Chicago Blackhawks News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

Takeaways from Day 1 2026 Blackhawks Development Camp

Ryan Roobroeck, Niagara IceDogs (Natalie Shaver/OHL Images)

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Takeaways from Day 1 2026 Blackhawks Development Camp

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Brooke LoFurno | Last updated Jun 29, 2026 7:24 PM ET

Add us as a preferred source on Google

The Chicago Blackhawks held Day 1 of their development camp, which runs from June 29 through July 2. 19 prospects are in attendance, and they are bringing back on-ice activities after being all off-ice for the last three years.

Assitant general manager of player development Mark Eaton talked about the excitement of development camp week, “Yeah, very much. This is our favorite week of the year as a development staff. It’s the one opportunity we get to get these guys together all in one place, all at one time.

“So, until they get into the organization in Rockford or Chicago, the most hands-on we can be with these guys at any given time. So that’s why we jam pack the week and try to fit in as much as we can, knowing that this is all we get with them together. So just try to maximize the time and build camp off of what we’ve learned about them over the previous year, and things that we want to accomplish going forward.”

Day 1 consisted of medicals, physical testing, and some early skating. The 2026 draft class (minus Alexander Ivanov) was also available to the media. They brought the personality.

Here are some tidbits.

First Impressions of Dev Camp

Let’s start with Eaton since he was the first to talk. He spoke about his first impressions of day one, “It was good, I mean, the first day- it’s always a tough day. Quick turnaround from last night’s welcome meeting and early morning with the medicals, but it’s a great group. I think they’ve gotten to know each other well (from) the previous camps, and they’re all smiles, joking with each other, and you know, a long day with some of the physical testing and some of the on-ice stuff that we were doing that took a couple hours. But they handled it like pros, and wouldn’t expect anything less.”

He also spoke about more on-ice being included this year, “…A little bit more ice, phasing that back into camp, and I think it was… like the numbers dictate that. The last four or five camps have been so big in numbers that when we do go on ice, we don’t want like your run-of-the-mill practices. With a smaller group, I think, like 18 skaters, we have a couple goalies, (we’ll) be able to divide them into groups. We have a skating coach here. So, we can send four guys over to work with her, while four guys are on the ice with skills coaches, myself- really just slowing things down. Working on technique, showing them video, taking video, gaining a baseline for where they are, and being able to track progress as they move through developing new skills and skating techniques for some of them.”

2026 Draft Class Interviews

Roobroeck Ready to Preogress Next Season

Ryan Roobroeck was the first prospect to talk. He spoke about his first impressions of Chicago, what he wanted to improve, and more.

About Chicago, he said, “I don’t know too much about Chicago, honestly, being from across the border, but my first impression is that it’s a sick city. I love it here. It’s very nice. So there hasn’t been one point where I’ve said, ‘Wow, it’s not a place I want to be.’ This is definitely a place I can see myself being.”

As for his season with the Niagara IceDogs of the OHL, he had 58 points in 49 games. He said about his season, “It was a good season. Like, we ran into a little bit of troublesand stuff with injuries and stuff like that. So I didn’t get the full season, but the time I was on the ice, it was a lot of work and fine-tuning on my game and everything.”

As far as what Roobroeck wanted to build on, “Just be more of an overall player. This year is a huge emphasis on defensive first before offense, but yeah, just playing a full 200-foot game, and alongside that, just keeping my feet moving is a huge thing for me. Obviously, the game doesn’t slow down at the next level, so just being able to keep up with the pace.”

Roobroeck will be with Guelph Storm in the OHL next season.

Alalauri Talks College Hockey

Samu Alalauri was the Blackhawks’ third-round pick, and he seemed to have such a fun personality, making the media chuckle throughout his interview.

The 6-foot-2 defenseman had 25 points in 40 games with the Pelicans U20 team in Finland. He said about his game, “I’m a two-way defenseman. Pretty reliable, also. I want to play with the puck, but also (defend) so well that I don’t allow any easy goals, but I think that’s what I bring to the table. Great skating.”

He will attend the University of Massachusetts (UMass) next season and looks forward to working on his defensive game there. He had a fun story about his decision to go the college hockey route, too.

“I’d say at the start of the season, I didn’t even know what college hockey was. I got a call from my agent that there’s interest about you coming to the college. I was like, ‘All right, what’s that?’ I felt good after they (said) you can mix hockey at school there. It’s a great place for me. I’m good at school also, and UMass is a great place to be for me…”

He also talked about fellow prospect Václav Nestrašil, who also goes to UMass, and whether he knew him before this week, “No idea. We have (chatted) a little bit. He was chirping me a little bit before I came here. But no, we’re good buddies, we know each other now. I’m at the same room, also, so we’re getting to meet each other.”

Sörbrand Is Enjoying The Moment

With being the Blackhawks’ seventh-round draft pick, William Sörbrand said about getting drafted, “I was shocked, but of course, super fun and excited…” He mentioned having to drive four hours from his home to reach the airport in Stockholm to get to Chicago for camp. But it all worked out.

The Swede played for Timrå IK U20, where he recorded 18 points in 28 games. He described himself as a power forward and likes to hit, and at development camp, he is enjoying the moment. Saying about what he was looking forward to about development camp, “You know, just trying to make new friends, and trying to develop my game as much as I can, and just take in everything.”

He also mentioned he connected with Anton Frondell, “Yeah, he reached out to me. Fun guy… He’s a really good guy.”

Villeneuve Ooozes Enthusiasm

Xavier Villeneuve was the Blackhawks’ first draft selection in the second round. He was with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL, with 38 points in 37 games.

Villeneuve comes across as very likable, and you can see his eagerness and excitement radiate from him. He will play at Boston University (BU) next season, and you guessed it, he is thrilled. “Yeah, I’m pumped, like wherever there’s a challenge, I want to take it. So, I’m so excited to get there.” He also noted he talked to Sacha Boisvert (who is also at development camp) about BU.

He also talked about his skillset, “Yeah, I think what I can do with the puck in the offensive zone. The vision I have, I think it’s something pretty rare. I hate to be cocky, and you know, talking about how good I am. Like, that’s not me. But I think it’s something pretty rare. And yeah, that makes who I am on the ice.”

Xavier Villeneuve, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (Laurent Corbeil/Club de hockey Canadien inc.)

And when it comes to Duncan Keith, who he once mentioned was his idol? Say less. When he was asked what he loved about Keith,

“Oh, I mean, everything. Like what he did on the ice. What was his average time on ice when he was in the playoffs? Like, probably 30- above 30 minutes. Like, just a horse on the ice. He could do it all. You know, he’s really the guy that made me fall in love with the position of defenseman. So no, it’s awesome, and I’ll be here, and hopefully do a little bit of what he did.”

The prospects are ready to get to work and will take all the enthusiasm (and humor) with them throughout the week.

This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: