Chicago Blackhawks Announce Roster for 2024-25 NHL Season

The Chicago Blackhawks have officially revealed their roster for the opening night of the 2024-25 NHL season, consisting of 23 players. The lineup includes 14 forwards, seven defensemen, and a pair of goaltenders, ready to commence their campaign against the Utah Hockey Club on October 8 at the Delta Center. The game will be nationally broadcasted on ESPN and ESPN+ and can also be followed on WGN Radio.

The forward lineup features Joey Anderson, Andreas Athanasiou, Connor Bedard, Tyler Bertuzzi, Jason Dickinson, Ryan Donato, Nick Foligno, Taylor Hall, Philipp Kursahev, Pat Maroon, Ilya Mikheyev, Lukas Reichel, Craig Smith, and Teuvo Teravainen. Meanwhile, the defense will be shored up by Nolan Allan, TJ Brodie, Seth Jones, Alec Martinez, Connor Murphy, Isaak Phillips, and Alex Vlasic. The goaltending duties are entrusted to Petr Mrazek and Arvid Soderblom.

However, some players will start the season sidelined due to injuries. Defenseman Wyatt Kaiser is on injured reserve due to an illness, effective from September 19, while another defenseman, Artyom Levshunov, is dealing with a right foot injury, and goaltender Laurent Brossoit is recovering from a right knee issue. Both Levshunov and Brossoit will begin categorized as injured/non-roster.

The upcoming season holds particular significance for the team as they completed the last season in the 31st position. General Manager Kyle Davidson expressed that this season is directed towards becoming more competitive. Nevertheless, while the preseason outcomes weren’t wholly promising, the expectation is that the team surpasses their previous season’s total of 52 points.

A vital aspect of the team’s strategy encompasses the evaluation of Head Coach Luke Richardson. This season offers an opportunity to assess Richardson’s effectiveness with an improved lineup to decide on the potential extension of his contract.

Central to the Blackhawks’ plans is the development of Connor Bedard, the team’s young and promising talent. Davidson has highlighted Bedard’s progression as critical, with significant free-agent signings such as Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teräväinen expected to aid his growth.

While some young prospects such as Kevin Korchinski and Frank Nazar start in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs, their development remains crucial to the Blackhawks’ long-term strategy. Various prospects, including 2023 first-round pick Oliver Moore and other future talents, are anticipated to join the NHL ranks during or following this season, posing optimism for a resurgence.

The long-term objective includes continuing to acquire high draft picks, with the 2025 NHL Draft anticipated to feature top-tier forwards. This strategic approach underlines the importance of balancing immediate competitiveness with building a future contender.