Wednesday saw the Blackhawks’ preseason roster split into two groups, with the “game” group practicing second. With a 20-man squad on the ice, we got a first look at what the team’s lineup might be for Thursday night’s game against the Blues:
Taylor Hall – Connor Bedard – Ryan Donato
Philipp Kurashev – Lukas Reichel – Andreas Athanasiou
Nick Foligno – Martin Misiak – Corey Perry
Nick Lardis – Marcel Marcel – Reese Johnson
Wyatt Kaiser – Seth Jones
Kevin Korchinski – Connor Murphy
Alex Vlasic – Nolan Allan
Petr Mrazek
Drew Commesso
This group is by no means a look at the regular-season version but could carry some big implications for the future. The seemingly updated lineup carries a few surprises, but nothing too unexpected for the first game. Nevertheless, a few players and lines in particular stand out as ones to watch tomorrow night.
Top Six
The first grouping that pops out on this lineup is the top six on the forward lines and for good reason. As we ramp up to the regular season, it becomes more and more likely that these two lines could stick. Connor Bedard and Taylor Hall pairing up on the top line was a given, but it seems Donato may have won the right-wing job over Taylor Raddysh and a few others. He’ll look to make good on that faith Thursday and cement his spot.
The Blackhawks’ second line has been a major bright spot this preseason. They were often listed as a potential group in line projections, and it seems they’re pretty set for the season. They passed the eye test in the two scrimmages earlier this week and certainly seem to pair well together. It’s always nice to give them some extra reps together, though, so they’ll work to build chemistry and get a feel for each other’s games throughout the preseason, starting Thursday night.
Martin Misiak
Perhaps the biggest surprise on this list, Misiak is getting an extra look on this lineup’s third line, sandwiched between two true veterans in Foligno and Perry. As the second-round pick of the Blackhawks this season, the 18-year-old (19 on Saturday) must have impressed Luke Richardson and his staff enough to earn a longer look against NHL talent before he heads to the Erie Otters of the OHL. A solid performance on Thursday could play a role in him eventually speeding into the professional ranks. Even if he doesn’t stand out, learning on the ice next to a combined 34 years of experience is never a bad thing.
Korchinski & Co.
It may seem redundant, but Kevin Korchinski is likely the player with the most at stake this preseason. If he “forces the hand” of the coaching staff, he’ll head to Chicago and likely play on the second line, as it seems Kaiser and Jones have the top pairing all but wrapped up. If he doesn’t, he’ll find himself back in the WHL, where it doesn’t seem like he has much left to learn. The former seventh-overall pick will be given an opportunity alongside the longest-tenured Blackhawk on the team, where I predict his offensive play style to flourish. He has his work cut out for him, though, if he wants to prove he belongs at the professional level.
