For the first time in far too long, the Blackhawks Ice Center in downtown Chicago will be filled with some fans Friday morning, as practices begin ahead of a two-game prospect showcase with the St. Louis Blues .
The Blackhawks unveiled their 22-player showcase roster on Aug. 31, ten days ago, which includes two recent first-round draft choices. The team will hold three practice sessions over the weekend before the Blues come to town, with the games set for next Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon.
The Blues waited until Tuesday to announce their 21-player roster, with three of their own recent first-round selections bound for the Windy City. St. Louis will have two practices at Centene Community Ice Center on Saturday and Sunday morning before departing to Chicago.
As a reminder, practices at Blackhawks Ice Center are free and available to the public, while tickets for the two games can be purchased for $10 (plus taxes and fees) on the Blackhawks Ticketmaster site .
Here's everything else to know ahead of the 2026 Prospect Showcase in Chicago, with only two days until practices start!
Friday, Sept. 11:
Practice (10:00 a.m. CT), USG Arena
Saturday, Sept. 12:
Practice (10:00 a.m. CT), Rink 1
Sunday, Sept. 13:
Practice (10:00 a.m. CT), Rink 1
Monday, Sept. 14:
GAME vs. St. Louis (6:00 p.m. CT), TBD
Monday, Sept. 15:
GAME vs. St. Louis (4:00 p.m. CT), TBD
1. Sacha Boisvert (F)
Boisvert is the highest draft pick on the roster, selected 18th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. The 20-year-old forward appeared in his first seven NHL games with the Blackhawks at the end of the 2025-26 season, tallying one goal and one assist for two points along with nine penalty minutes. Previously, he spent two years playing college hockey for North Dakota and Boston University, with 49 points (21G, 28A) in 63 combined games for the two programs.
Boisvert has been hitting the gym hard this summer, with pictures of him looking shredded surfacing on social media recently. With a 6-foot-2 frame, the added muscle should help him become more of a brute power forward on the ice in 2026-27. He's also a gifted boxer, so best of luck to any Blues prospect who tries going toe-to-toe with him next week.
Look for Boisvert to play a top-line role for the Blackhawks, where he is expected to be among the leading scorers in the showcase. His physicality should play a big factor, too.
2. AJ Spellacy (F)
Spellacy, a 2024 third-round pick (No. 72 overall), has developed nicely since being drafted by the Blackhawks two years ago. His offensive skills might not jump off the charts, as he failed to reach 40 points in any of his four OHL seasons with the Windsor Spitfires. But his size, physicality, speed, and pure athleticism give him a legitimate shot at becoming an effective NHL forward for years to come.
Listed at 6-foot-3 and well over 200 pounds at 20 years old, Spellacy plays an aggressive, winning brand of hockey, using his strong skating to impact the game in all three zones. He's been frequently utilized as a penalty killer and constantly provides energy to his team. Spellacy also doesn't shy away from the dirty areas and will crash the net hard in search of rebounds or loose pucks.
Entering his first pro season, Spellacy likely will begin the year in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs. But if he gets off to a flying start, a call-up from the Blackhawks could come quickly. They could use more players with Spellacy's skill set and demeanor.
3. Marek Vanacker (F)
Vanacker is the second first-round draft pick on the roster, selected nine picks after Boisvert in the 2024 NHL Draft. The 20-year-old winger became the second Blackhawks prospect and Brantford Bulldogs forward to lead the OHL in goals in as many years, following Nick Lardis in 2024-25. Vanacker found the back of the net 47 times in 60 games in 2025-26, ending his junior career on a high note.
Like Spellacy, Vanacker is now transitioning to pro hockey and is expected to start the season in the minors with Rockford. It will be fascinating to see how he handles the jump and whether he can produce at a similar rate as Lardis and Oliver Moore early last season.
Expect Vanacker to also play a significant offensive role for the Blackhawks during the showcase, possibly as one of Boisvert's two wingers on the top forward line.
4. Ryan Roobroeck (F)
Roobroeck, the Blackhawks' second selection in the 2026 NHL Draft, is another young prospect with incredible size. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, the 18-year-old winger plays with a power-forward style and can rifle the puck from tricky angles.
After racking up 41 goals and 87 points in 64 OHL games with Niagara in 2024-25, Roobroeck was projected as a first-round pick leading into his draft year. However, his production dipped drastically during his 18-year-old season, recording only 58 points (30G, 28A) in 49 games. That led to him slipping into the second round, where the Blackhawks picked him 35th overall.
Roobroeck will return to Niagara for the 2026-27 campaign, with hope of becoming one of the league's most dangerous goal scorers. He's expected to fit somewhere in the Blackhawks' top-six forward group during the showcase.
5. Adam Gajan (G)
Gajan, a second-round pick (No. 35 overall) and the first goaltender off the board in the 2023 NHL Draft, signed his entry-level contract with the Blackhawks this summer to bypass his junior season of college hockey.
The Slovakian native was stout in net as a sophomore for Minnesota-Duluth, posting a 19-13-1 record with a 2.25 GAA, .908 save percentage, and two shutouts in 33 games. Gajan was also named to Slovakia's Olympic roster in February and made his first appearance for his country at the World Championship in May.
As the only drafted goalie on the roster, Gajan should start in net to begin the showcase on Monday evening against St. Louis. After that, he could serve as a depth option to begin his pro career with the IceHogs in the AHL. Gajan may also be in the mix for the Indy Fuel's starter at the ECHL level.
1. Who Leads The Blackhawks in Points?
Boisvert and Vanacker are the two favorites to lead the offensive charge, while Spellacy and Roobroeck are sleeper options.
2. How Does Gajan Look in First Look?
It's been over three years since the Blackhawks drafted Gajan, and it will be intriguing to see how well he performs during the showcase. FWIW, he did make his AHL debut with the Rockford IceHogs late in the 2025-26 season, stopping 26 of 39 shots in a 4-2 loss on Apr. 12.
3. Who Anchors The Blue Line?
Taige Harding, Ashton Cumby, and Ty Henry — three left-handers — are the only drafted defensemen on the roster. Harding, 24, is the oldest and most experienced of the group, so he projects to be busy on Monday and Tuesday.
4. Do Any Unsigned Prospects Stand Out?
With so many recent draft picks either having turned pro or playing college hockey this year, several players on the roster are without Blackhawks affiliation. Will any unsung heroes make the most of the opportunity?
Jiri Felcman (2023 3rd), Paul Ludwinski (2022 2nd), and Martin Misiak (2023 2nd) are other notables on the Blackhawks roster.
our 2026 prospect showcase roster is here‼️
📰 ➡︎ https://t.co/YcIcdOAbtR pic.twitter.com/hB6gaxGT7H— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) August 31, 2026
The Blues are led by first-round picks Justin Carbonneau (2025), Maddox Degenais (2026), and Adam Jiricek (2024).
#stlblues prospect roster that will face #blackhawks prospects Sept. 14-15 … pic.twitter.com/Zj3TP9X1UP
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) September 8, 2026
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The post Blackhawks 2026 Prospect Showcase: Schedule, Players & Storylines To Watch appeared first on Chicago Hockey Now .
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