Two offensive lines in camp Blackhawks fans must get excited about

When it’s still so early in training camp that things could look like a night-and-day difference between now and when the league’s 32 teams start playing for real next month, things are looking up for the Chicago Blackhawks. There are two offensive line combos being reported early in camp that should encourage fans this season. 

The first comprises Connor Bedard, Taylor Hall, and Tyler Bertuzzi. I like this one a lot, as you got the sophomore phenom in Bedard lining up alongside a former Hart Trophy winner who is also on the comeback trail in Hall, plus the physical newcomer in Bertuzzi. 

If this line holds, I can see them making up the first trio on the Hawks, as they provide an excellent balance. Should Hall come back better than before from what was a season-ending injury last year, he and Bedard could make a sensational one-two combo. Add Bertuzzi to the mix, and Bedard could have someone to sling the puck to near the crease. 

One underrated training camp line could pay dividends for the Blackhawks

Besides Bedard, Philipp Kurashev should have caught our attention last season, and as far as the early stages of camp, he’s lining up alongside Teuvo Teravainen and Lukas Reichel. We know how meager things have been for Reichel so far in his career, but we also know how productive Kurashev and Teravainen can be. 

Lining Reichel up with an up-and-coming scorer in Kurashev, plus the proven Teravainen, should pay off well for his game. Some may want to see the Blackhawks give up on and cut its losses with Reichel, but let’s remember he’s only entering his age-22 season, and he’s got a lot of time to turn everything around. 

We’re quick to forget that he scored seven goals and 15 points in 23 games going on two seasons ago while recording top-six minutes, so he’s shown flashes of offensive prowess. With a better group around him overall, plus two solid players, Reichel could be surprising if he continues to have a good camp and primarily lines up alongside Kurashev and Teravainen. 

I’m sure we’ll see quite a few offensive line combos as camp progresses, but so far, the Hall-Bedard-Bertuzzi and Reichel-Kurashev-Teravainen lines have caught my attention. Maybe we’ll see them in preseason later this month and get an idea of how well they can mesh in real, in-game scenarios. But on paper, I like what the Blackhawks are doing, and it’s only a matter if they continue with it.