Having gotten off to a 6-5-3 start in the first 14 games of the season, much of the focus for the Blackhawks and their fans is on the product currently on the ice. That’s a welcome change from the past few years, which saw the organization paying just as much, if not more, attention to prospects lighting it up in Rockford or elsewhere.
But while the team has been fun to watch thus far, the focus is still on the future. These days, however, it’s not as much about the next generation of Blackhawks, but instead is about what their current skaters will be getting up to in February. NHL players will be returning to the Olympics a few months from now, and several players have already been named to their national teams. But which Blackhawks could join their countrymen in Milan?
Earlier this week, ESPN’s Ryan Clark took a stab at predicting the Olympic rosters for the U.S., Canada, Sweden, Finland, and Czechia. Only one Blackhawk made the list—Teuvo Teravainen for Finland. There was never really a question as to whether Teravainen would be representing his nation this year; he skated for them in the 4 Nations Face-Off last season and finished with 11 points in nine international games overall.
Connor Bedard
The first name that comes to mind, of course, is Connor Bedard for Team Canada. Clark listed Bedard as his top “name to watch,” just missing the cut. He’ll be on the bubble all season—Macklin Celebrini made the list as an extra, and he’s only just outpacing Bedard in points this season and has less experience. If anyone projected to make the team does suffer an injury, Bedard could be the first name called, which would be a big win for his development and for Chicago fans excited for the tournament. He’d get the chance to skate on a stacked roster among the likes of Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon and more, which could be a great learning experience.
Frank Nazar
Surprisingly enough, Clark also listed Frank Nazar as a name to watch for Team USA. This one seems a bit more far-fetched—while Nazar had a great start to the season, he’s since cooled off a bit. He’s an excellent skater and asset, but it’s hard to imagine he has enough experience to be a major asset among so many stars. He was beat out on the list by Cole Caufield and Matthew Knies, and would have to compete against big names like Patrick Kane, Vincent Trochek, and Alex DeBrincat for a spot.
Andre Burakovsky
A nice consolation prize for Blackhawks fans could be Andre Burakovsky, who was also listed as a name to watch for Sweden, a group with a surprisingly deep pool of players to choose from. It’s a team full of experience outside of projected 1C Leo Carlsson, though, so there may not be room for a veteran like Burakovsky. They may be better served with forwards like Gabriel Landeskog, Joel Eriksson Ek, or Filip Forsberg—but it’s worth keeping an eye on Burakovsky for consideration going forward anyway.
Adam Gajan
For what it’s worth, goaltending prospect Adam Gajan should be in line to man the pipes for Slovakia. It’s a really shallow group, with Wild prospect Samuel Hlavaj set to be the starter, and Gajan was the highest-drafted goalie from his country in NHL history (35th overall). He recorded a shutout at World Juniors in 2024, and he’s been solid on the NHL stage. Playing against top-tier talent at the Olympics should do wonders for his development, which is great news for Chicago.
... Spencer Knight?
One name that I was surprised didn’t even make Clark’s name to watch—goaltender Spencer Knight. After being traded from the Panthers last season, Knight has turned into something of a local hero for Blackhawks fans. This year, he’s put together a save percentage of .919, the second-highest behind Connor Hellebuyck among the 18 goalies who have started 10 or more games. Of course, it will be almost impossible to crack Team USA’s roster given that Hellebuyck and Jake Oettinger exist, but the United States will be sending a third goalie, so Knight just has to beat out guys like Jeremy Swayman and Thatcher Demko.
For starters, Team USA will be considering its 2030 roster, and Knight is in perfect position to contribute heavily down the line. He’ll only be 24 for the Olympics, while Swayman will be 27 and Demko will be 30. Wouldn’t they want to give the youngest player as much experience on the international stage as possible?
If we only take into account the fact that Knight has outperformed the other goalies in consideration for the job this year, he has a decent shot at making the roster. But when you factor in his age and future viability with the program, it should be a no-brainer—or at least something worth considering.
