News Blackhawks Team Notes

[Chicago Blackhawks]

Blackhawks Sitting Artyom Levshunov, NOT Sending Him to Rockford

When the Blackhawks called up defenseman Sam Rinzel before Friday’s home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, there were so many questions. Is someone getting traded? Is someone (Nick Foligno?) hurt? Are the Blackhawks going to go back to the 11 forward, 7 defenseman lineup? Is someone going back to Rockford?

Specifically, are the Blackhawks sending Artyom Levshunov to Rockford for a rest?

We got a few answers to those questions from Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill when he spoke to the media about 90 minutes before puck drop on Friday.

First, Foligno is day-to-day and not playing on Friday night.

Second, nobody has been traded. Blashill said he’s staying in his lane and just coaching game by game at this point. So even as we close on the NHL’s Feb. 4 pre-Olympics trade freeze, he isn’t too concerned about the front office’s decisions.

When Rinzel was recalled, there was no corresponding move announced. So there are still seven defensemen in Chicago.

But only six of them are dressing on Friday night. And it sounds like that will be the case for the foreseeable future.

Blashill said the Blackhawks are going to sit Levshunov down for a bit to work on some specific “foundational” areas of his game. He will not go to Rockford; he’s staying with the Blackhawks to work with the NHL coaches.

The specific areas that Blashill indicated Levshunov will get some tutoring on are:

1. Shooting technique
2. “Delivering the puck in the right spot”
3. Defensive footwork and positioning

Again, “foundational” things.

Blashill referred to Levshunov as a physical freak athlete, and reiterated that he thinks Levshunov has gotten better throughout this season, but reminded us (again) that the NHL is a hard place to learn. He went as far as to say they’ve been coaching him to be more offensively engaged, and maybe that element of the game has gone too far in one direction.

Levshunov has one goal and two assists and is minus-14 in January. He’s averaged 21:44 per game and has been running the top power play — thru some good times and, more recently, bad — for most of the month as well.

But the Blackhawks’ head coach also noted that, now that we’re 54 games into the NHL season (ironically, No. 55 is Friday night), some of the young guys will have played a lot more hockey than they ever have and might hit a physical and mental wall. Blashill wouldn’t commit to a timeline for Levshunov’s timeout. If that means he watches the remaining three games before the Olympic break from the press box, so be it.

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/blac...artyom-levshunov-not-sending-him-to-rockford/

 

[Chicago Blackhawks]

Bedard and Nazar Warming Up, Smart Polling, Prospect Highlights, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

The Blackhawks schedule is giving everyone — the players, coaches and fans — a desperately needed full weekend off to exhale and get ready for two more exciting games before… three weeks off. The Hawks will be on the ice for a practice this morning, getting ready for Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks to visit the United Center on Monday night.

• Good read here from Scott Powers at The Athletic about Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar appearing to be back to where they were before their respective injuries. They’re both flying right now, and that bodes well for the Blackhawks the rest of the season.

Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar scored in the same game for just the second time this season. Between that and their overall play, they look like they’re getting their groove back https://t.co/ds8G9RtAV7

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) January 31, 2026

• Ben Pope ran a poll over the last couple days asking Blackhawks fans how they view the rebuild at this point. The results show that most fans have an ounce of sense and understand the bigger picture. Almost 60 percent of the fans who responded indicate they believe the rebuild is moving at the right pace.

I gave Blackhawks fans the exact same poll in October 2024 and again Thursday

In October 2024, 53.0% said the Hawks' rebuild was "moving at the right pace."

This time, 59.8% said so.

The approval rate has increased, as much as Twitter's vocal minority indicates otherwise. https://t.co/B1252FPot3

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) February 1, 2026

• The NHL staff at The Athletic wrote about the biggest needs for each team in the league before the trade deadline. Here’s what Powers wrote about the Blackhawks’ biggest need this year:

The Blackhawks have more prospects coming around the corner, and they need to free up current NHL roster space for those players. Anton Frondell, the No. 3 pick in the 2025 draft, could be with them as early as March. Sacha Boisvert, a 2024 first-round pick, could leave college after his season and join the Blackhawks for some NHL games. The Blackhawks also have some prospects in the AHL, most notably Sam Rinzel and Nick Lardis, who could be worthy of some more NHL games down the stretch, too.

