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Blackhawks training camp: Day 1 notes and takeaways

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Here are 10 notes, thoughts and takeaways from Day 1 of Blackhawks training camp at Fifth Third Arena:

1. With 63 players on the roster, the Blackhawks were divided into three groups. The first group consisted mainly of NHL players. The second and third groups were dominated by prospects and fringe players, such as Henrik Borgstrom, Adam Gaudette and Alex Nylander. Expect there to be some movement though as camp rolls along.

2. Good news: President/GM Stan Bowman confirmed the Blackhawks are 100 percent vaccinated.

3. Here's a way-too-early look at the lines and pairings head coach Jeremy Colliton ran on Thursday:

  • Alex DeBrincat – Tyler Johnson – Patrick Kane
  • Dominik Kubalik – Jonathan Toews – Brandon Hagel
  • Philipp Kurashev – Kirby Dach – Lukas Reichel
  • Dylan Strome – Ryan Carpenter – Jujhar Khaira/Brett Connolly
     
  • Jake McCabe – Seth Jones
  • Riley Stillman – Connor Murphy
  • Calvin de Haan – Wyatt Kalynuk
  • Caleb Jones – Nicolas Beaudin

4. The biggest storyline of the day was the return of Toews, who missed last season with an illness. He said his conditioning "isn't quite there yet," but he's chipping away at it and hopes to be ready for Opening Night on Oct. 13. (See down below for a few clips from the captain's first day back.)

5. Kane revealed during exit interviews last season that he's been dealing with a nagging issue that dates back to the Edmonton bubble. He was hoping to get it fixed over the offseason, but he admitted on Thursday that it still isn't "completely healed." Kane didn't seem too concerned about it, but you do wonder how it may affect him over the course of an 82-game season.

6. Typically on the first day of training camp, guys are huffing and puffing by the end of conditioning drills. Seth Jones was one of the few players who looked like he could skate for another hour. The Blackhawks are surely going to count on him to be a big minutes eater this season and play in all situations.

7. Reichel was noticeably one of the best players at the rookie showcase against Minnesota last weekend and the Blackhawks rewarded him by starting him off with the NHL group. Bowman said he would be "very surprised if he doesn't play some games for us this year." The question is, when will that come?

8. The Blackhawks have four NHL-caliber goaltenders in Delia, Fleury, Lankinen and Subban. Bowman said "it's pretty clear" Fleury and Lankinen are the two "top guys," which leaves us with Delia and Subban. It's very possible the Blackhawks explore trading at least one of them.

9. Blackhawks 2021 seventh-round pick (No. 216 overall) Jalen Luypen left practice early, barely putting pressure on his left leg after blocking a shot during a drill. Colliton wasn't sure of the severity of the injury after practice because Luypen was still being evaluated by the medical staff.

10. Here are some clips from Thursday:

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