{"id":191838,"date":"2025-09-30T08:19:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T08:19:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/191838\/"},"modified":"2025-09-30T08:19:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T08:19:09","slug":"where-blackhawks-roster-battles-stand-entering-last-week-of-training-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/191838\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Blackhawks’ roster battles stand entering last week of training camp"},"content":{"rendered":"

With just five days of training camp left to jockey for NHL spots, it\u2019s crunch time for players on the Blackhawks<\/a>\u2019 roster bubble.<\/p>\n

The Hawks signaled that Monday by cutting their camp roster to 30. Forwards Nick Lardis and Samuel Savoie and goalie Drew Commesso were the most notable players sent to Rockford.<\/p>\n

Lardis, a third-round Hawks draft pick in 2023, impressed in rookie camp earlier in September, as well as in some practices during the main camp, but he didn\u2019t make a huge impact in preseason action. It makes sense to ease him<\/a> into pro hockey in the AHL, at least for a few months.<\/p>\n

The goaltending situation, meanwhile, was never uncertain, with Commesso always destined to return to Rockford despite his own belief in his NHL readiness<\/a>. It\u2019s an encouraging sign that he, Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom all had save percentages over .930 in their first preseason starts.<\/p>\n

Monday was a day off for the Hawks, but there are still three home preseason games on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday for players to make their cases.<\/p>\n

Forward battle<\/p>\n

The first line (Connor Bedard centering Ryan Donato and Andre Burakovsky), the second line (Frank Nazar centering Teuvo Teravainen and Tyler Bertuzzi), the anchors of the third line (Jason Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev) and one member of the fourth line (Nick Foligno) have been constants in camp.<\/p>\n

Landon Slaggert got the first look on Dickinson\u2019s left wing before he was sidelined with an injury. He\u2019s expected to return to practice Tuesday, so he should be healthy for opening night next Tuesday in Florida, although his role is in flux.<\/p>\n

Colton Dach has been a camp standout<\/a>, securing his NHL job. He\u2019s another candidate to slot onto the checking line.<\/p>\n

Sam Lafferty will almost certainly make the roster, too, but his performances this week could determine whether he starts on the fourth line or as a healthy scratch.<\/p>\n

Young players Oliver Moore and Ryan Greene are likely battling each other for one available spot. Moore\u2019s speed and tenacity have made him noticeable in every setting, and he\u2019s probably the favorite. But keeping Greene could help the Hawks in the faceoff circle \u2014 an overall team weakness. It\u2019s rare and remarkable to see any rookie win 52.3% of his draws, even in the preseason.<\/p>\n

The player most in question is Lukas Reichel<\/a>, whose name continues to float around the trade market. He has plenty of supporters among fans, but the Hawks are bearish about his outlook. Even after he excelled in a 4-2 preseason victory over the Blues on Saturday, coach Jeff Blashill alluded to the reality that Reichel\u2019s free-flowing, top-six-style game doesn\u2019t lend itself to bottom-six roles, which are the only ones available. This could be one of the most pivotal weeks of Reichel\u2019s career.<\/p>\n

Defensive battle<\/p>\n

Five defensemen \u2014 Sam Rinzel, Alex Vlasic, Connor Murphy, Wyatt Kaiser and Artyom Levshunov \u2014 appear to have NHL jobs locked down. Vlasic suffered a lower-body injury Sunday in a 4-1 victory over the Wild, but the Hawks claim he\u2019s just day-to-day. Kaiser and Levshunov have become connected at the hip.<\/p>\n

Louis Crevier is a good bet to claim the No.\u2009\u20097 defenseman role because the Hawks don\u2019t want to risk placing him on waivers. That leaves prospects Ethan Del Mastro, Kevin Kor-chinski and Nolan Allan \u2014 all exempt from waivers \u2014 and veteran Matt Grzelcyk fighting for the last spot.<\/p>\n

Del Mastro was the clear favorite among that group entering camp, but he has struggled in preseason action, committing turnovers and getting burned by indecisiveness. Korchinski and Allan have displayed their strengths \u2014 smooth skating and big hits, respectively \u2014 but they\u2019re still raw in other areas. It\u2019s conceivable the Hawks could decide to give all three more time in Rockford and sign Grzelcyk as a short-term placeholder.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it was to work out, I could help some of those guys come along,\u201d Grzelcyk said Friday, making his contract pitch. \u201c[I would] not see it as me taking a spot from someone.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Colton<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

After two solid preseason appearances, the 22-year-old power forward seems even more locked into an NHL job.<\/p>\n

[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]
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read<\/p>\n

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\"Blackhawks<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

The Hawks\u2019 new coach has overhauled their tactics in their own zone, at five-on-five and on the penalty kill, to dial up more pressure on the puck.<\/p>\n

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\"Drew<\/p>\n

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Commesso, the Hawks\u2019 23-year-old goalie prospect, finished the 2024-25 AHL season on a torrid run, only to see Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom receive contract extensions this summer.<\/p>\n

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