Blackhawks News & Rumors: Worlds Updates, Former Blackhawks & the Playoffs, Lardis Love

While the rest of the hockey world focuses on the first round of the playoffs, the Chicago Blackhawks are settling in to their offseason routines. It’s never fun to finish 31^st in the NHL, and Chicago has been there three years in a row now. But a youthful excitement was in the air for exit interviews earlier in April, as these Blackhawks feel they’re on the cusp of better things to come.

With that in mind, let’s get to some of the latest news and rumors surrounding the Blackhawks.

World Championships Loom Large

The annual IIHF World Championship is always a tournament NHL players who haven’t made the playoffs enjoy attending. It takes place for two weeks in May (this year from May 15 to May 31), and hits at a good time in the offseason for the players to enjoy some competitive games. Plus, who isn’t honored to represent their native country?!

Moore, Lafferty & Kaiser to Represent Team USA

For the Blackhawks, young forward Oliver Moore indicated at exit interviews he would be representing Team USA at the upcoming Worlds. It turns out he will be joined by forward Sam Lafferty along with defenseman Wyatt Kaiser. Said Moore, “I think it’s a special opportunity to go there. I think we’re gonna have a pretty good team too. I know some guys going. So yeah, I’m excited for that for sure.”  

Frank Nazar and Alex Vlasic participated in the Worlds last year, which was obviously a positive experience since the United States won the Gold. There’s been no indication either of them will be attending this year; perhaps they’re passing the torch to fellow young Blackhawks’ teammates Moore and Kaiser.

Will Bedard Play For Team Canada?

We all know Blackhawks’ superstar Connor Bedard was a snub for Team Canada at the recent Olympics, albeit he was dealing with a shoulder injury right before the Games that took place in February. We’ve heard already that Macklin Celebrini, Mark Scheifele, Mathew Barzal and even top 2026 NHL Draft prospect Gavin McKenna will be attending the Worlds. But what about Bedard?!

Bedard was noncommittal at exit interviews. Some speculate his shoulder might not be fully healed, and he needs rest and recovery time during the offseason. Others feel perhaps he’s hesitant to attend without a new contract extension in place yet with the Blackhawks.

He was spotted in Florida, getting some training in with Moore. Are they both preparing for the Worlds?! Perhaps. But this trip was already planned before the end of the season, as Moore indicated when talking about his summer plans.

Blackhawks sighting 👀

Young fans caught Connor Bedard and Oliver Moore training in Florida and left Bedard a special message!

“Now you have our autographs!”

(📸 IG: davidadler_official) pic.twitter.com/H8ejW6KuGW

— CHGO Blackhawks (@CHGO_Blackhawks) April 30, 2026

Is it possible Bedard has been snubbed again by Team Canada?! Or perhaps he’s snubbing them, bitter about the Olympics exclusion. From a competition and exposure standpoint, it certainly makes sense for Bedard to participate. Official rosters for the tournament are usually announced in early May, so we should know more soon.

*Update: Inside Elliotte Friedman provides this update on May 1 regarding Bedard.

Unfortunately, Connor Bedard won’t be able to dress for Canada at the upcoming Worlds

Really wanted to go, but was told the best thing for next season was to rehab his injury and skip the event. So that is the decision.

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 1, 2026

It appears rest and recovery for his shoulder is indeed needed. It’s unfortunate Bedard can’t attend the Worlds. But it’s a mature and responsible decision.

Frondell Preparing to Join Team Sweden

In some final news about the World Championships, it appears Anton Frondell will be representing Team Sweden. There was initially some confusion, as he was named to a team on Apr. 22. But that was apparently more of a tryout team, or preliminary team. However Frondell then scored this goal in some pre-tournament action.

Goal from Anton Frondell in pre World Championships action! pic.twitter.com/gkuLkD1gMP

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) April 30, 2026

I mean, do you really think this dynamic 18-year-old isn’t going to make the team?! It’s more likely he’ll be one of the better players on Team Sweden, who are always competitive in these international tournaments.

No matter how it all plays out, the Worlds is always a super fun tournament to watch. Especially if your favorite NHL team isn’t competing in the playoffs.

Updates on Former Blackhawks in the Playoffs

Speaking of the playoffs, it’s always fun to follow former Blackhawks in the postseason. Let’s catch up with a few.

Boston Bruins Play Reichel

The Boston Bruins decided to mix it up a bit for Game 4 versus the Buffalo Sabres on Apr. 26. For the first time in the playoffs, they included Lukas Reichel in the lineup. Alas, it didn’t provide any kind of spark in the 6-1 loss. The German forward was deployed on the third line for 13:51 minutes of ice time, recording zero shots on goal and was on the ice for two goals against. He did not suit up for the Bruins 2-1 win in Game 5 on Apr. 28.

