Forecasting Blackhawks' lines with Patrick Kane and Bowen Byram — but without Connor Bedard
<p>With Connor Bedard's and Patrick Kane's signings complete, the Blackhawks' roster for the 2026-27 season is likely set.</p><p>Restricted free agents Kevin Korchinski and Ethan Del Mastro still need contracts, but they won't be significant. The Hawks' news cycle will probably be slow and stay slow until rookie camp leads into training camp in September.</p><p>In the meantime, coach Jeff Blashill and his staff can begin sketching rough drafts of lineups for the start of this season, which will be complicated by Bedard not returning from shoulder surgery until November.</p><p>Here's an equally rough forecast of what those forward lines and defensive pairings might look like:</p><h3><b>Forward lines</b></h3><p>Who will fill in for Bedard as the first-line center in October?
Reported by 1 outlet — Chicago Sun-Times. See all sources ↓
<p>With Connor Bedard's and Patrick Kane's signings complete, the Blackhawks' roster for the 2026-27 season is likely set.</p><p>Restricted free agents Kevin Korchinski and Ethan Del Mastro still need contracts, but they won't be significant. The Hawks' news cycle will probably be slow and stay slow until rookie camp leads into training camp in September.</p><p>In the meantime, coach Jeff Blashill and his staff can begin sketching rough drafts of lineups for the start of this season, which will be complicated by Bedard not returning from shoulder surgery until November.</p><p>Here's an equally rough forecast of what those forward lines and defensive pairings might look like:</p><h3><b>Forward lines</b></h3><p>Who will fill in for Bedard as the first-line center in October? That's a burning question the Hawks will need to figure out in camp. </p><p>Once Bedard returns, the lines figure to change significantly, although the odds are somebody else will be injured by then.</p><p><b>Roman Kantserov — Frank Nazar — Patrick Kane</b></p><p>Whether Kantserov will look like a promising rookie or a fully ready-to-go star — building upon his 36-goal season in Russia last season — is another burning question.
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- What's the story?
- <p>With Connor Bedard's and Patrick Kane's signings complete, the Blackhawks' roster for the 2026-27 season is likely set.</p><p>Restricted free agents Kevin Korchinski and Ethan Del Mastro still need contracts, but they won't be significant. The Hawks' news cycle will probably be slow and stay slow until rookie camp leads into training camp in September.</p><p>In the meantime, coach Jeff Blashill and his staff can begin sketching rough drafts of lineups for the start of this season, which will be complicated by Bedard not returning from shoulder surgery until November.</p><p>Here's an equally rough forecast of what those forward lines and defensive pairings might look like:</p><h3><b>Forward lines</b></h3><p>Who will fill in for Bedard as the first-line center in October?
- How widely is it covered?
- 1 outlet, average source rating 6.0/10.
- When was it last updated?
- 7m ago.
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Forecasting Blackhawks' lines with Patrick Kane and Bowen Byram — but without Connor Bedard
Sources1TypeCoverageChicago Sun-Times