The Blackhawks will turn to Knight between the pipes for their season-opening matchup on Tuesday against the Florida Panthers. The 24-year-old Knight was serviceable after being acquired by the Blackhawks last season, posting a 3.18 GAA and .893 SV% in 15 outings (5-8-2). Chicago enters Tuesday's contest as sizable +230 road underdogs against Florida.
Vlasic had his preseason cut short due to a lower-body injury, and has been ruled out of Chicago's season opener on Tuesday against the Florida Panthers. The 24-year-old Vlasic played all 82 games last season, averaging 23:16 time-on-ice and scoring 30 points (4G / 26A).
Vlasic had his preseason cut short due to a lower-body injury, and his status is unlikely for Chicago's season opener. The Blackhawks are expected to take eight defensemen to Florida, and Ethan Del Mastro is expected to take his spot in the lineup if he's unable to go.
Slaggert has been absent from training camp and preseason due to a lower-body injury and will begin the 2025-26 season sidelined on Injured Reserve. The 23-year-old Slaggert averaged 12:18 time-on-ice and scored six points (2G / 4A) in 33 games with the Blackhawks last season.
Vlasic had his preseason cut short due to a lower-body injury, and his status for the season opener is up in the air. The Blackhawks are expected to take eight defensemen to Florida, and Ethan Del Mastro is expected to take his spot in the lineup if he's unable to go.
San Jose has acquired the contract of Ryan Ellis, and a 2026 6th-round pick from Philadelphia for Carl Grundstrom and Artem Guryev. Ellis is in the 7th year of an eight-year, $50 million contract, but is not eligible to play due to a significant back injury, making this trade a salary dump for Philadelphia. Ellis's last NHL appearance was in the 2021-22 season.
Vlasic will likely miss Chicago's remaining three preseason games but could be ready for the team's season-opener. The 24-year-old Vlasic scored 30 points (4G / 26A) in 82 games last season.
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.
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.
Edmonton's top-six has a new weapon after the Oilers signed Andrew Mangiapane to a two-year deal worth $3.6M AAV ($7.2M total). The 29-year-old left-winger spent the first seven seasons of his NHL career with inter-provincial rival Calgary before joining Washington in 2024-25. During his first season with the Capitals, he had 14 goals, 28 points and 24 PIMs in 81 games played.
New York will continue to add to its long list of signings on Tuesday after bringing in veteran defensemen Derrick Pouliot to a two-year, $1.55 million contract ($775,000 AAV). Pouliot is known to be both effective and durable during his time in the AHL, posting 99 points in the last two seasons across 134 games played.
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.
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.
