Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill pulled a surprise Monday — in the team’s final practice before their season opener Tuesday — by mixing up the top three forward lines.
It’s a bold move, considering he deployed a different set of lines consistently throughout training camp.
“Ultimately, we hadn’t gotten enough out of the three lines with the combinations we had used,” Blashill said.
He added he’s not too concerned about the lack of practice time with these new lines, which were seemingly influenced by the Hawks’ solid performance in their preseason finale Saturday.
But the trios will be immediately put to a steep test on the road in the opener Tuesday against the Golden Knights. Here’s how the Hawks will take the ice in Las Vegas:
Forward lines
Oliver Moore — Roman Kantserov — Patrick Kane
Kantserov convinced Blashill on Saturday that he can play center in the NHL, which freed up Blashill — looking to spread out the Hawks’ offensive playmakers over three lines instead of just two — to move Frank Nazar onto his own line.
Considering both Kantserov and Anton Frondell played on the wings for their European teams last season, though, it’s quite daring to start this NHL season with both of them at center.
Moore has made it clear he prefers to play center, but it’s becoming clear Blashill believes Moore’s speedy style is better suited on the wing. He was turnover-prone in the preseason, so Blashill called on him to “make sure there’s intent with every play.”
Kane will be the Hawks’ main attraction until Connor Bedard returns, and there’s no question about his role.
Tyler Bertuzzi — Anton Frondell — Andrew Mangiapane
Bertuzzi and Frondell skated together throughout camp after some initial success last spring, when the Hawks outscored opponents 8-3 during their 109 minutes together.
Mangiapane only took Nick Lardis’ spot on their right wing Saturday, though, with Blashill saying he thinks Mangiapane’s north-south style and puck-pursuit eagerness matches Bertuzzi and Frondell better.
Teuvo Teravainen has rotated with Mangiapane, and Blashill insisted Monday he hasn’t decided which of the two will dress Tuesday.
Ryan Donato — Frank Nazar — Nick Lardis
Blashill has raved about the Hawks’ improved depth this season, but they’ll need consistent production from both Frondell and Nazar’s lines to keep up with contenders.
Time will tell how viable that is. This line, in particular, is a wild card. Nazar did have decent numbers with Lardis and with Donato (separately) last season.
Lardis stood out in camp practices but not as much in preseason games. Donato struggled in the preseason, but he deserves some benefit of the doubt after burying 46 goals over the last two seasons combined.
Cole Smith — Ryan Greene — Jordan Greenway
Blashill sounds very confident in this line, which has been a constant aside from Greenway’s brief injury absence.
With two big grinders flanking Greene and his high hockey IQ, they’ll be asked to create some ugly offense and, more importantly, take on tough defensive matchups.
“It’s a huge bonus as a coach,” Blashill said. “You’re not hiding that line. You’re actually fine with them going out against anybody.”
Just three months ago, Cole Smith was playing for a Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights. Tomorrow, he’s back in Vegas to face them with the Blackhawks.
“[Oliver] Mooresy goes, ‘God, it’s been a long time since we played.’ I was like, ‘It doesn’t feel like it’s been that long!’”
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) September 28, 2026
Defensive pairings
Alex Vlasic — Bowen Byram
The Hawks stuck with the same pairings throughout camp, so the defensemen will enter Tuesday with more chemistry.
Vlasic and Byram seem to complement each other perfectly and have a chance to be the Hawks’ best top pairing in years, even with left-handed Byram playing his off side. The franchise’s new cornerstone defenseman was really impressive in the preseason.
Wyatt Kaiser — Artyom Levshunov
In theory, Kaiser and Levshunov make sense together. Kaiser is a loud, avid communicator on the ice, giving Levshunov the extra guidance he sometimes needs.
Kaiser’s quickness and intelligence also make him relatively good at anticipating and covering for Levshunov despite his erratic decision-making.
But in reality, this duo struggled last season; the Hawks were outscored 30-10 during their 431 minutes together. They’re getting a chance to produce better results this season.
Ian Cole — Sam Rinzel
Cole, assuming a Connor Murphy-like veteran role, will be tasked with stabilizing young Rinzel. Rinzel praised Cole for his tight gaps, overall calmness and ability to put him in spots to effectively utilize his skating and offensive inclinations.
“You don’t realize how good he is until you play with him,” Rinzel said.
Meanwhile, Kevin Korchinski and Ethan Del Mastro — who skated as a fourth pairing throughout camp — both made the opening roster because the Hawks didn’t want to risk losing either on waivers.
But playing time could be scarce for them. Blashill said he doesn’t plan to deploy any seven-defensemen lineups or to regularly rotate the six defensemen in the lineup.
In goal, Spencer Knight will likely start Tuesday, with Arvid Soderblom likely getting his first start later on the road trip (in Utah or Buffalo).
Note: Forward Landon Slaggert went unclaimed on waivers Monday and will start the season in Rockford.