There is just one preseason game left on the calendar and then it gets real for the Chicago Blackhawks. While expectations aren’t thru the roof, this team should be better than last year’s 54-point performance. On paper, this year’s roster is full of veterans with pedigree and winning on their resumes, which should help the team be more consistent.
In theory.
Injuries happen. Last year the Blackhawks had more than we’ve seen in recent memory. And players still have to perform. Some players on this roster should improve. Others have big question marks next to their names. And some… we’re just trying to figure things out.
With five of the six preseason games in the bag, here’s a run at what the lineup might shape up to be in Utah on Tuesday night when the results count for real.
Blackhawks Forward Lines
Teuvo Terรยคvรยคinen — Connor Bedard — Tyler Bertuzzi
Taylor Hall — Philipp Kurashev — Ilya Mikheyev
Nick Foligno — Jason Dickinson — Joey Anderson
Pat Maroon — Ryan Donato — Craig Smith
These are the forward lines we watched in practice after the Blackhawks’ fourth preseason game. And, frankly, they make the most sense to start the season. While the planned third line of Foligno-Dickinson-Mikheyev has a lot to like, Mikheyev’s speed and offensive ability make him a good fit on the second line as well. And, as Scott Powers wrote recently, Anderson’s defensive play makes him a good player to find a spot for in the lineup.
Of course, if these are indeed the lines we watch on Opening Night in Utah, the question(s) become what to do with Lukas Reichel and Andreas Athanasiou. Reichel played better in Milwaukee last night, picking up an assist. But that was against largely AHL competition. Right now I can’t justify a spot for him in the NHL lineup. Not quite yet. Athanasiou, on the other hand, did nothing in Milwaukee and I don’t know how he gets into the lineup. To me, he’s the 14th forward on this NHL roster.
Blackhawks Defensive Pairs
Alec Martinez — Seth Jones
Alex Vlasic — TJ Brodie
Isaak Phillips — Connor Murphy
UPDATE: with news that Phillips was placed on waivers Sunday, we’ll have to wait and see if he clears and remains in Chicago. My gut is they put him on waivers Sunday in an effort to put him out there on the day everyone gets waived to hopefully sneak him thru. He could stay on the NHL roster after clearing (I would expect him to so the Hawks have seven defensemen on the roster for the opening trip).
Richardson confirmed that, at least to start the season, the plan is to break up Jones and Vlasic to partner each of them with one of the new additions from this summer. With Artyom Levshunov and Wyatt Kaiser both working their way back into game shape, it appears Nolan Allan will be the seventh defenseman to start the regular season. Expectations are that Levshunov will spend most/all of this season in Rockford. Kaiser started camp well and could make the coaches/front office make a decision on Allan when he’s ready to go.
Blackhawks Goalies
Petr Mrรกzek
Laurent Brossoit*
Arvid Sรยถderblom
Brossoit is still working his way back from a knee injury suffered while training late in the summer. He received an injured non-roster designation on Friday and might start the regular season on IR. Right now it looks like Sรยถderblom will serve as the third goaltender until Brossoit is ready to join the Blackhawks lineup. With a back-to-back in the first week of the season — Friday night in Winnipeg and Saturday night in Edmonton next week — we might get a start from Sรยถderblom on the road trip.
Rockford head coach Anders Sorensen has already indicated Drew Commesso will be the No. 1 goalie for the IceHogs this season.