Mornin’!
The Blackhawks are finishing up their 2025-26 season with exit interviews on Thursday morning, followed by press conferences from the players, coach Jeff Blashill, and general manager Kyle Davidson fresh off his contract extension.
We’ll update this post as the day moves along, so check back here as players offer their final thoughts on the prior 82 games! (Quotes below may be edited for shortened for the sake of brevity and/or clarity sake.)
[Update, 4:30 p.m.] Going to break from the chronological posting and bring the comments from Hawks GM Kyle Davidson up to the top of this post, as his public appearances are most rare among the group but he talked longer than anyone else on Thursday.
The GM is here.
— Second City Hockey (@secondcityhockey.bsky.social) April 16, 2026 at 2:44 PM
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A few quick items from Davidson: yes, they want to re-sign Bedard. He also expressed an interest in re-signing Ilya Mikheyev. Davidson’s opening statement expressed positive reviews of the season overall:
We took some really nice steps forward … We didn’t climb the standings necessarily but I think there were a lot of positives and forward momentum.
We’re only through half of the exit [interviews] so far but you can really feel optimism and excitement from the players for what’s going on here. I think they feel the positive momentum that they built this year. They’re excited to get to work this summer and, I think, already excited to get back here next year because they can feel that there’s momentum and there are additional steps to be taken moving forward.
Davidson also pointed to the team’s improved point total from last season despite a few key injuries as more reasons for his optimism.
This last homestand … it wasn’t great and I understand that recency bias certainly factors into something like this were we finished so poorly and that’s what people may remember. But the season as a whole, we certainly saw a lot of positive momentum to the point that we saw a 10-point increase in our point total while missing our top two centermen for a month-plus. That’s a pretty big hurdle for any team, certainly one that’s in an early stage with so many young players.
He also spoke to the team’s struggles down the stretch:
It’s not necessarily an excuse that we weren’t better in the back third of the year but it’s something that they have to learn from and understand and incorporate into their summer training. This is a really tough league to get through and to maintain a standard all the way through, the physical and mental grind of that is very real.
There were comments from Bedard and Vlasic related to playoffs being an expectation for next season. Davidson was asked where his expectations are:
We heard that, too, from the group. The players are very motivated to make sure that we’re pushing for the playoffs next year. I think that’s realistically something that is a goal. We believe they should come into training camp trying to achieve. These players have all been through it now, some of them a couple times, others once. But I think there’s a positivity that that should be a realistic goal coming into next year. Now it’s something that would require a major step forward but the group is motivated and talented enough that we feel that it’s not unrealistic to expect that. So we need to take another step forward. We took a nice one this year. But the league doesn’t wait around for anyone, so these young players have to continue that development and translate that into more wins on the ice.
On the topic of offseason acquisitions from outside the organization:
That’s something that has always been asked, being in Chicago and with our history, it’s ‘When are you going to get your Marian Hossa?’ I don’t think it’s that simple, to just go get a Hall-of-Fame winger, or that impactful of a player. We are always trying to explore options. It hasn’t occurred but I think we’re far more active in our attempts than people may think, but it has to be right. It can’t compromise the makeup of our group or the core of our group that we’ve got here. It has to support it. It has to be additive and not something that’s going to move us sideways but backwards long-term. We’re definitely going to explore what’s out there. I don’t think I’m shy to try things, just nothing has arisen in the last little while to make that happen.
A Roman Kansterov update from Davidson:
They’re up 3-1 in their second-round series right now in the playoffs, so once we figure out what he wants to do and where he’s going to play next year, then we’ll figure all that out at that time. Having said that, I do believe that, based on his experience in a men’s league the last couple of years, if we were to decide to come to North American he would be in an NHL position.
When asked if there was going to be more of an emphasis on getting things out of the present than focusing on the future, here’s how Davidson responded:
Anytime you’re talking about 20 or 21-year-old players, there’s a future element to it. Unless you’re Connor Bedard when you step in as a 20-year-old and you’re elite, there has to be some understanding that there’s a future element to this. Now, that doesn’t mean we can’t expect more in the present. It doesn’t mean that we can’t demand more out of the young players in the current lineup. And that’s something we’ll do. They’ve been through it once, they’ve seen it, we’ll want them to take steps moving forward and we’re going to do everything we can to work with them to make sure they take steps forward because a number of young players taking a step forward is a meaningful improvement for the collective group. And that’s how we’re really going to take a step forward.
[Update, 10:11 a.m.] The first two speakers of the day were Tyler Bertuzzi and Anton Frondell, with the former dressed for … success? You be the judge!
Blackhawks holding exit interviews today.