• I already know there are going to be folks in the comments here and on social media who aren’t going to be thrilled with Scott’s answer here, but he’s spot on. The Blackhawks need to continue to open doors for young players to come up to the NHL.

• The St. Louis Blues announced forward Robert Thomas underwent a minor procedure on his leg and will be out until after the Olympic break.

• In Russia, Roman Kantserov scored his 29th goal of the season on Saturday.

Saturday from #Blackhawks prospect Roman Kantserov, his 29th of the season

pic.twitter.com/jYbF7DrIE1

— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) January 31, 2026

• In Sweden on Saturday, Anton Frondell scored this goal.

Saturday from #Blackhawks prospect Anton Frondell

pic.twitter.com/Epr6VQGb3u

— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) January 31, 2026

• In college action last night, Adam Gajan was marvelous for MInnesota-Duluth but the Bulldogs lost 1-0 in overtime. He stopped 30 of 31 in the game, including this beauty.

GAJAN pic.twitter.com/btEOpIPUI6

— UMD Men's Hockey (@UMDMensHockey) February 1, 2026

• In the WHL, Nathan Behm scored the first goal of the night for Kamloops.

A BEAUTY FROM BEHM! pic.twitter.com/8niEO4FGnG

— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) February 1, 2026

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• The Bulls got involved in a three-team trade last night (and waived Jevon Carter as a result).

• The Bears are losing Declan Doyle to a gig with the Ravens.

• The first sign of Spring Training is on its way!

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/blac...pect-highlights-and-other-blackhawks-bullets/

 

[Chicago Blackhawks]

Blackhawks vs Blue Jackets — Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

Oh joy! The second half of a back-to-back with travel in between games. And the Blackhawks come home to host a Columbus team that’s won three straight and seven of their last ten (7-3-0). Sounds fun, right?

This game will show us a lot about these young Blackhawks. They got their tails whipped by the Penguins last night. It was ugly, and should not have received well in the room. The good news is they get to be back on the ice the next night to get it right. We’ll see how they respond in front of their home crowd.

• UPDATE: Nick Foligno will not play. Neither will Artyom Levhunov, who is getting a reset (but staying in Chicago).

Broadcast Info​

Puck Drop: 7:30 PM CT
TV / Streaming: CHSN
Radio: WGN 720 AM

Expected Lineups​

Chicago Blackhawks

Frank Nazar — Connor Bedard — Teuvo Teräväinen
Tyler Bertuzzi — Jason Dickinson — Ilya Mikheyev
Ryan Greene — Oliver Moore — André Burakovsky
Ryan Donato — Colton Dach — Landon Slaggert

Alex Vlasic — Louis Crevier
Wyatt Kaiser — Sam Rinzel
Matt Grzelcyk — Connor Murphy

Spencer Knight
Arvid Söderblom

Columbus Blue Jackets

Mason Marchment – Adam Fantilli – Kirill Marchenko
Boone Jenner – Sean Monahan – Kent Johnson
Cole Sillinger – Charlie Coyle – Mathieu Olivier
Dmitri Voronkov – Isac Lundestrom – Miles Wood

Zach Werenski – Damon Severson
Ivan Provorov – Denton Mateychuk
Egor Zamula – Erik Gudbranson

Elvis Merzlikins
Jet Greaves

Injury Report​

Chicago Blackhawks​

• Nick Foligno left last night’s game. He’s TBD. Shea Weber (retired) and Ryan Ellis (also retired) are out long term.

Columbus Blue Jackets

• Dante Fabbro is banged up. Brendan Smith is on IR.

What to Watch For​

• The second half of a back-to-back always comes with some questions. The Blackhawks have been better in these scenarios of late. Let’s see if they can put on a good show in black on a Friday night.

• Bedard and Fantilli should be headline material. Let’s see if they’ve got a little something for the fans tonight.

• Don’t forget Moore was also a first-round pick in that same 2023 class. A Minnesota guy might have some juice with all of the Michigan products on the other bench.

Get Caught Up​

Blackhawks Recall Sam Rinzel From Rockford #blackhawkshttps://t.co/Td4WKn9aZx

— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) January 30, 2026

What a goal by Connor Bedard. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/1Fdl7s70xI

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) January 30, 2026

Artyom Levshunov hit a "low end of the roller coaster" in the Blackhawks' hideous loss to Penguins last night: https://t.co/ndxMcgEBtZ

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) January 30, 2026

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/blac...jackets-lineups-broadcast-info-game-thread-3/