Blackhawks prospect rankings: Vaclav Nestrasil climbs to top spot after many graduations

With the majority of the Hawks' valuable young players now in the NHL, their prospect pool looks a lot different — and overall less impressive. But there are still plenty of intriguing guys.

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How Blackhawks rookie Roman Kantserov is preparing for the NHL: 'I can do this'

Kantserov is learning English quickly while training this summer in Connecticut, where Spencer Knight is helping him acclimate to America.

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Patrick Kane determined to help Blackhawks' new generation make the playoffs

Kane admitted Friday that a Chicago return had "always been in the back of my mind," but nostalgia wasn't the sole factor behind his decision. The team's potential also influenced him.

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Blackhawks reunite with Patrick Kane, signing him to two-year contract

Hawks fans deserved something to truly get excited about, and Kane's return Thursday certainly qualifies.

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New Ryan Field gives Northwestern a spectacular football venue 100 years in the making

A century after considering building one of the nation's biggest stadiums, the Wildcats have instead built possibly one of the nation's best.

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Connor Bedard 'very happy' with new contract, Blackhawks' summer additions

Bedard raved about Bowen Byram and Ian Cole — and the possibility of Patrick Kane — on Monday in his backyard in Vancouver, where he will spend the rest of the offseason rehabbing his shoulder.

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Connor Bedard's agent spells out Blackhawks contract negotiations, shoulder surgery decision

Veteran agent Don Meehan discusses why the two sides compromised on a five-year term, how they reacted to Leo Carlsson's offer sheet and what the outlook is for Bedard's shoulder after undergoing surg...

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Connor Bedard signs new five-year contract with Blackhawks

One day after his 21st birthday, Bedard inked a deal Saturday that carries a $15 million salary-cap hit.

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Why Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson will defy analytics to bet on a hunch

Davidson's bold Bowen Byram trade and 2025 trade-up for Mason West reveal a tendency Davidson isn't afraid to admit: "There is a lot of value just getting your guy."

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Blackhawks dealt huge blow with Connor Bedard out until November following shoulder surgery

Bedard had surgery on his left shoulder Wednesday after injuring it last week. This is the opposite shoulder from the one he injured last December.

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Blackhawks re-sign prospect goalie Drew Commesso to two-year contract

Commesso's deal carries an $875,000 salary-cap hit and leaves Connor Bedard, Kevin Korchinski and Ethan Del Mastro as the Hawks' remaining RFAs.

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Blackhawks prospect updates: Vaclav Nestrasil continues rise toward top of pool

Nestrasil earned plenty of praise at development camp this week. Sacha Boisvert's weight gain, Mason West's transition to full-time hockey and Adam Gajan's transition to pro hockey were also notable.

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Blackhawks' Connor Bedard suffers apparent left shoulder injury training in Vancouver

A video of the incident shows Bedard skating off in pain, similarly to how he did after injuring his right shoulder last December in St. Louis.

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Why does gaping hole remain in Blackhawks' lineup next to Connor Bedard?

It looks like another summer will pass without general manager Kyle Davidson acquiring an established top-six winger. He's instead betting on internal candidates to ascend into those roles.

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Blackhawks sign Bowen Byram to whopping contract with $12.5 million cap hit

Byram is now slated to be the highest-paid defenseman in the NHL in 2027-28 when this extension kicks in, although realistically he won't hold that title by the time that season arrives.

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Blackhawks add physicality, playoff experience with Cole Smith, Ian Cole signings

Smith profiles as a replacement for Ilya Mikheyev, who signed with the Lightning, whereas Cole likely completes the Hawks' defensive corps.

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Blackhawks likely to avoid silly contracts — aside from Bowen Byram — in NHL free agency

The Hawks aren't expected to be too active when the free-agent market opens Wednesday, although the slim possibility of a Jason Robertson trade hasn't gone away.

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Blackhawks give qualifying offers to four RFAs including Connor Bedard

Kevin Korchinski, Ethan Del Mastro and Drew Commesso also received qualifying offers before the Monday deadline, whereas AHL defenseman Dmitri Kuzmin and Ryan Mast unsurprisingly did not.

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Blackhawks notes from NHL draft: Kyle Davidson still 'looking to make some stuff happen'

While Davidson scours the trade market, the Hawks are set to open development camp Monday with 19 prospects in attendance.

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Analyzing Blackhawks' five 2026 draft picks: Xavier Villeneuve, Ryan Roobroeck are high-upside swings

The Hawks made Villeneuve, a small but dynamic defenseman, and Roobroeck, a large but inconsistent winger, the first two of their five picks Saturday.

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Will Blackhawks regret trading for Bowen Byram instead of drafting Chase Reid?

The Hawks likely would've taken Reid on Friday had they kept the No. 4 pick Friday. Time will tell whether the young offensive defenseman, who ended up with the Kraken, reaches or exceeds Byram's leve...

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Blackhawks wisely offload Andre Burakovsky to Senators for draft pick

The fact Burakovsky held value Friday after not holding value last summer — despite an awful season in between — exemplifies the extreme sellers' market in the NHL right now.

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Blackhawks approach NHL draft without first-round pick as trade market keeps swirling

Hawks GM Kyle Davidson could trade some of his two 2026 second-round picks or three 2027 first-round picks to get back in the action Friday.

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Bowen Byram believes he can become a No. 1 defenseman, and the Blackhawks need him to be right

Byram, the biggest trade acquisition of Kyle Davidson's tenure, said Wednesday he has always wanted to be in Chicago — since growing up as a Hawks fan — and hopes to seize the opportunity that awaits.

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Blackhawks swing blockbuster trade for Bowen Byram, pegging him as franchise defenseman

The Hawks dealt the fourth and 45th overall picks, plus Louis Crevier, to the Sabres on Tuesday for Byram.

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Blackhawks offseason preview: Connor Bedard's contract is top priority, but big addition would be welcomed

The Hawks have much do over the next two weeks during the peak of NHL summer activity, including the draft, free agency and trades.

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Blackhawks notes from NHL combine: Chase Reid's dinner, Caleb Malhotra's connection

Considering the Hawks haven't dined with any prospects in Buffalo the last two years, it's interesting they visited Reid's home outside Detroit to dine with him.

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Could Blackhawks draft target Ivar Stenberg be the next Lucas Raymond?

Stenberg believes he's ready to jump into the NHL next season, and he looks like a great fit for the Hawks' depth chart. But first, the Swedish winger would have to slip past the Sharks and Canucks.

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As Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson scours trade market, a veteran defenseman is one target

Davidson admitted Friday he's more eager than ever to make trades, but with the market focused on "hockey trades," he would probably have to give up young NHL players in return.

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Blackhawks resourceful in trading prospect Jack Pridham's rights, but underlying problem remains

The Hawks will likely continue to struggle to convince lower-tier prospects to sign into their crowded system after losing both Pridham and Dominic James to the Lightning over the past year for that r...

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