Now, I have nothing against Reichel. He certainly wasn’t the reason the Bruins lost Game 4. But the 23-year-old wasn’t able to find his way in five seasons with the Blackhawks’ organization. He was then traded to the worst team in the league, the Vancouver Canucks, and ended up playing on their AHL team before being shipped off to the Bruins. Where, by the way, he suited up for four games with their farm team as well, along with 10 contests with the big club.

I most certainly hope someone, somewhere, can bring out the best in Reichel. After all, he was drafted 17^th overall in the 2020 Draft. On paper, their should be potential there. Yet five seasons and three teams into his NHL career, time seems to be running out.

But hey; Reichel got to experience playoff hockey this season! Which is more than any of the current Blackhawks can say.

Dickinson, Dach, Murphy Did Their Part in Edmonton

Moving on, the Blackhawks lost some huge pieces of their team when forwards Jason Dickinson, Colton Dach and defenseman Connor Murphy were all traded to the Edmonton Oilers at the trade deadline. The Oilers were attempting to fill some holes for a deep playoff run. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way. Edmonton lost in Game 6 to the Anaheim Ducks on Apr. 30. Nevertheless, the former Blackhawks certainly did their part.  

Dickinson was acquired to be a shutdown center and provide some much-needed defensive depth for the team. In Game 1 of the playoffs, the 30-year-old decided he’d add to all that by scoring two goals in the 4-3 win. As a matter of fact, he tallied the first goal in the series (he also scored the game-tying goal).

The first goal of the series belongs to Jason Dickinson 🚨🛢️ pic.twitter.com/Gp3v8mekdm

— Sports on Prime Canada (@SportsOnPrimeCA) April 21, 2026

The veteran forward was dealing with an undisclosed injury that kept him sidelined for Games 2 and 3. He did, however, contribute an assist on a goal Kasperi Kapanen in Game 4.

Ironically, 23-year-old Dach was a healthy scratch when Dickinson returned for Game 4. But he suited up for every other playoff contest. Even with logging less than 10 minutes of ice time every night, Dach still doled out 23 hits in five games. He’s always brought that physical element to the table, which is what attracted the Oilers into acquiring him.

Murphy, for his part, was the steady and consistent defensive defenseman he always was in Chicago. He participated in all six postseason games with the Oilers, fortifying the second defensive pairing alongside Darnell Nurse. Murphy averaged a respectable 21:16 minutes of ice time while blocking 15 shots and making 12 hits. Oh, and did I mention he also scored two playoff goals (plus adding an assist)?! Here’s his second goal, which wasn’t enough to get the Oilers over the hump in Game 6. Incidentally, Dach provided the secondary assist on this goal.

Money Murph 💰 #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/70m0nJOdPX

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) May 1, 2026

It will be interesting to see what happens in Edmonton, and with these three former Blackhawks, now that they’ve been very surprisingly eliminated in the first round.

Wild’s Nick Foligno Chasing a Dream With Brother Marcus

Let’s move on to a better story about a former Blackhawk competing in the playoffs. Chicago lost their captain when Nick Foligno was traded at the deadline to the Minnesota Wild. It was bittersweet, for sure. But the writing was on the wall for the youngsters to take the helm, and Foligno knew it was time to move on. What better way to do so than to chase a Stanley Cup with his brother, Marcus Foligno?! It’s a real-life fairy tale for the siblings and their families to chase this dream together.

It turns out the Folignos and the Wild are one-quarter of the way there, as they defeated the Dallas Stars in six games in the first round on Thursday night (Apr. 30). In the series, Nick averaged 12:55 minutes of ice time an delivered 21 hits while winning 49.5% of his faceoffs. He and brother Marcus even played most of the series together on the fourth line.

The Wild are obviously a division rival of the Blackhawks. But it’s hard not to root for Nick, Marcus and the Wild in the second round versus the Colorado Avalanche.

Lardis Showing His Former Team Some Love

We’ll wrap this up by getting back to the Blackhawks. Rookie Nick Lardis had a solid first season in the NHL, recording 10 goals and 15 points in 41 games with the Blackhawks (plus 18 goals and 32 points in 35 games with the Rockford IceHogs). Lardis told the media during exit interviews he only lived about 40 minutes from his former junior team, the OHL Brantford Bulldogs. He said he was planning to go to most of their playoffs games, and would be their biggest fan.

The 20-year-old got the party started before the Bulldogs’ game on Apr. 22.

NICK LARDIS DRUM INTRO ⚡️⚡️ #BFD pic.twitter.com/vsPCWQLCqp

— Brantford Bulldogs (@BulldogsOHL) April 22, 2026

Lardis must have brought the Bulldogs good luck, as they won 4-3 on that night. The team currently has two other Blackhawks’ prospects in the fold, Marek Vanacker and Parker Holmes.

That’ll do it for this edition of Blackhawks News & Rumors. The offseason is in full swing, with a select few players preparing for the World Championships. Others are busy with summer training and supporting their former teams, or cheering on past teammates in the playoffs.

Keep it here at The Hockey Writers for all your latest news, rumors, analysis and Blackhawks’ updates!