Blackhawks Begin Roster Trim at Training Camp, Sending Four Prospects Back to Junior Clubs as Chicago’s Rebuild Clock Ticks
The Chicago Blackhawks made their first roster moves of training camp, and while it won’t shake the NHL standings, it’s a telling moment in the rebuild narrative. Four Canadian Hockey League (CHL) prospects — Nathan Behm, Parker Holmes, Jack Pridham, and Marek Vanacker — are headed back to their junior clubs after skating in Chicago’s camp.
As Darren Pang noted on Chicago Sports Network, this was always coming. Under current rules, players under 20 can only play in the NHL or return to the CHL. The new CHL/AHL partnership that will allow one 19-year-old per team to play in the AHL doesn’t take effect until next season.
For fans, it’s less about who was cut and more about what the decision signals: patience, development, and a refusal to rush the next generation.
Who’s Heading Back and Why It Matters
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Holmes & Vanacker → Back to the Brantford Bulldogs (OHL), where Vanacker will be a central figure. Many see him as a likely call-up candidate after his junior season ends.
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Pridham → Rejoining the Kitchener Rangers, fresh off a 27-goal, 54-point campaign. He chose Kitchener over his Boston University commitment, prioritizing top-line OHL minutes for another year.
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Behm → Returning to the Kamloops Blazers (WHL) after a 31-goal season. Chicago’s 2025 third-round pick is already eyeing NCAA hockey at Arizona State next year to continue building his game.
The Bigger Picture: Patience Over Shortcuts
Had the CHL/AHL agreement been fast-tracked, one of these players might have been in Rockford already. Instead, they’ll spend another year in junior, sharpening their skills. GM Kyle Davidson confirmed that the rule change won’t kick in until 2026.
Analysts are split on whether that’s a blessing or a missed opportunity. Some argue the Blackhawks should want these prospects in the AHL as soon as possible. Others believe there’s no rush — that piling pressure on teenagers could derail the carefully laid rebuild.
The Fan Reaction
Fans took to social media as soon as the news broke, and the responses reflected the duality of Chicago’s fanbase right now:
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Optimism:
“This is the right call. Let the kids cook in junior. We don’t need another rushed prospect like we had in the past.” -
Frustration:
“Why do we always wait? We need talent in Rockford and Chicago NOW. Bedard can’t do it all himself.” -
Perspective:
“It’s September cuts, not the end of the world. These guys are 18, 19 years old. We’ll see them soon enough.”
In many ways, the fan reaction mirrors the team’s identity: torn between excitement for the future and impatience for the present.
What’s Next for Camp
The only junior players left in camp are:
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Ty Henry (D): rehabbing from knee surgery.
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AJ Spellacy (F): battling back from a shoulder injury.
Both are expected to be reassigned soon. Meanwhile, Rockford’s IceHogs will open training camp Monday, likely prompting another wave of cuts after preseason games against the Blues and Wild this weekend.
Why This Moment Matters
On paper, this looks like a simple training camp shuffle. But in reality, it’s the first visible domino in Chicago’s rebuild clock. Every choice Davidson makes with these teenagers connects directly to Connor Bedard’s prime window.
Send them too soon, and they risk stagnation. Wait too long, and Bedard risks skating through his early years without enough support.
For now, the Blackhawks have chosen patience — even if some fans are already restless.
As one longtime season-ticket holder put it on X (formerly Twitter):
“We’re all waiting for the day when these kids aren’t just names in a press release, but linemates with Bedard under the United Center lights.”
And that day, whether a year away or three, is the one that could truly define this rebuild.
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