By Salem Chicago News Staff
CHICAGO — The Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday loaned forward Dillon Boucher and goaltender Drew Commesso to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League, trimming their training camp roster to 26 players.
The roster now stands at 16 forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders as the team prepares for its season opener Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The moves are the latest in a series of roster cuts during training camp. The Blackhawks loaned defenseman Connor Mackey to Rockford a day earlier, and have steadily shaped their roster since camp opened Sept. 16.
Commesso, a 23-year-old goaltender, signed a two-year contract with the Blackhawks in July. Boucher, a forward, signed a two-way contract in July as well. Both players will continue their development with the IceHogs.
The Blackhawks will open the 2026-27 season without new captain Connor Bedard, who had shoulder surgery in July after sustaining an injury during offseason training. The 21-year-old has been skating and taking shots but is not expected to return until November.
In Bedard’s absence, center Frank Nazar is penciled in on the top line between forwards Roman Kantserov and Patrick Kane, who returned to Chicago this offseason on a two-year contract.
“We’re going to be a young group, so working on maturing our game, even though we’re so young and everything, I think that’s a big part,” Nazar said. “I mean, after all, it’s probably going to be to our advantage, being young. We’re going to be energetic, we’re going to be fast, we’re going to be an in-your-face type of team.”
Kane, 37, said Nazar reminds him of former Blackhawk Nick Schmaltz.
“The way he could create speed up the middle, being a right-handed shot, obviously a very skilled player,” Kane said. “Both are great skaters, both young guys when I played with them.”
Coach Jeff Blashill said Nazar “had a really good summer” and has been more physical in puck battles during camp.
“He looks stronger on the puck in puck battles, which was something he and I talked about,” Blashill said. “He looks like he’s poised to be in a good spot to have a real good start.”
The Blackhawks also added defenseman Bowen Byram in a June trade with the Buffalo Sabres. Byram completed a hat trick in overtime in his Chicago debut, a 4-3 preseason win over the Minnesota Wild.
Chicago opens Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. CT in Las Vegas on ESPN.
Source: NHL.com — Blackhawks News
