Chicago Blackhawks
Blackhawks vs. Wild Preseason: Projected Lineups, How To Watch, & More
The Chicago Blackhawks play their final road game of the 2025-26 preseason on Sunday night against the Minnesota Wild at Grand Casino Arena.
While the Blackhawks had a few veterans like Connor Murphy, Jason Dickinson, and Ilya Mikheyev in the lineup last night in a comeback 4-2 win over the Blues, a group of mostly AHLers and bubble players impressively led the way in St. Louis.
There will be a distinctly different feel to head coach Jeff Blashill’s roster for the team’s third preseason contest in St. Paul.
Most of the Blackhawks’ expected NHL group makeup Sunday’s roster, including the projected top-six forward group and top-four defensemen. Captain Nick Foligno also makes his first appearance in the preseason.
Drew Commesso, who will start the 2025-26 season as the No. 1 goaltender for the Rockford IceHogs, makes his preseason debut and gets the start in net.
Here’s everything to note before the puck drops tonight in Minnesota at 5 p.m. CT.
Blackhawks Preseason Notes
- The Blackhawks opened the preseason with a lackluster 3-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, September 23rd, at Little Caesars Arena. Connor Bedard and Wyatt Kaiser were the goal scorers for Chicago.
- After falling behind 2-0, the Blackhawks scored four unanswered goals in the third period to earn their first preseason win over the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, September 27th. That was fun.
- The first preseason action at the United Center is on Tuesday, September 30th, against the Red Wings.
- The Blackhawks’ final preseason game is scheduled for Saturday, October 4th, against the Blues.
2024-25 Results vs. Wild
10/01/24 7-2 L, Grand Casino Arena (Preseason)
10/04/24 6-1 L, United Center (Preseason)
11/10/24 2-1 OTW, United Center
11/29/24 3-2 L, Grand Casino Arena
12/23/24 4-3 L, Grand Casino Arena
01/26/25 4-2 L, United Center
Projected Blackhawks Lineup
The Blackhawks game group for Sunday didn’t have a morning skate before departing for the Twin Cities, so there is some guesswork involved in currently determining the forward lines and defensive pairings. However, considering most of the NHLers have already established linemates and defensive partners during training camp, this should be rather straightforward.
Ryan Donato, Andre Burakovsky, Tyler Bertuzzi, Teuvo Teravainen, and Alex Vlasic will see preseason action for the first time, along with prospects Samuel Savoie and A.J. Spellacy. Both Savoie and Spellacy have been dealing with injuries recently at camp.
Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, Sam Rinzel, Wyatt Kaiser, and Artyom Levshunov are back in the lineup for the first time since the preseason opener against the Red Wings. Bedard scored a power-play goal for the first Blackhawks’ tally of the preseason in that contest, with Rinzel recording the primary assist. Kaiser scored the second and final goal of the game for the visitors.
Oliver Moore, Ryan Greene, and Kevin Korchinski make their third appearances of the preseason and are playing both games during the weekend back-to-back. Nick Lardis and Nolan Allan are both back in the lineup after also playing on Saturday in St. Louis.
FORWARD LINES
Ryan Donato-Connor Bedard-Andre Burakovsky
Tyler Bertuzzi-Frank Nazar-Teuvo Teravainen
Nick Lardis-Ryan Greene-Oliver Moore
Samuel Savoie-Nick Foligno-A.J. Spellacy
DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS
Alex Vlasic-Sam Rinzel
Wyatt Kaiser-Artyom Levshunov
Kevin Korchinski-Nolan Allan
Ashton Cumby
GOALTENDERS
Drew Commesso
Arvid Soderblom
PROJECTED WILD LINEUP
The Wild appear to be icing a lineup filled with mostly their AHL guys and top young players. Marcus Foligno, the younger brother of Blackhawks’ captain Nick Foligno, is among the few NHLers, along with Chicago natives and former Hawks Ryan Hartman and Vinnie Hinostroza. Veteran Marcus Johansson is also expected to play.
Zeev Buium, Danila Yurov, Liam Ohgren, David Jiricek, and Carson Lambos are the standout prospects in the lineup for Minnesota.
Filip Gustavsson, who finished tied for sixth in Vezina Trophy votes for the 2024-25 season, is likely to get the start in goal for the Wild. He’s yet to appear in the preseason for Minnesota.
HOW TO WATCH & GAME INFO
Chicago Blackhawks (1-1-0 Preseason) @ Minnesota Wild (1-1-1 Preseason)
5 p.m. CT — Grand Casino Arena
TV: CHSN+, CHSN APP, Blackhawks.com, FDSNNO, ESPN+ (outside Blackhawks & Wild broadcast areas)
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