The Blackhawks released their preseason schedule for the 2016-17 season on Wednesday, with three home-and-away matchups.
The Hawks will open their preseason slate on Sept. 28 against the Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh Penguins at the United Center, then travel to Pittsburgh on Sept. 30. On Oct. 1, they’ll host the St. Louis Blues in a rematch of their first-round playoff series, which the Blues won in seven games. After playing in Detroit on Oct. 2 and hosting the Red Wings on Oct. 4, the Hawks close out the preseason slate on Oct. 8 in St. Louis.
With as many as 13 players competing in the World Cup of Hockey, which runs through either Sept. 28 or Oct. 1 (the final is a best-of-three series), the first few preseason games likely will be short on stars and long on young players.
The following players currently on the Hawks depth chart will be playing in the World Cup, which begins on Sept. 17 in Toronto: Corey Crawford (Canada), Duncan Keith (Canada), Jonathan Toews (Canada), Michal Kempny (Czech Republic), Christian Ehrhoff (Team Europe), Marian Hossa (Team Europe), Ville Pokka (Finland), Teuvo Teravainen (Finland), Artem Anisimov (Russia), Artemi Panarin (Russia), Niklas Hjalmarsson (Sweden), Marcus Kruger (Sweden), Patrick Kane (United States).
Sept. 28 vs. Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 30 at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m.
Oct. 1 vs. St. Louis, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 at Detroit, 5 p.m.
Oct. 4 vs. Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 8 at St. Louis, 7 p.m.
