2026-27 Blackhawks: Describing each player in one word

The Chicago Blackhawks are hungry to take the next step towards contention. At exit interviews in April after last season, an ongoing theme was that the expectation for next season is to make the playoffs. All the young players seemed fully committed, and indicated they’re going to put in the work needed this offseason. The team also had an eventful free agency period, adding a plethora of new talent to the fold. All this said, the Blackhawks are primed for more success in the 2026-27 campaign.

There’s no “I” in team, but each individual player brings their own attributes and talents to bring to the table. Everyone has their role to play and their contributions to make. Let’s have some fun by assigning each player with a word (and a short explanation) that best describes what makes them unique. *Storyline originally inspired by Kristy Flannery.  

Blackhawks forwards

Connor Bedard: Cornerstone

I’d like to say “Captain” here, but that’s not yet official. But Bedard is the future and arguably the most important member of the team. He’s the elite talent the organization is building around. Now, just to keep him healthy!

Tyler Bertuzzi: Tenacious

This cagey veteran embodies what it means to be a gritty player that’s hard to play against. Bertuzzi is consistently persistent, going to the dirty areas, fighting for pucks and getting to the net to score greasy goals.  

Sacha Boisvert: Hungry

Boisvert got a taste of the NHL with seven games at the end of the 2025-26 season. At development camp in July, he revealed it made a big impression on him how the pros train and prepare, and he’s trying to emulate that this summer. He’s also working hard on bulking up; the 20-year-old said he’s up to 205 pounds (and counting) from 190 pounds at the end of the season.

Offseason veteran additions might make it hard for Boisvert to make the roster out of training camp, but he’s certainly hungry to prove himself!  

Ryan Donato: Sparkplug

Whenever Donato is on the ice he has a sense of urgency about him. He brings energy, compete and an edge to his play. Plus, he can score goals. It’s super fun to watch Donato score because he always celebrates like it’s a Stanley Cup Final game. I like to call him the Donatorator!

Anton Frondell: Powerful

This is something you notice about Frondell right away. He has a powerful stride, a powerful shot and just an all-around powerful game. Plus, he has tons of tools in his toolkit. He can skate, he’s strong on the forecheck and backcheck, he can play center and drive his own line. He’s also got a wicked shot.

These are my observations after only 12 NHL games. It’s gonna be exciting to watch Frondell progress even further this season.

Ryan Greene: Underrated

I had a tough time finding just one word for Greene. I could go with plenty, which I’ve highlighted below. As a rookie last season, he wasn’t even expected to make the team out of camp. But he did, and he ran with it. The 22-year-old impressed head coach Jeff Blashill with his reliable, two-way play, and Greene ended up playing much of the season alongside Bedard on the top line.

Greene is consistent and versatile. He can play center or wing, and he amassed 12 goals and 29 points. He’s likely lost his spot next to Bedard, but he certainly has a lot to offer that I don’t think people fully realize.

Jordan Greenway: Goon

I probably should’ve used the more politically correct “Enforcer” here, but I couldn’t resist the alliteration. At 6’6”, 231 pounds, the 29-year-old is the largest player on the team and should bring a much-needed physical edge. Last season with the Buffalo Sabres he missed time due to injury, but was credited with 57 hits in 40 games played. That translates to a hefty 115 hits in an 82-game season. Greenway’s also not afraid to drop the gloves. According to HockeyFights.com, he’s been in 13 fights in his nine-year NHL career.

Patrick Kane: Legend

Need I say more?! Kane played for the Blackhawks for 16 seasons and was integral in bringing three Stanley Cup Championships to Chicago. “Showtime” wowed the fans countless times, and now he’s back to see what he and Bedard can accomplish together.

He’s also here to be a mentor, leader and “Papa Bear” as Coach Blashill likes to say.

Roman Kantserov: Potential

Kantserov has flown under the radar a bit, since he’s coming from the KHL where it’s harder to find video of his play. Nevertheless, the 21-year-old amassed 36 goals and 64 points in 63 games last season. At the recent NHLPA Rookie Showcase in Chicago, Kantserov was confident in his potential. “I can play on the wing, and also last year (I) played center. I have a choice -- I can play winger or I can play center. (Whatever) Coach say, I can play.”

The Russian prospect is expected to play with Bedard as soon as the latter is cleared to return after offseason shoulder surgery. Can these two build some chemistry?!

