Way Too Early Blackhawks’ 2026-27 Forward Line Projections – Hockey Writers – Chicago Blackhawks

We learned on Thursday (May 14) that the Chicago Blackhawks have signed top Russian prospect Roman Kantserov to an entry-level contract. This is exciting news, as the club tries to take the next step in the competition after finishing 31^St in the league for three years in a row. As the leading scorer in the KHL this past season, Kantserov is a powerful forward to add to the Blackhawks’ arsenal. Who knows; he could be the long-awaited winger to play alongside Connor Bedard.

This has sparked some discussion at X about what forward line combinations could look like to start the 2026-27 campaign. So without further ado, let’s get into some guessing!

Blackhawks Drafted Forward Line

Remember that it is too early to do this. There are still many unanswered questions of the offseason. Will the Blackhawks pick up anyone in free agency or trade? Will they re-sign some of the pending free agents? Is No. 4 pick in the 2026 Draft will be the right guy for the NHL?

But it’s all in good fun, and something to keep us busy while we wait. On some ground rules: I went ahead and based my guess on the existing list. So, this is assuming the Blackhawks re-sign Ilya Mikheyev, and keep Andrew Mangiapane and Andre Burakovsky (potential pick-buyers) in the fold.

I’ll lay out my thoughts first below, then go line by line with some explanations about my thought process.

Tyler Bertuzzi – Connor Bedard – Roman Kantserov

Frank Nazar – Anton Frondell – Nick Lardis

Teuvo Teravainen – Oliver Moore – Ilya Mikheyev

Ryan Donato – Ryan Greene – Andrew Mangiapane

Additional: Landon Slaggert, Andre Burakovsky

-Sacha Boisvert starts the season with the Rockford IceHogs

First Line Thoughts

Bertuzzi – Bedard – Kantserov

We obviously don’t know where Kantserov will fit in better with the team. But since there’s been so much hype around him, we might pencil him in on the top list. For three seasons now, Bedard hasn’t had a quality sidekick to elevate his game. Could Kantserov finally be the one?!

In choosing the third member of the trio, I wanted to consider balance in the lineup. The Blackhawks have a lot of young players going forward. Bedard (5-foot-10) and Kantserov (5-foot-9) are no exception. Also Nick Lardis (5-foot-11). With that said, I moved Lardis off the top line and replaced him with Tyler Bertuzzi (6-foot-2).

Lardis was in the lead for the final nine games of the 2025-26 season, but he honestly didn’t do much to elevate Bedard’s game. Lardis scored two goals, but Bedard didn’t score a single one. Maybe Kantserov will have more luck this time.

Meanwhile, crafty veteran Bertuzzi can win puck battles and be one-on-one in front of both Bedard and Kantserov.

Second Line Thoughts

Nazar – Frondell – Lardis

Head coach Jeff Blashill indeed loved Anton Frondell in the center. So much so, that he used Frondell as a second-line center in his fourth NHL game, replacing Frank Nazar on the floor. Nazar, on the other hand, played on the wing most of the time before he came to the Blackhawks. He also played on the wing alongside Bedard in the last game of the season.

That’s why I have Nazar on Frondell’s wing in the second lane. Lardis appears to be the key player to complement the duo with his goalscoring abilities, while not having the pressure of playing on the top line. Frondell also provides some size and strength (6-foot-1, 198 pounds) to offset two smaller players in Nazar (5-foot-10) and Lardis.

Third Line Thoughts

Teravainen – Moore – Mikheyev

Jason Dickinson and Mikheyev worked as part of the Blackhawks’ shutdown line for most of last season, with different players on the left side. Ryan Donato and Teuvo Teravainen have played this part many times. The reason I’m going with Teravainen instead of Donato here is because Teravainen arguably offers more skill, while still being committed defensively. Donato, on the other hand, is gradually bringing the “fourth line” to his game.

I have Moore at center because the Blackhawks discovered last season that he was more comfortable and effective at center versus wing. He was offered the third center role a few times after Dickinson was traded, but unfortunately a lower body injury cut short his season. His quickness and durability make him an excellent candidate to take on this forward role. In my mind, Moore has a chance to be the Blackhawks star this coming season with this very important role.

Thoughts of the Fourth Line

Donato – Greene – Mangiapane

We’ve discussed above that Donato brings grit, as does Andrew Mangiapane. It makes sense to have them in the fourth row. I’m not sure I really like Ryan Greene here, as he was on top with Bedard for most of last season.

However, the emergence of Frondell and now Kantserov gives Blashill some pure talent in the top six. Can Greene still be a consistent and responsible defensive option on one of the top two lines? Absolutely! And don’t be surprised if we see Blashill try this.

But at this point, I feel like Bertuzzi, Nazar, Lardis are better choices. Greene is also a good guy, and could be successful on the fourth line. Let’s face it; Donato-Greene-Mangiapane on the “grit” line could be very dangerous offensively.

Extras: Landon Slaggert, Andre Burakovsky

Landon Slaggert had a great under-the-radar season (3 goals, 7 points) in 2025-26. But let’s remember that no one is really going to score goals. He is difficult to play with, which could easily put him in the front six. He still has one year left on his $900,000 contract, so he’s in little danger of being retained. It’s a proving year for Slaggert.

Burakovsky, on the other hand; Ah, Burakovsky’s bust! He played so badly in the second half of the season that the fans called for him to be bought a veteran. But it doesn’t really make much sense to buy him. He only has one season left on his contract, and the Blackhawks could use his $5.5 million cap hit to help them reach the top division next season.

The only negative of having Burakovsky is that he could stand in the way of a small player’s ice time. But, he was also unlucky last season. Chances are he will re-tie this year and earn a spot on this list. If not, he could actually be the team’s new Sam Lafferty; insurance veteran who sees limited playing time. Note: This could be a possible decision for Mangiapane as well, depending on how things go with Slaggert.

On a final thought about the program. Sacha Boisvert is eligible for seven games in the 2025-26 season. But he also scratched a few times. I see Boisvert starting the season with the Rockford IceHogs. He may get called up down the road, but he’ll have to earn his stripes in the AHL first.

Final Thoughts on Blackhawks Forward Line Projections

Again, these are initial impressions. We do not know if Mikheyev will be re-signed, or if Burakovsky or Mangiapane will remain in the team. Who knows, general manager Kyle Davidson could do something big this offseason, find another pitcher or two to add to the mix. Some players may be sold.

But it’s always fun to guess what the lineup combinations will be going forward, and this gives us a baseline to work from. Will Bedard finally have his sidekick? Who will the institutions be? Which young players will win top six roles?

We’ll know more as the season progresses, but these are all interesting questions to consider.