Chicago Blackhawks Ready for Season Opener Against Utah Hockey Club

The Chicago Blackhawks have finalized their roster and are set to begin the 2024-25 NHL season with an opening game against the Utah Hockey Club, formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes. The season kickoff takes place at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on October 8, 2024, with the game airing nationally on ESPN.

“We’re all pretty fired up,” said Connor Bedard, expressing excitement over the upcoming season. The Blackhawks are entering the season after a challenging preseason, having lost five of their six matches. Despite this, the team is looking to improve on their last season’s performance, where they finished second-to-last with a 23-53-6 record.

Goaltender Petr Mrázek, who had an extensive stint last season, emphasized the importance of focusing on their own game to achieve a good result. “We’re just going into there, play our best hockey as we can,” Mrázek commented.

The game against Utah is significant as it marks the first NHL game for the new franchise. Hawks coach Luke Richardson stated, “I’ve never been to Utah before, so it’ll be something new for everybody, hockey-wise for sure.” Richardson is entering the season with hopes that the team can move past the rebuilding phase.

On the lineup, forward Ilya Mikheyev has been a surprising addition to the first line, joining Bedard and Teuvo Teräväinen. “His speed is an asset that we can utilize,” Bedard mentioned, highlighting Mikheyev’s contribution to the team’s forechecking strategy. The lineup adjustments also see Philipp Kurashev centering a line alongside experienced players like Tyler Bertuzzi, brought in for his grit.

The Blackhawks have bolstered their defense with experienced players such as Alec Martinez, who pairs with Seth Jones. “We’ve been talking a lot about what we want to accomplish as a pair,” Martinez said regarding their on-ice strategy. This seasoned pair hopes to provide stability to the team’s defense.

In goal, Petr Mrázek is set to be the primary choice, supported by Arvid Söderblom while Laurent Brossoit recovers from a knee injury. “We’re focusing on keeping the momentum and doing the right things,” Mrázek remarked about starting the season strong.

The Blackhawks’ roster includes 14 forwards, seven defensemen, and two goaltenders. Defenseman Wyatt Kaiser starts the season on injured reserve, with Laurent Brossoit and Artyom Levshunov also unavailable due to injuries.