Nick Lardis: Sniper

This is the guy who famously scored 71 goals and earned 117 points with the OHL Brantford Bulldogs in the 2024-25 season. He added 18 goals with the Rockford IceHogs and 10 goals with the Blackhawks last season. With Kantserov and Kane in the fold, it’s unclear where Lardis will fit in the lineup (he ended 2025-26 on Bedard’s wing). But it’s a good bet he will still be among the top-six forwards, with the latter mentioned players potentially feeding him for more goals.

Andrew Mangiapane: Extra

With the new offseason additions of Cole Smith and Greenway, I’m hard-pressed to find a place in the lineup for Mangiapane. Granted, he’s known for his grit as well. But he’s on the smaller side at 5’10”, 183 pounds. Sure, he could fill in for injuries and the like. But I see him being the Sam Lafferty of last season.

Oliver Moore: Speedy

This is Moore’s trademark; his speed and his intensity. He started with the Blackhawks on the wing last year, but his speed almost got in the way. He was almost over-skating everything. A switch to center did wonders, where Moore was better able to control the play and his place in it. An injury derailed the end of his season, but he was playing third-line center before being sidelined. Could Moore utilize his talents to be the team’s shutdown center with a constant threat to score?!

Bonus thought: Another great attribute of Moore’s it that he’s one of the most happy-go-lucky guys you’ll ever meet!

Frank Nazar: Dynamic

He’s intense, he’s driven and he oozes confidence. When “Frankie’s” on his game, his speed, tenacity and playmaking abilities can’t be denied. Add that to his charismatic personality and you’ve got a very dynamic player to contribute to the team.

Landon Slaggert: Affable

Slaggert has been referred to as “a dog on a bone” by Coach Blashill. He’s appreciated for his skill at hounding the puck and being hard to play against. However, he could get pushed out of the lineup by others with similar attributes who also have a better knack for finding the back of the net.  

But you can’t deny Slaggert’s affable nature. No matter what, he always seems to have a smile on his face His kind and easy-going nature makes him easy to root for.

Cole Smith: Wrecking-Ball

I stole this straight from general manager Kyle Davidson when he spoke about signing Smith, who advanced to the 2026 Stanley Cup Final as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights. I quote, “I think he brings a physicality to his game. Especially, if you watch the playoffs, he was a little bit of a wrecking ball, on the forecheck … So that's the element we wanted to add to our group."

Hopefully Smith will bring that same mentality, along with his playoff experience, to Chicago.

Teuvo Teravainen: Smart

Whenever Coach Blashill was asked about Teravainen, he would talk about what a smart player he was. The 31-year-old has a lot of experience under his belt, and his defensive responsibility is an asset as well. Nazar spent a lot of time playing with “Turbo” last season, and summed up his attributes quite well. “Just how smart he is and how he reads the ice. I mean, I feel like he could play forever. It doesn't matter if he can't skate or he only has one leg. Like, I feel like he just reads the ice so well and has such a good touch that, he can play wherever, anywhere, anytime.”

Blackhawks Defensemen

Bowen Byram: Hope

Let’s face it, the Blackhawks gave up a lot for Bryam, and a lot is riding on this decision. It was an act of faith that the 25-year-old can step into a No. 1 defenseman role. He’s basically had No. 2 status in his time with the Sabres. Can he live up to what expected of him? Let’s hope so.

Ian Cole: Reliable

Cole is 37 years old and brings 16 years of NHL experience to the table. In other words, he’s been around the block. His reliable presence should be just what this otherwise very young D-corps needs. He can be the guy that holds down the fort defensively (and on the penalty kill), covering for mistakes and also giving the more offensively talented blueliners a chance to jump into the play. Cole says he’s also comfortable playing on both his left and right side, which should be come in super handy.

Ethan Del Mastro: Gamer

Del Mastro hasn’t been signed to a new contract yet, but he was tendered a qualifying offer and it’s expected he and the Blackhawks will come to an agreement before the 2026-27 season begins. But things won’t be easy for the 23-year-old, now that Byram and Cole have been added to the team. Del Mastro will have to be the game that Coach Blashill touts him for.

“He’s a gamer. He doesn't play afraid to make a mistake. So I like that piece of it, for sure. I think the guys you want on your team are gamers. They're guys that are going to go out and play to win, and if you make a mistake, you make a mistake. And that's kind of how he plays.”

