This rebuilding phase brings a mix of frustration and excitement for Blackhawks fans. Sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference at roughly 26-31-12, the team is mathematically out of the playoff hunt. However, the post-trade deadline focus has completely shifted to youth evaluation, making this an incredibly important stretch for the franchise’s future.
The Anticipated Arrival of Anton Frondell
The most exciting news for Chicago’s rebuild is the impending arrival of top prospect Anton Frondell. Following his Swedish Hockey League team’s (Djurgårdens IF) playoff elimination in Sweden, the 18-year-old center is expected to make his transatlantic journey.
Frondell just completed a historic Swedish campaign — scoring 20 goals in 43 games — and the Blackhawks are eager to give him a look to evaluate his NHL readiness for the 2026-27 season.
Sacha Boisvert’s Looming Debut
The Blackhawks recently signed their 2024 first-round pick, Sacha Boisvert, to a three-year entry-level contract. While he missed Friday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche because his visa paperwork is still being processed, the team expects him to be cleared in time to make his NHL debut during their upcoming East Coast road trip.
Connor Bedard’s Growing Leadership
Following an active 2026 trade deadline where Chicago moved veterans like captain Nick Foligno, Connor Murphy, and Jason Dickinson, Connor Bedard was named an alternate captain. He is thriving in the role. Bedard recently passed Jonathan Toews and Bobby Hull for the most game-winning goals by a Blackhawks player age 20 or younger and has been the offensive anchor for the team down the stretch.
Banged-Up Roster
The Blackhawks are currently battling the injury bug. Defenseman Louis Crevier and recently acquired forward Andrew Mangiapane (brought over from the Edmonton Oilers at the trade deadline) are sidelined with unspecified injuries and are expected to miss the start of the upcoming road trip. Forward Oliver Moore is also recovering from an injury sustained earlier this month against the Dallas Stars.
Blackhawks Upcoming Schedule
The Blackhawks are entering a grueling, road-heavy week against the Metropolitan Division. They kick things off with a Sunday matinee at home against the Nashville Predators before immediately packing their bags for a four-game East Coast gauntlet.
This road trip features matchups against the Islanders, Flyers, Rangers, and Devils, including a tough Thursday/Friday back-to-back in Philadelphia and New York. For Chicago, this week is entirely about playing spoiler against teams battling for playoff positioning, while giving high-profile rookies like Boisvert (and potentially Frondell) baptism-by-fire experience in hostile road environments.
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (EDT) |
| Sunday, March 22 | Nashville Predators | United Center (Home) | 3:00 PM |
| Tuesday, March 24 | New York Islanders | UBS Arena (Away) | 7:00 PM |
| Thursday, March 26 | Philadelphia Flyers | Xfinity Mobile Arena (Away) | 7:00 PM |
| Friday, March 27 | New York Rangers | Madison Square Garden (Away) | 7:00 PM |
| Sunday, March 29 | New Jersey Devils | Prudential Center (Away) | 7:00 PM |
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