The first Blackhawks game of the regular season is now just eight days away, and preparation for that continues on Monday as Chicago hosts the Minnesota Wild for a preseason game.
Over the weekend, a trio of prospects were returned to their junior teams, most notably 2026 second-round pick Ryan Roobroeck, so the training camp roster now stands at 47 players. Of those 47, the ones expected to still be on the NHL roster next week make up the lineup for this evening, as is often the case with preseason home games. There is one exception, though, as those expecting a glimpse of No. 88 in a Blackhawks uniform for the first time in three years will have to wait a little longer.
Jeff Blashill confirms Patrick Kane won't play tonight.
— Greg Boysen (@gregboysen.bsky.social) September 21, 2026 at 11:38 AM
With Kane out, it’s unclear who’ll join Nazar and Kantserov on the top line. One option would be Teuvo Teravainen, which would keep the other three lines intact, although the Teuvo’s been a bit of an odd man out during this speed run of a training camp, building at least some speculation regarding the future of the former Chicago first-rounder, who’ll be an unrestricted free agent next summer. Three more players are not in the lineup for this game after skating in Minnesota on Saturday night:
Jeff Blashill confirmed that Slaggert, Kane, Del Mastro and Korchinski will not play tonight
— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) September 21, 2026
Below is the best guess at what the Blackhawks’ lineup will be, again with the exception of Kane on the top line:
Blackhawks line rushes: Kantserov-Nazar-Kane Bertuzzi-Frondell-Lardis Donato-Moore-Mangiapane Smith-Greene-Greenway Vlasic-Byram Kaiser-Levshunov Cole-Rinzel Knight looks like to be your starting netminder.
— Greg Boysen (@gregboysen.bsky.social) September 21, 2026 at 10:32 AM
As for the Wild, they’re sending another youth-heavy roster to Chicago for this game, based on the rosters listed below:
With the Wild sending more of an AHL roster to Chicago than an NHL one, it’d be nice for what’s just about the Blackhawks “A” squad to carry most of the play this evening. It won’t mean much in terms of what to expect in the upcoming NHL season, but it would sure beat the alternative.
Let’s go Hawks.
How to watch
When: 7 p.m. CT
Where: United Center, Chicago
TV: CHSN
Webstream: ESPN+
Radio: WGN 720