capital possible. Will West, Vanacker, Behm, Mustard, Gajan or any of Julys draft picks be on this list?