Chicago Blackhawks return to training camp today

The Chicago Blackhawks will return to their training camp today, where practice goes from optional to mandatory for those who will play in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Along with the rest of the NHL, the Chicago Blackhawks start-up their training camp to get ready for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The excitement for hockey to be back has been there but now it’s even more exciting, as things start to begin to feel more real.

In the past few weeks or so, more players have been returning to Chicago to practice as a team in small groups. The groups have progressively become bigger, with the NHL allowing the teams to start their training camp today, instead of Friday, July 10th, as was first mentioned.

It’s well known now to fans that there will be two days of exhibition games before the qualifying round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoff starts. It’ll be something interesting to see, as it’s almost like a mini preseason.

I expect to see the Blackhawks bring guys like Brent Seabrook and Calvin de Haan back slowly, as they’ve both expressed they’re ready to play coming off of injuries. de Haan and Seabrook back on the ice could be a huge factor in the team’s success if both players return to make a solid impact.

We’ll know more about the lines for the Oilers series in the upcoming weeks, but there shouldn’t be much change from what we’ve seen out of their forwards during the regular season. The changes will come on defense, where they’ll have trouble finding a spot for everyone who can play to play.

Lastly, I cannot stress enough how important the younger players will be. They’ll have to learn quickly and be the key factor for Chicago to get past the Oilers. There are only seven players on the Blackhawks right now who has won a Stanley Cup with the team during their run in the early 2010s. Experience in the windy city is less than ideal but doesn’t make this run impossible.