What we heard at Chicago Blackhawks training camp, including Patrick Kane wanting ‘to run through a wall’
Breathe a sigh of relief, Chicago Blackhawks fans. The offseason is officially over.
The Hawks kicked off their 2026-27 training camp Thursday. On the ice were roster locks, some Rockford IceHogs skaters and new arrivals.
Are the Hawks in a position to string together wins this year? General manager Kyle Davidson thinks so.
“We wouldn’t make some of the transactions we made if we didn’t believe there was a step to be had here now,” Davidson said. “It’s all about showing up and expecting something every night, and we should expect to arrive and win.”
The Hawks hit the ground running on Day 1, more so because they had to. After four preseason games in 12 days, they travel to Las Vegas for the Sept. 29 season opener against the Golden Knights.
Patrick Kane took part in his first Hawks practice since his return. He’s presumed to start as the top line’s right wing, where he skated alongside Roman Kantserov and Frank Nazar on Thursday.
Connor Bedard did not participate in the practice but did continue to get solo training beforehand. There’s no firm updates on his timeline — Davidson said he’s “checking every box” so far — meaning November remains his earliest return date.
The 21-year-old newly named captain wrote in his The Players’ Tribune article that last season was the first time the team seemed “pissed off” rather than disappointed about missing the postseason.
Nazar, 22, noticed too.
“I definitely think that’s a good point he made, nobody’s happy with losing, right?” Nazar said. “Last year was the first year where we were looking very positive in the beginning, like, OK, this is the year, and then things fell off. So being able to keep those things going all season long on a consistent basis (will) put ourselves in a good spot.”
Kane, 37, spoke with Davidson and coach Jeff Blashill the night before about the state of the team. It’s safe to say he liked how that conversation went.
“It really set the tone for us,” Kane said. “I think you come out of a meeting like that and you’re ready to go, you want to run through a wall.”
The Hawks were optimistic entering the last few seasons, which didn’t lead to much. This team has the roster moves to back it up this time.
Here’s what we heard from a handful of players on Day 1 of camp at Blackhawks Ice Center.
Patrick Kane
The high-scoring forward is back at his stomping grounds for the first time in years. It’s still surreal to Kane.
“A lot of it is so familiar in a lot of ways and then you get out there on the ice and you look at all the players out there and everyone’s completely different,” Kane said. “Different coaches, different players, so different in that way (but) great to be back at camp, great to get this thing rolling.”
Pushing the nostalgia aside, he has weight on his shoulders as an alternate captain and the main veteran in the room. He may be on the top line with or without Bedard, so he’ll be responsible for controlling the game.
“Patrick is a super-high-IQ hockey player and has a lot of give-and-go to his game,” Blashill said. “Historically when Patrick has had a center that can create lanes with his speed, it has helped him.”
Kane stated at his introductory news conference July 24 that he was working with the Nazar to see how their games mesh. It was on full display Thursday, and the future Hall of Famer was impressed with both the center and Kantserov.
“He’s a competitive kid, he wants to win and to do well,” Kane said of Nazar. “You want to have that presence of mind and being in the moment, especially in practice. As a young player trying to get better every time you’re on the ice, every rep, every chance you get, that’s what I see with him.
“He’s got a lot of skill, he’s very smooth, he speaks pretty good English, (because) he wants to communicate too,” Kane said of 21-year-old Kantserov. “He wants to know certain things about the games or the drills we’re doing or what I’m seeing on the ice, and same thing for me with him and Frank.”
Frank Nazar
Bedard holding the “C” means the Hawks are officially his team. That’s how Nazar sees it too.
“He leads both on and off the ice, great guy, good human being, great player,” Nazar said. “He’s the face of this team. … He was leading us the whole time.”
With No. 98 out, it likely will be Nazar who leads the charge as the top-line center. He hopes to have better results than he did in 2025-26.
While he did put up 41 points (15 goals, 26 assists) in 66 games, it was a season of goalless streaks and inconsistency.
It should help that Kane will be on his wing. The Hawks great is still a productive player who will add some worry to opposing defenses, freeing up opportunities for Nazar.
“I was pumped up on the inside,” Nazar said about finding out about Kane’s return. “Excited to see what we can do and the chemistry we can build.”
He was impressed with Kantserov, the rookie winger who is all but certain to make the roster. Kantserov is coming off of his best season in the KHL, totaling 64 points (36 goals, 28 assists) in 63 games.
“I thought he was really good, he competed and won puck battles,” Nazar said. “What he can do with the puck, he looked really good and excited to see what we can do.”
Anton Frondell
The 19-year-old forward from Sweden entered the NHL last season in a hectic manner. He performed well, racking up nine points in 12 games.
He’s going through the normal process now, which should both settle the forward and allow him to enjoy the moment.
“I spent three weeks now in Chicago getting around the city a little bit,” Frondell said. “I’ve been here skating all week so finally it starts and it’s exciting.
“That time back in spring is the funnest time I’ve ever had in my life. (I’m) trying to enjoy as much as I did back then, have fun on the ice and enjoy being around my teammates every day and work hard.”
Frondell spent much of his time with the SHL’s Djurgårdens IF as a left wing, scoring 20 goals and adding eight assists. The Hawks, though, see him as an addition to their center depth.
That’s where he slotted to close last season and where he seemingly will be placed this season. He could move to third-line center when Bedard returns.
“(His) hockey sense and his natural instincts on the ice are ones of responsibility,” Davidson said July 1. “He has a mature way that he operates on the ice, and I think it’s that two-way mindset and hockey IQ that allows him to be a trusted presence down the middle.”
Frondell is still working on adapting to that middle role but has enjoyed it so far.
“I really liked that role, really enjoyed playing in the middle of the ice,” Frondell said. “I feel a part of my game is defensive, just trying to help out in the D-zone and all of these things. I really enjoy doing that, I’m used to playing both wing and center but I’ll play wherever they put me.”
Bowen Byram
The 25-year-old defenseman was traded to the Hawks from the Buffalo Sabres on June 23. Byram, after his first official Hawks practice, may have forgotten that was only three months ago.
“Always a little bit of nervous energy at the start of the camp, no matter where you are, whether you’re in a place you’ve been for a while or a new place, (but I) felt good,” Byram said. “Felt like it’s been a long time since getting traded here, like it’s been a year or two, and I haven’t played a game yet.”
The blueliner is set to be the Hawks’ top defenseman. On Thursday he skated on the right of the top pair with Alex Vlasic. Byram has the experience — he won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche — despite being so young, and he’s still thinking about leading the defensemen corps.
“I don’t know, I feel like (as a) young guy myself — I’m only 25 — I feel like I’m just starting to really find my groove,” Byram said. “I’m excited to learn from everyone. We’ve got a lot of good players on our team, a lot of good young players with a lot of skill and talent and work ethic. So I’ve been trying to learn things (from) everyone and be myself.”
Byram had 42 points (11 goals, 31 assists), blocked 93 shots and accumulated 22 takeaways last season.