Martinez has not played since the fourth game of the season, missing 12 straight, but appears to inching closer to a return. The veteran 37-year-old defenseman is averaging 21:02 time-on-ice through four games this season and has tallied one assist, 15 blocks, and one hit.
Athanasiou, a one-time 30-goal scorer, has been placed on waivers by the Blackhawks. The 30-year-old Athanasiou scored 30 goals in 76 games in the 2018-19 season but has only scored 54 in 244 games since. He has zero points in five games this season.
Maroon will take a seat on Thursday as the Blackhawks opt to get some fresh bodies into their lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Joey Anderson will draw into the lineup in his place.
Brodie will re-enter the lineup in place of Isaak Phillips as the Blackhawks opt to get some fresh bodies into their lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. He'll skate with Nolan Allan on Chicago's third defensive pairing.
Anderson will re-enter the lineup in place of Pat Maroon as the Blackhawks opt to get some fresh bodies into their lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Anderson has no goals and just one assist in five games this season.
On the tail end of a back-to-back, a night after a 4-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, the Blackhawks will switch to Soderblom between the pipes in a Thursday night matchup against their division rivals, the Dallas Stars. The 25-year-old Soderblom has seen limited action this season but has been solid when called upon, posting a 2.35 GAA and .927 SV% in three outings (1-1-1). That said, the Blackhawks enter the action on Thursday as significant +285 road underdogs against the Stars.
Knight allowed three goals on 28 shots in the Panthers' win over the Islanders last Saturday. WIth Sergei Bobrovsky starting yesterday, Knight will start the second-half of the Panthers back-to-back in Finland. He hasn't been particularly sharp in his three starts (3.03 GAA and .898 SV%) but it's been good enough win two of three.
Soderblom will return to backup Petr Mrazek on Monday after missing the last two games due to an illness. Soderblom has made two appearances this season, posting a 0-1-1 record and a .911 SV%. Drew Commesso has been reassigned to Rockford (AHL) to make room for Soderblom's return.
Commesso will return to the AHL without making an appearance after serving as Chicago's backup in the absence of Arvid Soderblom (illness). The former second-round draft pick owns a 1-1-0 record and an .854 SV% in two AHL games this season.
Knight stopped all six shots that he faced after replacing Sergei Bobrovsky in the Panthers' loss to the Wild on Tuesday. Thought three appearances (two starts) this season, Knight has a 3.04 GAA and .900 SV%. On Saturday he'll face the Islanders and the Panthers enter play as -137 road favourites.
Commesso was recalled earlier on Friday but is yet to make his NHL debut. The 22-year-old netminder was selected 46th overall by Chicago in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He has a 1-1-0 record and an .854 SV% in two AHL games this season. He will get the opportunity to back up Petr Mrazek as Arvid Soderblom is out with an illness.
Soderblom was originally projected to start Saturday's game in Dallas, but that is seemingly now up in the air. The recently recalled Drew Commesso will serve as the backup for Petr Mrazek on Friday night.
Commesso is yet to make his NHL debut. The 22-year-old netminder was selected 46th overall by Chicago in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He has a 1-1-0 record and an .854 SV% in two AHL games this season. Isak Phillips was sent down to make room for Commesso.
Philipp Kurashev will draw back into the Blackhawks' lineup after being a healthy scratch on Tuesday, replacing Athanasiou. The 30-year-old Athanasiou has zero points in his first five games and is averaging only 9:36 time-on-ice, a steep drop from the 13:06 he averaged in 28 games with the club last season.
Despite placing second on the Blackhawks with 54 points (18G / 36A) last season, Kurashev was a healthy scratch on Tuesday. He will draw back into the lineup on Friday against the Nashville Predators and hope to improve on a disappointing start to the 2024-25 season, with one point (1G / 0A) and a -6 plus/minus in six games.
Levshunov was the 2nd overall pick of the Blackhawks in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and will begin his professional career with the Rockford Icehogs (AHL). The 18-year-old Levshunov had 44 points (9G / 26A) in 38 games playing collegiate hockey for Michigan State University.