Wyatt Kaiser: Entrenched

Kaiser had a breakout season in 2025-26. Everything seemed to finally come together for this young man. The Minnesota native suited up for 77 games, recording six goals (second among defensemen) and 17 points. But he’s more known as a shutdown defenseman, and this is where he took extensive strides. As the season wore on, he became more trusted by the coaching staff, picking up more minutes and responsibility. At exit interviews in April, Kaiser was happy with his campaign, but said it was just a start. He needs to continue to build and further establish himself this coming season.

Kevin Korchinski: Unproven

I don’t want to call Korchinski a bust, but this will be his fourth year in the organization and most felt he’d be more developed by now. He’s only 22 years old, so he’s still very young. Like Del Mastro, Korchinski was given a qualifying offer but has yet to sign a contract with the team. He’s also going to have to work very hard to find a spot in the lineup. It’s essential that Korchinski prove himself this year.

Artyom Levshunov: Funny

He joked about having beers with the Blackhawk’s scouts when he got drafted. He teased The Athletics’ Scott Powers while doing an offseason story about when he was going to take him out to lunch again. He’s calmed down a little bit, but remember how excited Levshunov used to get whenever anyone scored a goal on one of his shifts?! I recall him almost knocking Bedard down once with his unbridled enthusiasm. A good attribute to have when dealing with the pressures of hockey. As his teammate Kaiser quipped to me once in the locker room while chuckling, “He makes me laugh.”   

Sam Rinzel: Growing

My colleague Brooke was actually the inspiration for pegging Rinzel as “growing”. This young man had a whirlwind start to his NHL career, where he registered five assists ( in nine games) and looked the part of an all-around defenseman at the end of the 2024-25 season. But he dealt with some setbacks this past season. His defensive game struggled, which led to less confidence offensively, which led to a demotion to the Rockford IceHogs.

However, the 22-year-old looked solid during the later part of 2025-26, even potting a pretty goal in the last game of the season. I’m sure Rinzel is looking forward to the opportunity to continue to grow as this 2026-27 campaign commences.  

Alex Vlasic: Leader

I could’ve just been silly and gone with “Pickles” for Vlasic’s word. Coach Blashill always refers to the 6’6” defender as “long” because of his big frame, long legs and long reach. But I was most impressed with Vlasic’s leadership qualities last season. He’s 25 years old, which on this young Blackhawk’s team is actually kind of old. He’s also the most tenured player with the Hawks, headed into his sixth season with the organization. By default, he’s had to step up both on and off the ice, but he seems to embrace it. At exit interviews, he raved about wanting to emulate Connor Murphy’s leadership style and how he “knew how to do everything right, how to treat people”.

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Vlasic was named an alternate captain this coming season.  

Blackhawks Goaltenders

Spencer Knight: Steady

Knight established himself as the No. 1 goaltender last season, playing in a career-high 55 games. He posted impressive numbers with a .902 save percentage and a 2.82 goals-against average, despite a rather porous team in front of him. He’s steady and reliable, always making the saves to give his team a chance to win.  

The 25-year-old is also very thoughtful, often-times talking about what the team needs to do to make the playoffs. And he frames it in such a way that it’s a matter of “when” not “if”. These are attributes a young group can get behind and believe in.

Arvid Soderblom: Even-Keel  

It’s not easy to be a backup goaltender, never knowing when you’re going to play and having to sit out for long periods of time. It takes a special mentality, and Soderblom seems to have it. An ongoing theme when talking about Soderblom last season was his even-keeled demeanor. He tends to be quiet and shy on the outside, but still has a great work ethic. He’ll have to tap into his inner calm and patience this coming season with Drew Commesso giving him some added competition.

Drew Commesso: Eager

I was at the United Center on Jan. 9, 2026 when the Blackhawks hosted the Washington Capitals. There was an nasty bug going through the Chicago locker room, and both Knight and Soderblom were too ill to play. Enter Commesso, called up on an emergency basis just that afternoon. It was also his first-ever start at the UC. During the national anthem, he was shown on the jumbotron, excitedly chewing on a stick of gum, looking around and taking it all in.  

Commesso inked a two-year extension with the Blackhawks on July 6, while Soderblom’s contract runs out at the end of this season. The writing is on the wall that Commesso will be the backup of the future in Chicago. I’m sure he’s eager to get that started.  

It’s hard to break down each player’s impact with just one word, but that’s what makes it fun! Each player has their own attributes and talents to bring to the table, and this is just a small sub-section of what makes these players who they are. What word would you use to describe each player?!  

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