3 burning Blackhawks questions entering 2026-27 NHL season

September 11, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

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The Chicago Blackhawks once again missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026. The Blackhawks did not reach the highs that similar teams such as the San Jose Sharks reached a year ago. But Connor Bedard and his teammates still made progress as a team in 2025-26.

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The Blackhawks want to turn the corner sooner rather than later. Chicago has some very intriguing young players they want to see make an impact. They know what they have in Bedard, but they still have spots to fill across the lineup.

This summer, Chicago was hit with unfortunate news. Bedard suffered an injury during a summer practice and will miss the beginning of this coming season. It’s a rough blow for the Blackhawks, as the former first-overall pick is clearly the team’s best player.

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Chicago has to find a way to overcome this injury at the start of the year, though. It won’t be easy, but if they weather the storm, they can take off once Bedard is back. That’s the hope, at least.

With the season quickly approaching, here are three burning questions facing Chicago before 2026-27.

Who steps up without Connor Bedard?

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As mentioned, Bedard is going to miss the beginning of the season. He is still recovering from the shoulder injury suffered earlier in the offseason. Chicago has to make do without him for their first stretch of games.

The Blackhawks have some players who can help fill the void. Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen are solid veterans who can carry the load. Of course, Chicago brought back Patrick Kane this summer, as well. They aren’t entirely doomed.

Still, none of these three can truly replace the impact Bedard brings. The Blackhawks are going to need someone to fill the role as best they can in these games without Bedard. Perhaps one of the other young stars on this team can do it.

What does Patrick Kane have left?

Speaking of Patrick Kane, the future Hall of Famer is back where he started his career. Kane signed a two-year contract with Chicago this summer. This comes after a three-season stint with the Detroit Red Wings.

Kane proved many people wrong when he came back from hip resurfacing surgery. During his time in the Motor City, he scored 57 goals and 163 points. The future Hall of Famer showed he was still an effective player for Detroit and helped them push for playoff hockey on multiple occasions.

What does Kane still have in him? It’s hard to imagine him returning to truly elite form. If he can maintain the play he showed in Detroit, though, that would be a huge help for this team.

Is Spencer Knight a franchise goaltender?

One of the bright spots for the Blackhawks last season was goaltender Spencer Knight. Knight played his first full season with Chicago following a midseason trade in March 2025. The former first-round pick did not disappoint.

Knight finished top 10 in WAR and Goals Saved Above Expected among goaltenders last year, according to HockeyStats.com. The young goaltender was solid in goal, even if his traditional stats show a bit of a rougher picture. He stole many games for them with his performances.

The potential with Knight was always present. He has put some of that together early in his tenure with Chicago. Is he the franchise goaltender? Or is he due to come back down to Earth this coming season?

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