The Chicago Blackhawks have had a rather underwhelming preseason. Despite high expectations and strong initial energy during training camp, that momentum did not carry into the exhibition matches. The team finished with a record of 1-4-1, with their sole victory coming from a mostly younger lineup.
Is it time to be concerned? Likely not. These games were just part of the preseason, focused on evaluating a lot of emerging talent. The regular lineup didn’t have ample time to develop chemistry. Let’s examine the projected starting lineup for the opening night while also considering how it might change throughout the season. The forward lines, in particular, have been inconsistent during the preseason. What was thought to be the opening night lineup (the combinations used during the Blackhawks’ game on October 4) was again adjusted in practice on the morning of October 7, the final session before their trip to Utah for the first game of 2024-25. Here’s what the starting lines and pairings are likely to look like for the opener:
Mikheyev-Bedard-Teravainen
Hall-Kurashev-Bertuzzi
Foligno-Dickinson-Anderson
Maroon-Donato-Smith
Martinez-Jones
Vlasic-Brodie
Allan-Murphy
Mrazek/Arvid Soderblom
Extras: Athanasiou (F), Reichel (F)
There’s a notable shift in the top six, along with a surprising selection of extra players currently on the sidelines. Let’s analyze this step by step and pair by pair.
**First Line: Mikheyev’s Late Promotion**
Who will play alongside Connor Bedard? This was the key question during training camp. Bedard mainly teamed up with Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen, and also had brief partnerships with Taylor Hall and Philipp Kurashev. He showed the strongest chemistry with Kurashev, his partner from the previous season, having spent significant time together. None of the other players have established that same connection yet. Teravainen seemed to complement Bedard well as well and was one of the prominent players acquired specifically to strengthen the top six, making their pairing logical.
However, Ilya Mikheyev primarily played on the third line with Nick Foligno and Jason Dickinson during the preseason. Despite that, he had a strong training camp, leading the coaching staff to recognize his value. Head Coach Luke Richardson shared his thoughts on Mikheyev over the weekend. Last season, Ryan Donato functioned as a versatile player, but with increased talent, Mikheyev brings a noteworthy speed element. Richardson highlighted that they are still experimenting:
“We know camp is over, but we thought adding a bit of speed to the first line could enhance forechecking and puck retrieval,” he noted. “This also allows us to position Kurashev in the center on the second line.”
**Second Line: Kurashev Centering**
This brings us to the second line featuring Kurashev, Hall, and Bertuzzi. The coaching staff clearly favors using Kurashev at center. During the third preseason game, Kurashev and Hall showed promise, with Kurashev scoring a goal and providing an assist, while Hall assisted on two goals, suggesting they could build on that performance.
Moreover, Hall and Bertuzzi have experience playing together as teammates on the Boston Bruins in the 2022-23 season, which makes their line combination logical as well.
**Third Line: The Checking Line**
Foligno, Dickinson, and Joey Anderson make an ideal checking line. Dickinson and Anderson formed a strong duo last season, effectively neutralizing opposing top lines for much of the year.
Foligno often played alongside Bedard for mentorship, but a checking line role suits him more naturally. He described the objectives of this line, acknowledging that some of these comments were made when Mikheyev was part of it, but they still hold true with Anderson now included.
“I think we have a clear understanding of our role,” he stated. “It will likely be more defensively focused, but that doesn’t mean we can’t generate offense and contribute to the team. Embracing our responsibility means we can score but also have the mindset to be a tough line to play against and help establish our identity.”
