Slaggert was a third-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old Indiana native made his NHL debut last season, scoring four points (1G / 3A) in 16 games with Chicago.

After playing 55 games with the Blackhawks last season, scoring 17 points (5G / 12A), the 26-year-old Anderson seems to have found a home in the NHL after being a journeyman for the first seven years of his career. He has one point (0G / 1A) in five games with the Blackhawks this season and his status for Saturday's game against the Buffalo Sabres is uncertain.

Veteran defenseman Alec Martinez will not play on Thursday due to a lower-body injury, allowing Allan to enter the Blackhawks' lineup. The 21-year-old Allan was the 32nd overall pick of the Blackhawks in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He played 60 games with the Rockford IceHogs last season, tallying 17 points (5G / 12A).

Knight struggled in his first outing this season, allowing four goals on 26 shots (.846 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres last week, but will return to the crease for the Panthers for a second time in their first five games. With Sergei Bobrovsky in his age 36 season, coming off consecutive long playoff runs, this could be an indication Knight's workload going forward this season. The Panthers, still without Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, enter action as -153 road favourites on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Knight struggled in his first outing this season, allowing four goals on 26 shots (.846 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres last week, but will return to the crease for the Panthers for a second time in their first five games. With Sergei Bobrovsky in his age 36 season, coming off consecutive long playoff runs, this could be an indication Knight's workload going forward this season. The Panthers, still without Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, enter action as -153 road favourites on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Knight spent the entire 2023-24 season in the AHL, where he was 25-14-5 with a 2.41 GAA and .905 SV%. The 2019 No.13 overall pick has appeared in 57 career NHL games, going 32-17-6 with a 2.91 GAA and .906 SV%. Tonight he faces the Sabres as -110 road favourites.

Allan made his NHL debut on Tuesday, playing 10:26 time-on-ice, but will draw out of the lineup on Friday in favor of Wyatt Kaiser. The 21-year-old Allan was the 32 overall pick of the Blackhawks in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

Nolan Allan will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Kaiser to make his season debut. The 22-year-old Kaiser played 32 games with the Blackhawks last season, tallying seven points (0G / 7A), 46 blocks, and 22 hits.

Petr Mrazek struggled in the Blackhawks season-opening 5-2 loss to the Utah Hockey Club, allowing four goals on 26 shots (.846 SV%). As such, the Blackhawks will turn to Soderblom for their second game of the the season, a tilt against the Winnipeg Jets, who steamrolled to a 6-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. The 25-year-old Soderblom appeared in 32 games last season (5-22-2), posting a pedestrian 3.92 GAA and .879 SV%.

Kaiser was absent from the first game of the season for the Blackhawks due to an illness but will likely be inserted back into the lineup shortly. The 22-year-old defenseman played 32 games with the Blackhawks last season, tallying seven points (0G / 7A), 46 blocks, and 22 hits.

Petr Mrazek struggled in the Blackhawks season-opening 5-2 loss to the Utah Hockey Club, allowing four goals on 26 shots (.846 SV%). As such, the Blackhawks will turn to Soderblom for their second game of the the season, a tilt against the Winnipeg Jets, who steamrolled to a 6-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. The 25-year-old Soderblom appeared in 32 games last season (5-22-2), posting a pedestrian 3.92 GAA and .879 SV%.

Knight played 53 games for the Panthers between the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons (28-17-6), posting a 2.95 GAA and .905 SV% but spent the entirety of last in the AHL. The 23-year-old Knight posted a 2.41 GAA and .905 SV% in 45 games with the Charlotte Checkers (25-14-5). He will likely see a more prominent NHL role this season, serving as the backup to Sergei Bobrovsky.

Entering training camp, it seemed as if Nazar had a chance to make the Blackhawks roster after appearing in three games with them at the end of last season. He had a disappointing preseason, though, and will get his first taste of AHL action with Rockford to begin 2024-25.

After appearing in 76 NHL games a season ago, Korchinski had a disappointing training camp and will begin the 2024-25 season in Rockford. With Korchinski off the roster, look for Alex Vlasic to quarterback the Blackhawks' second power-play unit.

Vanacker was Chicago's 2024 1st round pick (27th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday with the Blackhawks. The 18-year-old left-winger took a massive step forward in the OHL in 2023-24 with Brantford, collecting 36 goals and 82 points in 68 games played.

Crevier made his NHL debut in 2023-24 with Chicago, picking up three assists and a -16 plus/minus in 24 games played and has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract on Monday. The 23-year-old towering 6'8" defensemen was Chicago's 2020 7th round pick (188th overall) and will look to carve a full time role on Chicago's back end in 2024-25.

Levshunov went No.2 overall in this summer's NHL Draft after posting nine goals and 26 assists (35 points) in 38 games at Michigan State University. Levshunov was second among NCAA freshmen defensemen in points and was a Big-10 Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year.