Slaggert will be absent from Chicago's preseason activities for a few days after it was announced the 23-year-old was day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. The left-winger is looking to crack the Blackhawks' roster out of training camp after appearing in 33 games last season and putting up two goals and six points.
The 32-year-old signed a two-year deal with the Blackhawks in July 2024 but may never suit up for the team. He already missed the entire 2024-25 season following meniscus surgery in August and arthroscopic surgery in November. On Thursday, GM Kyle Davidson confirmed Brossoit required hip surgery this summer and will be sidelined indefinitely. Chicago is set to open the season with Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom as their goaltending tandem.
Just hours before training camp, Chicago has locked up a key defensive piece by signing former 3rd-round pick (81st overall) Wyatt Kaiser to a two-year contract extension worth $1.7 million AAV ($3.4M total). Kaiser took a huge step forward in 2024-25, setting career highs in almost all categories, including goals (4), points (8) , games played (57) and SOG (66). The 23-year-old is expected to play another pivotal role on Chicago's defence as the Blackhawks enter 2025-26 and he takes another step forward alongside his young teammates.
Knight was acquired by the Blackhawks in March and has earned himself a three-year contract extension worth $5.83 AAV ($17.49M total). The 24-year-old was once one of the brightest goaltending prospects in hockey, but struggled to catch on during his four years in Florida. After being traded to Chicago, he posted a .896 SV%, 3.18 GAA and a 5-8-2 record.
After just 56 total NHL games played, Chicago has locked up Frank Nazar for the next eight seasons after signing the 21-year-old to a seven-year contract worth $6.59 million AAV ($46.13M total) on Thursday. Nazar was Chicago's 2022 1st round pick (13th overall) and opened some eyes with nine points in his final eight games to end last season and close his rookie campaign out with 26 points in 53 games played. He is expected to center Chicago's second line and remain on their top power play as we head into the 2025-26 season.
Chicago has retained one of their key defensive pieces for the upcoming 2025-26 season after they announced they had signed Louis Crevier to a two-year contract extension worth $900,000 AAV ($1.8M total). The 23-year-old was Chicago's 2020 7th-round pick (188th overall) and appeared in 32 games with the Blackhawks last season, picking up three goals, four points and 10 PIMs. He is expected to compete for one of Chicago's final six defensive spots come training camp this upcoming season.
Berezhnoy is a 22-year-old undrafted goaltender who spent last season playing 27 games in the VHL with Omskie Krylia and SKA-Neva St. Petersburg and has earned himself a two-year, entry-level contract with Chicago on Thursday. The towering Russian netminder is expected to report to Rockford (AHL) for the upcoming 2024-25 season after posting a .928 SV% in the VHL last season.
Frondell was the 3rd overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract worth $975,000 AAV with Chicago on Tuesday. The 18-year-old Swedish forward is expected to return to Djurgardens IF (HockeyAllsvenskan) for the 2025-26 season despite the new contract. In 2024-25, he put up 11 goals and 25 points in 29 games last season in Sweden.
Toninato played 77 games with the Winnipeg Jets in the 2021-22 season, scoring 14 points (7G / 7A), but only played 25 combined NHL games over the next three seasons. The 31-year-old scored 36 points (18G / 18A) in 60 games with the Manitoba Moose (AHL) last season and will hope for a more prominent NHL role in 2025-26 with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Buffalo shed $2 million worth of salary just minutes before Tuesday's free agency window by trading Sam Lafferty to Chicago for a 2026 6th-round pick. The 30-year-old center appeared in 60 games in 2024-25, picking up four goals, seven points and a -15 plus/minus. He is expected to take a bottom-six role with Chicago in the upcoming season.
Donato had a career year in 2024-25, scoring 31 goals with 31 assists (62 points) in 80 games. The Blackhawks decided not to trade him at the trade deadline, a sign that they wanted to re-sign him in the offseason. Donato gets a four-year extension that will keep him in Chicago through the 2028-29 season.
Mast was a sixth-round pick in 2021 who spent 2024 in the ECHL and 2025 in the AHL, where he had just five assists in 37 games. Mast is expected to begin the 2025-26 season with Rockford (AHL).
With Mark Scheifele (undisclosed) sidelined for Game 6, Toninato will draw into the Jets' lineup. The 31-year-old Toninato only played five games this season. He has one point (1G / 0A) in six career playoff outings.
Korchinski played 16 games with the Blackhawks, scoring two points (1G / 1A), but will return to the Rockford IceHogs (AHL), where he has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign. The 20-year-old defenseman scored 27 points (3G / 24A) in 54 games with Rockford this season.
Levshunov got his first taste of NHL action, scoring six points (0G / 6A) in 18 games with the Blackhawks, but has been assigned to the Rockford IceHogs (AHL) as the Blackhawks have completed their 2024-25 campaign. The 19-year-old defenseman scored 22 points (5G / 17A) in 50 games with Rockford earlier this season.
Kevin Korchinski will draw back into Chicago's lineup on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators, sending Crevier to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Crevier ends the 2024-25 season averaging 17:17 time-on-ice, recording four points (3G / 1A) in 32 games.
Louis Crevier will be a healthy scratch for Chicago on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators, allowing Korchinski to re-enter the lineup. The 20-year-old Korchinski is averaging 17:11 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) in 15 games this season.
The Blackhawks enter their final game of the season on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senator, with Knight tending the twine. Knight played well in his most recent outing despite allowing four goals, saving 37 shots (.902 SV%) in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Winnipeg Jets. The 23-year-old netminder has a 3.20 GAA and .891 SV% in 14 games with the Blackhawks this season (4-8-2). The Blackhawks enter Tuesday's contest as +235 road underdogs against the Senators.