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) April 16, 2026
Tyler Bertuzzi starting the day off with a hell of an outfit: pic.twitter.com/uMBmUIm4V5
Frondell offered these thoughts on his initial foray into the NHL:
Anton Frondell on the NHL: "The game overall was so fast. For me, it was a wakeup call, knowing how good people are, really… Playing against the best players in the whole world, it was cool to see how high-level some players are and that I'm still far away from being my best."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) April 16, 2026
[Update, 10:16 a.m.] Oliver Moore said he’d be ready to play in a game tomorrow if there was one, meaning the injury that kept him out for the final stretch of the season is in his rearview mirror. He said he’s planning on playing in the upcoming World Championships, with Frondell adding earlier that he’ll be suiting up for Sweden.
Oliver Moore speaking now, with the Minnesota native clearly recognizing which team has risen to supremacy in the NFC North.
— Second City Hockey (@secondcityhockey.bsky.social) April 16, 2026 at 10:17 AM
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[Update, 11: 55 a.m.] Lunch breaking happening now after a rapid-fire session of player interviews. Let’s catch up, starting with Bedard:
Nazar just spoke, and Bedard's up now. Said he didn't give much thought to his contract situation during the season.
— Second City Hockey (@secondcityhockey.bsky.social) April 16, 2026 at 10:53 AM
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Following up on the above comment, Bedard said the contract talks weren’t on his mind this season:
I kind of just want to play the year and I’m not worried for a second. Honestly, I haven’t thought about it once this year. I know I want to be here and we’ll get it done soon. I don’t think, if it’s not done in a month, there’s any worry. It’ll just get done when it gets done.
On his offseason training plans:
I think it’s kind of similar goals for me. everyone’s going to say getting faster or stronger. Trying to get another step is always going to be what I’m doing. I think if I can get a bit quicker very year, that’s going to help my game in so many ways.
There’s plenty of speculation that Bedard is going to be this team’s next captain. Here’s what he thought about that possibility:
It’d be an honor. It’d be extremely special. We have a lot of guys in this room who can lead and take on those kinds of roles. If I’m the one that is chosen for that, I’d be extremely grateful and it’s something I wouldn’t take for granted. This is a special organization, it’s been around for 100 years now and you see the names that have gotten that honor. That’d be amazing.
This was how Bedard responded to a question on whether or not the long-term scope of this team’s rebuild project had any effect on the on-ice product:
As players and as coaches, every day you’re trying to win. We have an understanding when we sit back and look at our group and how young we are, but on a day-to-day basis, I don’t think “rebuild” was said in our room one time. We’re trying to win each and every day, we’re not really thinking about that. At the end of the day, we have to start winning. It’s been a while, and it takes a toll on your. You want to make that step. We talk about it all the time, it’s on us to go out there and have good summers then come back and make that leap.
Related to that, Bedard had a quick answer that he elaborated on more when asked about whether the lack of on-ice success during his Hawks tenure will affect his contract talks:
Whether on-ice results affect his contract: No. I talk about wanting to win, we all want to win, and I want to win here for as long as I’m playing.
Here are the highlights from Nazar’s time, starting with his discussion about the difference between this season and the prior season for him:
Last year I was basically in the hotel for the whole year. I wasn’t too worried about going up or down but you get called up and you don’t really know what management’s thinking and you’re trying to impress to stay up. Maybe a little bit more scared to make mistakes. But this year felt really free to be myself and play game.
On his midseason slump and how he got out of it:
I thought there were times throughout the season when I wasn’t scoring or wasn’t producing but I was getting tons of chances and loads of opportunities. It was just the execution part of it, the puck not going in.
Winning more stick and puck battles was a key towards the end of the year and doing better in those opportunities.
And Nazar said his offseason plans are wide-ranging:
I’d say everything. Every summer I go back and try to focus on a bit of everything: puck touches, handling pucks, kind of simple stuff like that.
Offseason plans were the main highlight of Kevin Korchinski’s time on the podium, too:
Korch is up. Used the words "prove I belong" in reference to his hockey future.
— Second City Hockey (@secondcityhockey.bsky.social) April 16, 2026 at 11:09 AM
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I think just strength and some little things, whether it’s working on gaps or breaking out the puck under pressure, knowing where your guys are … maye the little things that you don’t really think are important but that make or break those small plays on the ice that can end up in the back of their net.
[Update, 12:45 p.m.] Ryan Greene’s time started with discussions on lessons learned during his first full NHL season:
It was a good learning experience for me, just getting a full year as a pro under my belt and getting a taste for it. But, yeah, I would say it was a solid year. Obviously not the results that we wanted but I have a lot of trust in this group.
When asked what it was like to play in 81 games, he replied: “It sucks that it wasn’t 82.”
Greene also discussed his agenda for offseason training:
For me, I think it’s just getting over pucks, winning pucks and making sure I’m responsible defensively. I need to be somebody who’s a 200-foot player for this team.
