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2h ago

Blackhawks Set Opening-Night Lineup vs. Panthers With Vlasic Out

Late injuries triggered a recall, a defensive shuffle, final tweaks after a system-heavy preseason.

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Blackhawks center Frank Nazar (91) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Wild in a preseason game Sept. 28, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (Abbie Parr/AP)

Overview

  • Chicago opens Tuesday at 4 p.m. in Sunrise against the two-time defending champion Florida Panthers, with national TV coverage on ESPN.
  • Coach Jeff Blashill said defenseman Alex Vlasic, recovering from a preseason skate cut, is not expected to play and will watch from the press box.
  • With Vlasic unavailable, Matt Grzelcyk paired with Sam Rinzel on the de facto top pairing in Monday’s practice, reflecting an opening-night adjustment.
  • Landon Slaggert was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, and Ryan Greene was recalled from Rockford and practiced on the fourth line.
  • After a 2–4 preseason that emphasized installing Blashill’s structure, youngsters Frank Nazar (2C with Teuvo Teravainen and Tyler Bertuzzi), Rinzel (power-play quarterback) and Colton Dach (physical fourth-line role) positioned themselves for early-season opportunities, while Lukas Reichel’s role remains under discussion amid trade chatter.