Coach Luke Richardson thinks No. 1 draft pick of 2023, other youngsters are just about ready to let 'er rip in regular-season NHL play. See story with videos.
Connor Bedard will be back in the Chicago Blackhawks lineup on Thursday night for a final home exhibition game against the Minnesota Wild.
And that lineup isn't too different than the one coach Luke Richardson figures to put on the ice in Pittsburgh on Oct. 10 for Chicago's regular-season opener.
Bedard will again center the Blackhawks top line with Taylor Hall on left wing and Ryan Donato on the right. Donato is back after missing Tuesday's 4-2 exhibition win over Detroit.
Bedard, who had his first preseason goal (an empty-netter) and two assists on Tuesday against the Red Wings, cautiously says he adjusting to NHL play. See the video below.
"He's ready," Richardson said of Bedard. "I'm sure he's been ready, but again he's got to realize in this league in 82 games not every night's going to be smooth sailing and perfect. He's got to be ready; it's a long grind." See the video below.
Big rookie winger Colton Dach filled in for Donato on Bedard's line during the second half of Tuesday's contest and impressed Richardson with both his skill and physical play. But the 6-foot-4, 20-year-old Dach missed practice for "maintenance" on Wednesday and wasn't in Thursday's lineup.
No. 2 forward prospect Lukas Reichel will center Tyler Johnson and Taylor Raddysh versus Minnesota. Jason Dickinson is the pivot between veterans Nick Foligno and Corey Perry for a second game.
Arvid Söderblom will be in goal Thursday and is slated to play the entire contest. Jaxson Stauber was assigned to AHL Rockford on Wednesday where he'll join Drew Commesso to form the Ice Hogs netminding duo
Petr Mrazek will start Saturday in St. Louis in the Blackhawks final preseason match.
Tussle for defense, depth forward spots
The key battles for roster spots on the Blackhawks are on defense and among the bottom-three forwards.
On defense, Seth Jones and Connor Murphy are the anchors. Jarred Tinordi and Nikita Zaitsev are reliable veteran journeymen.
Top D-man prospect Kevin Korchinski and Wyatt Kaiser are fluid skaters who continue to make their presence felt. Richardson has both back in the lineup against the Wild.
"What was more impressive to me (Tuesday night) was the defensive side of things," Richardson said of Korchinski while comparing his skating to former NHL All-Star D-man Scott Niedermayer. "If you can do that, the offense is going to be there with a guy who can skate and see the ice like that."
Korchinski, a first-round pick in 2022, is just 19 and must play with Chicago or return to his junior team, the WHL Seattle Thunderbirds. Kaiser, a 21-year-old Twin Cities area native, got into nine NHL games last year after finishing three collegiate seasons at Minnesota-Duluth.
Alex Vlasic, a 6-foot-6 22-year-old from Chicago's North Shore, will play on Thursday. Strong 6-foot-3 Isaak Phillips also is in the mix for a D-corps with upside potential.
Thursday's fourth line: Reese Johnson between Joey Anderson and Boris Katchouck
NOTES: Center/winger Andreas Athanasiou (illness) was held out of Thursday's lineup. ... Forward Philipp Kurashev (wrist) also was out and is considered day to day. ... Athanasiou and Kurashev were on a line with Reichel earlier. ... Thursday's game against the Wild is the Blackhawks last at the United Center until a regular-season home opener on Oct. 21 against Vegas. Chicago starts the season with five road games.