Kaiser was absent from the first game of the season for the Blackhawks due to an illness but will likely be inserted back into the lineup shortly. The 22-year-old defenseman played 32 games with the Blackhawks last season, tallying seven points (0G / 7A), 46 blocks, and 22 hits.
Petr Mrazek struggled in the Blackhawks season-opening 5-2 loss to the Utah Hockey Club, allowing four goals on 26 shots (.846 SV%). As such, the Blackhawks will turn to Soderblom for their second game of the the season, a tilt against the Winnipeg Jets, who steamrolled to a 6-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. The 25-year-old Soderblom appeared in 32 games last season (5-22-2), posting a pedestrian 3.92 GAA and .879 SV%.
The Blackhawks will start the season with Mrazek as their starting goaltender. The 32-year-old Mrazek was a bright spot for a Blackhawks club in a mostly forgettable 2023-24 campaign. In 56 contests (18-31-4), Mrazek posted a respectable 3.05 GAA and .907 SV%, totals that mirror his career average of 2.80 GAA and .907 SV%. The Blackhawks enter action on Tuesday as +145 road underdogs in a historic first regular season game for the Utah Hockey Club.
The Blackhawks will likely start the season with Mrazek as their starting goaltender. The 32-year-old Mrazek was a bright spot for a Blackhawks club in a mostly forgettable 2023-24 campaign. In 56 contests (18-31-4), Mrazek posted a respectable 3.05 GAA and .907 SV%, totals that mirror his career average of 2.80 GAA and .907 SV%. The Blackhawks enter action on Tuesday as +145 road underdogs in a historic first regular season game for the Utah Hockey Club.
Entering training camp, it seemed as if Nazar had a chance to make the Blackhawks roster after appearing in three games with them at the end of last season. He had a disappointing preseason, though, and will get his first taste of AHL action with Rockford to begin 2024-25.
After appearing in 76 NHL games a season ago, Korchinski had a disappointing training camp and will begin the 2024-25 season in Rockford. With Korchinski off the roster, look for Alex Vlasic to quarterback the Blackhawks' second power-play unit.
Vanacker was Chicago's 2024 1st round pick (27th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday with the Blackhawks. The 18-year-old left-winger took a massive step forward in the OHL in 2023-24 with Brantford, collecting 36 goals and 82 points in 68 games played.
Phillips set career highs in both games played (33) and assists (6) in 2023-24 and has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract to remain with Chicago. The 22-year-old mobile defensemen has struggled defensively in his three NHL seasons with a collective -37 plus/minus in just 53 career games played but will look to improve that ugly number when he takes on an expected bigger role in 2024-25.
Crevier made his NHL debut in 2023-24 with Chicago, picking up three assists and a -16 plus/minus in 24 games played and has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract on Monday. The 23-year-old towering 6'8" defensemen was Chicago's 2020 7th round pick (188th overall) and will look to carve a full time role on Chicago's back end in 2024-25.
Levshunov went No.2 overall in this summer's NHL Draft after posting nine goals and 26 assists (35 points) in 38 games at Michigan State University. Levshunov was second among NCAA freshmen defensemen in points and was a Big-10 Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year.
After four seasons in Toronto and 14 in Canada, TJ Brodie signed with his first American franchise on Monday after agreeing to a two-year deal worth $7.5 million ($3.75M AAV) with Chicago. The 34-year-old sturggled in the latter half of 2023-24 despite his offensive production, as he ended the season with a goal, 26 points and a +17 plus/minus in 78 games played with Toronto.
Chicago continued to add experience to its core on Monday as it signed 34-year-old Craig Smith to a one-year, $1 million contract. The veteran winger is entering his 14th NHL season and had 11 goals, 20 points, 33 PIMs and a +2 plus/minus in 75 games played with Dallas in 2023-24.
Anderson has spent the last two seasons in Chicago and will return for two more after he signed a two-year contract extension worth $1.6 million ($800K AAV). The 26-year-old is in his seventh NHL season and had five goals, 17 points, eight PIMs and a +5 plus/minus in 55 games in 2023-24.
Chicago completed their goaltending tandem on Monday as Laurent Brossoit joined Petr Mrazek in the Blackhawks' goaltending room after signing a two-year deal worth $6.6 million ($3.3M AAV). The 31-year-old solidified himself as one of the NHL's best backups after an incredibly successful first season in Winnipeg, with his 15-5-2 record, 2.00 GAA, .927 SV% and three shutouts.
Alec Martinez will join Chicago for his 16th NHL season after the veteran defenseman signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Blackhawks on Monday. The three-time Stanley Cup Champion only managed to play in 55 games in 2023-24 due to injury, but still had four goals, 17 points, and 72 SOG while averaging 19:03 TOI/GP.
The "Big Rig" Pat Maroon will join his eighth NHL team after he signed a one-year deal worth $1.3 million with Chicago on Monday. The 36-year-old bruising winger is entering his 14th NHL season and had four goals and 16 points in 51 games with both Minnesota and Boston in 2023-24.
Teravainen will return to Chicago, where he spent the first three seasons of his 11-year career after he agreed to a three-year deal worth $16.2 million ($5.4M AAV) on Monday. The 29-year-old left-winger surpassed his career high in goals in 2023-24 (25) and had 53 points, 142 SOG and a +15 plus/minus in 76 games played.
Bertuzzi had a very slow start in Toronto but finished the season with 43 points (21G / 22A) in 80 games. In Chicago, he'll be a candidate to skate with Connor Bedard and comes in with four career 20-plus goal and 20-plus assist seasons ('19, '20, '22, '24).