Greene was also asked his thoughts on what Bedard’s candidacy for team captain:
You guys don’t really see what goes on behind the scenes but I think he’s a perfect guy for it. He cares about his teammates, checks in on everybody all of the time. He’s our guy, he’s leading the way in a lot of different ways. I think he’s more than ready.
The word “details” was a common theme of Nick Lardis’ time.
There are a lot of little details that (Blashill) wants me – and I’m sure some of the other guys, too — to improve on. I want to be a lot stronger, make sure I’m winning a lot more puck battles next year. and being good on what we like to call the “yellow,” where the walls are, making sure I’m winning a lot of battles and continuing to improve my strength.
Those details also involved discussions on what it takes to score goals at the NHL level:
A lot of it starts in the D zone. If you can play good defensively, you’re going to get chances the other way. As a winger, it’s making sure I’m being consistent, making good plays on the walls and then just little details, too, with the systems that we play, making sure I’m in the right spots and anticipating pucks when I can. All of that leads to offense and possession time in the offensive zone.
A big thing is being predictable with your linemates. This is the best league in the world, you’re not going to go 1-on-5 against a whole team and get a chance. So I think a big thing was just being predictable for your linemates, knowing they’re going to be in the right spots and I’m going to be in the right spots, kind of opens up a lot of scoring chances in the offensive zone together.
Blashill's turn. "We took more steps in the right direction than wrong."
— Second City Hockey (@secondcityhockey.bsky.social) April 16, 2026 at 12:05 PM
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[Update, 1:30 p.m.] Coach Jeff Blashill covered a lot of ground in his podium time, starting with his response to being asked if the team took an overall step forward this season.
For me, we took more steps in the right direction than wrong. Going into the year, we wanted to set a standard and begin the process of setting a culture. I knew we’ve done those two things for sure. I know we’ve taken more steps in the right direction, I’d say by a lot. that doesn’t always show in wins and losses. When you go through a stretch of some games when you’re struggling, it feels like those steps backwards have wiped out all of the steps forward, but that’s not the case.
I know we’ve done that. We’ve got to continue to do that. I feel good about the fact that I know we’re heading in the right direction.
When asked if the injuries to Bedard and Nazar and how that affected the season, Blashill talked about ways to avoid such slumps down the road:
What we’d like to build here is a team that’s deep enough to absorb that. Part of that is just … when you’re as young as we were, it’s hard to be that deep. As these guys all grow and we have more guys who are at that high level, you can absorb some of those.
Blashill said Artyom Levshunov’s hand injury won’t be a major obstacle for his offseason training.
Maybe for the next two weeks but we’ve unfortunately got a long enough summer that he’ll have plenty of time to improve. I think it’s a huge summer for Arty. I think he made great strides this season. He’s almost a freak athlete, body-wise. He’s really strong, really powerful. There’s another level of learning to push and not pace himself and things like that which can be done through summer training, learning how to push yourself to the max at all times. That’ll happen. On the ice, some of the shooting stuff that we started earlier this year, I think that’s critical. Off the ice, there are some hip flexibility things that are going to make him a better skater. That’s critical.
Arty, like the rest of our guys, has a choice to make: he can make it a great summer, a good summer or an OK summer. If he makes it either one of the last two, it’s not good enough. We need a great summer out of him, just like everybody else.
[Update, 2 p.m.] Goaltender Spencer Knight, easily the most thoughtful public speaker on the team’s current roster, started off by talking about what confidence he gained from being a No. 1 starter for a full NHL season for the first time in his career:
Spencer Knight: "It's always going to get harder so I think I'm always just preparing for more, but it does feel nice knowing that I have a little more experience in that department."
— Second City Hockey (@secondcityhockey.bsky.social) April 16, 2026 at 1:35 PM
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Yeah, it does give me confidence. But it doesn’t get easier, you know? Once you make the NHL, OK, then you’re backup, all right, then you establish yourself in the NHL and become a starter, then a good starter, then a great starter, then you’ve got to be someone who can succeed. And even if you’re good, if the team isn’t having success, it might wear on you. So, it’s always going to get harder, I think. I’m always just preparing for more. But I do feel like it’s nice knowing that I have a little bit more experience in that department which will help me going forward.
The process-over-results crowd will appreciate these thoughts from Knight on the idea of the Hawks possible being a winning team next season:
If you look at the course of the whole year, there are a few different things you can look at. You can look at the fact that we were in a lot of close games, which is good. A couple of years ago it felt like we were either up 5-1 or down 5-1 after 10 minutes. I think it’s a privilege to be in those close games and I think that’s really important for us going forward. Yeah, you want to win every game, but you just have to be in the game sometimes to get to that point. You can have the mindset that winning needs to happen next year but it’s more about having the mindset of taking steps and trying to collectively buy in what it takes to win, not necessarily just focus on the outcome but the process of what it takes to win. That, to me, is the most important thing. And wins are probably going to be a byproduct of that.