Patrick Kane will not make his preseason debut for the Blackhawks on Monday night against the Minnesota Wild, with Jeff Blashill confirming that No. 88 will not be in the lineup for the 7 p.m. CT matchup at the United Center in Chicago.
The decision keeps Kane out of a game that has some extra weight because it comes just eight days before the Blackhawks open their regular season. Home preseason games at this stage of camp often offer a useful look at who is expected to be on the NHL roster next week, and this one is no different.
Who is out for Chicago
Blashill also said Slaggert, Del Mastro and Korchinski will not play. That leaves Chicago with a smaller camp group after a trio of prospects was returned to their junior teams over the weekend, dropping the Blackhawks' training camp roster to 47 players.
For a preseason game this late on the calendar, the lineup should still tell a story about where the roster stands. The Blackhawks are closer to trimming decisions, and every available spot matters more as opening night approaches. Kane's absence delays the first chance to see him in a Blackhawks uniform again after three years away.
What the matchup means
The opponent also matters here. The Wild are bringing a youth-heavy roster rather than a mostly NHL group, which makes the Blackhawks' choices even more focused on evaluation than on building toward a full strength-versus-full strength test.
That is part of why preseason games like this can be useful. They are less about the score and more about the players expected to carry over into the next week, especially with the regular season so close. For Chicago, this is another checkpoint in a short runway to opening night.
For readers tracking the broader preseason picture, the Blackhawks have already been part of a schedule that includes several notable early matchups, including the kind of tune-up games that help set the tone for the year ahead. The Minnesota Wild begin 2026-2027 preseason schedule against Chicago Blackhawks, and the Blackhawks' own preseason slate has offered a clearer look at how the roster is taking shape.
Monday night will not answer every question, but it will still be a useful preview of where the Blackhawks stand before the games start to count.
