Training camp ahead of the 2026-27 hockey season is already in full swing and Saturday evening brings the first preseason game on the calendar, as the Blackhawks are on the road against the Minnesota Wild this evening.
As is traditionally the case for the preseason, a road game means the Blackhawks are sending most of their AHL-destined players for this evening skate.
Below are the players who were on the ice for practice in Chicago on Saturday morning, which means they are likely NOT on their way up north to face the Wild this evening. For a rough estimate of what the Blackhawks lineup will look like in Minnesota, here’s a well-educated guess from Ben Pope of the Sun-Times:
Blackhawks, err, IceHogs lines appear to look something like this (no promises) for tonight's preseason opener at Minnesota:
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) September 19, 2026
Slaggert-Toninato-Hayes
Boucher-Seney-Spellacy
Vanacker-Felcman-Misiak
Mylymok-Boisvert-Savoie
Korchinski-Del Mastro
Mackey-Anhorn
Furlong-Pouliot…
Fair to conclude that Kevin Korchinski will be the most interesting player to watch from Chicago in this game, as the No. 7 pick from 2022 looks to make his case for more ice time with the Hawks this season.
The Wild lineup looks similarly constructed, with plenty of the teams more notable players like Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov and Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber all absent from the lineup. A familiar face is on the top line, though.
#mnwild lines
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) September 19, 2026
Sturm-Stramel-N. Foligno
Shaw-Haight-Gambrell
Pitlick-Heidt-Kirkland
Joshua-Bankier-Lorenz
Maatta-Hunt
Lambos-Kiersted
Koster-Schmidt/Spacek
Gustafsson Nyberg left skate early
Pickard
Giant Filip Ruzicka
The regular season arrives in 10 days, ready or not.
Let’s go Hawks!
How to watch
When: 7 p.m. CT
Where: Grand Casino Arena, St. Paul
TV: CHSN+
Webstream: ESPN+
Radio: WGN 720