Blackhawks’ Alex Vlasic out day-to-day, hopeful for opening night
An update on one of the top young blueliners in the Windy City.
When speaking to the media on Tuesday, Chicago Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill confirmed that Alex Vlasic remains out of action on a day-to-day basis due to a lower-body injury. Blashill also stated that Vlasic will most likely not play for the rest of the preseason, but the team is hopeful that he will be in the lineup when the Blackhawks open the regular season next week.
Chicago head coach Jeff Blashill said Alex Vlasic is still day to day with a lower-body injury.
He probably won’t play in the remaining preseason games but they’re hopeful he’ll be ready for Opening Day. #Blackhawks
Vlasic had been on the sidelines with the ailment since suffering an injury in the third period in a game against the Minnesota Wild on Sunday. He was hit along the boards in his own zone and promptly skated slowly over to the bench. Vlasic didn’t appear for the remainder of the contest, though Chicago went on to win the game, 4-1.
Vlasic registered just under 12 minutes of ice time across 14 shifts in the game, blocking a shot while posting a plus/minus of -1.
If Blashill’s hopes serve true, the Wilmette, Ill. native will be in action when the Hawks begin the 2025-26 campaign against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers next Tuesday.
The 24-year-old is coming off his best season in his young NHL career. In just his second full-time season in Chicago, Vlasic appeared in all 82 games, setting career highs in goals (4), assists (26), points (30) and average time on ice (23:16). He did register a -23 rating on a team that finished dead last in the Central Division for the third year in a row.
Vlasic is entering the second year of the six-year contract extension he signed with the team in April 2024. The deal carries an AAV of $4.6 million through the 2029-30 season, with a modified no-trade clause for the final two years. In 179 career games with the Hawks, he has scored seven goals and 42 assists for 49 points, while averaging 21:38 of ice time per game.