On the brink of their regular-season opener, the Chicago Blackhawks have confirmed their roster for the 2024-25 season. Monday’s practice offered a glimpse of the forward lines and defensive pairs that will face the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday. However, three players are currently nursing injuries, prompting some adjustments to the roster.
Defenseman Wyatt Kaiser, who missed most of training camp due to an illness, has been placed on injured reserve (effective Sept. 19). His absence has allowed Nolan Allan and Isaak Phillips to secure roster spots. Kaiser participated in practice on Monday and is anticipated to be ready for game play by the end of the Blackhawks’ season-opening road trip or in time for their first homestand.
Goalie Laurent Brossoit missed training camp while recovering from right knee surgery. He has been skating individually but will begin the season listed as injured/non-roster. Until Brossoit is fit to return, Arvid Soderblom will serve as the backup goalie, with a potential return for Brossoit during the first homestand.
Artyom Levshunov, the second overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, is also recovering from a right foot injury. Like Brossoit, he has started skating but will begin the season as injured/non-roster. Once healthy, he is expected to join the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs.
The Blackhawks’ projected lineup for the opening night against Utah features some changes from the preseason. Coach Luke Richardson is placing Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen alongside Connor Bedard on the top line. However, Ilya Mikheyev will take Bertuzzi’s spot on the left wing after the trio struggled to find chemistry. Bertuzzi will shift to the second line with Taylor Hall and Philipp Kurashev. The third line features veterans Joey Anderson, Jason Dickinson, and recently named captain Nick Foligno, while the fourth line consists of Ryan Donato centering Pat Maroon and Craig Smith. Andreas Athanasiou and Lukas Reichel are anticipated to be healthy scratches.
Defensively, veteran Alec Martinez will pair with Seth Jones on the top unit. The second pair will consist of Alex Vlasic and T.J. Brodie, while rookie Nolan Allan will skate with Connor Murphy on the third pair. Isaak Phillips is expected to be a healthy scratch after clearing waivers.
Petr Mrazek, who saw a revival last season, will start as goalie, with Arvid Soderblom backing him up.
