The Chicago Blackhawks are a little banged up to the start the season, but it’s not something the team can’t overcome or anything that won’t be resolved shortly.
The team placed Wyatt Kaiser on the injured reserve retroactive to September 19 as well as placed Artyom Levshunov and Laurent Brossoit on the injured non-roster to begin the season.
Kaiser is looking like he’s going to take one of the two available spots on defense to open the season, but is currently dealing with an illness. With Kevin Korchinski being cut earlier in the week and Kaiser gaining some more experience last season as a rookie in the NHL, the 22-year-old should get into a good amount of games this season.
Related: Korchinski Surprisingly Part of Blackhawks’ Latest Cuts
Kaiser played nine games in 2022-23 and recorded three assists, but upped his total to 32 games last season, finishing with seven assists. He is still eligible to be returned to the AHL without going through waivers, but one of the best defensive prospects in the system may be ready for full time action and not need to be sent down for more development.
Levshunov was probably not going to make the Blackhawks given he was just drafted in 2024 and there is a lot of competition. Even though he has the size to be able to step right in, the team has an option of having him develop in the AHL before being thrown right into the fire of the NHL like Korchinski last season.
Levshunov is healing from a foot injury after taking a puck to the right foot back before the rookie showcase. When he returns to action, the expectation is that he’ll step into the Rockford IceHogs’ lineup and play lots of minutes.
The Blackhawks are hoping for a speedy recovery to Brossoit as well. He may have the most impact on Chicago this season given that he is a major upgrade in net to Arvid Soderblom. Brossoit gives the Blackhawks a great second option to turn to and also takes so much weight off of Petr Mrazek.
Brossoit is recovering from a right knee injury and should miss too many games to open the season, The Blackhawks should be able to give Mrazek all of the starts until the return.
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