5 biggest X-Factors for the 2026-27 Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks are hoping that the 2026-2027 season can be the year that this team reaches the next level towards coming out of this rebuild and entering contention status. General manager Kyle Davidson has an important offseason ahead of him to put the Blackhawks in a position to take that next step forward.

If the Blackhawks are to make a playoff push next year, they are going to need to see progression from this youth core and players not named Connor Bedard. There are a few guys in mind who could be primed for breakout campaigns that would go a long way toward this team making that leap in the standings.

Here are five prime X-Factor candidates to monitor next season.

Anton Frondell

Anton Frondell has to be the most obvious pick here. After impressing during his initial 2026 Blackhawks stint, he will enter his first full NHL season next year. He looks primed to compete for the Calder trophy. As one of the top prospects in the game, he should be one of the favorites to win the award.

Frondell will be counted on to be a consistent contributor in the Blackhawks top-six. Whether he plays center or wing is a question. Does he ride shotgun with Bedard on the first line? Or does he center the second line, creating a more balanced attack?

Either way, Frondell will be fun to watch. He should add some much-needed offensive firepower up front, especially to a power play that struggled for the majority of this season.

Roman Kantserov

Roman Kantserov will join Frondell in the Blackhawks Calder battle next year, having just signed his entry-level contract with the squad today. He had a historic season in the KHL this past year, amassing U22 totals not seen in the league since Kirill Kaprizov.

Like Frondell, Kantserov should feature in the Blackhawks top-six. Whether he plays on the first line with Bedard or the second line with Frondell, he will have weapons to work with on offense.

Kantserov coming in and being an immediate impact player would be a massive boast for this club's prospects moving forward. He could be that vaunted Bedard linemate that Blackhawks fans have been waiting for.

Nick Lardis

Nick Lardis split time between the Blackhawks and Rockford IceHogs last year. He produced at an over-a-point-per-game rate in the AHL, showing he was ready for the next level. With Chicago, he amassed ten goals and five assists in 41 games.

He displayed good chemistry with both Frank Nazar and Oliver Moore throughout the campaign. He also got looks with Bedard; it took them some time to get going, but the results started to show towards the end of the year.

Next season will be Lardis' first full year in the NHL. He will have to fight for a spot in the top six. If he can assert himself a spot near the top of the lineup, 20 goals should be a realistic target for him to reach.

Oliver Moore

Moore started last year in Rockford, but it became pretty clear early on that he was prepared for the NHL. He was called up in November after he put up nine points in nine games in the AHL.

The season was a mixed bag for Moore. With five goals and 14 assists in 51 games, the stat line does not tell the full story. Moore was effective outside the scoresheet, with a high compete level and strong defensive contributions on the penalty kill.

His year was derailed with an injury in March that took him out for the remainder of the season. Staying healthy and working on finishing his chances will be crucial for Moore in year two. With his pace and skill, he has the tools to be a reliable player for this team.

Sam Rinzel

Sam Rinzel had an up-and-down season as he bounced around between Chicago and Rockford. He recorded 4 goals and 11 assists in 54 games with the Blackhawks in what was a disappointing year, considering the high expectations placed on him prior to the campaign.

Defensemen can take longer to develop. Rinzel is not alone in that regard when it comes to this young Chicago d-core. Seeing the strides that Wyatt Kaiser and Louis Crevier made this year provides hope that we could see a similar trajectory from Rinzel next season. He and Arty Levshunov becoming more confident at this level would be huge.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow