September has arrived, and just around the corner rests the NHL preseason. With just over two weeks until the Chicago Blackhawks suit up for their first preseason game, it's worth taking stock at the roster and highlighting a few key players to watch during those first exhibition matches. One of the names floating to the surface is Oliver Moore.
Moore came to the Blackhawks after signing an entry level contract with the team following his junior year with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He made a brief appearance of nine games before being sent to join the Rockford Ice Hogs for the 2025-2026 season. He only spent nine games there as well, because with Jason Dickinson injured in November, Moore was called upon to pick up the slack, and in that time, he posted 19 points. Moore played in 51 games before a lower body injury took him off of the ice for the season.
It's easy to focus on Bedard when he's simultaneously the face of the franchise and the rebuild. That makes it easy to overlook that Moore was selected by the Blackhawks 19th overall in that same draft.
The games that Moore missed may have served as additional opportunity to put points on the score sheet, but it's the lack of ice time that really hurts. Moore is looking to anchor himself as a player that's trusted on the ice, and consistent time off the bench is gold. His 19 points showed a spark of production for the Blackhawks, and now they must build upon it.
Connor Bedard’s absence gives Oliver Moore another chance at center
The good news is that Moore is recovered and ready to go. With the Blackhawks slated for their first matchup on September 19th against he Minnesota Wild, Moore is certainly a name to watch. The lack of Connor Bedard on the ice automatically means his role as a center on the ice gets a little bit more spotlight, but for a player in Moore's position, this is a good thing.
While Bedard is out, Moore is expected to hold down the third line behind Frank Nazar and Anton Frondell. Once Bedard returns, however, the ice gets a bit more cloudy. That makes this preseason a crucial audition for Moore, who has a limited window to prove he can handle the responsibilities that come with centering Chicago’s third line. If he takes advantage of it, the Blackhawks may have a much harder decision to make once Bedard returns.
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