Check out the 2022-2023 Blackhawks lineup for opening night

CHICAGO — One thing that will be consistent in an era of great change for the Blackhawks is that there will be new players for fans to become familiar with from year to year.

This is certainly true for the 2022-2023 season as the team starts over with a revamped roster featuring young players and veterans on short-term contracts. The only question ahead of Wednesday’s regular season opener against the Avalanche is what the final lineup would be.

On Tuesday, fans could see the first group that will hit the ice in the 2022-2023 season.

The team announced their 22-man roster that they will debut against reigning Stanley Cup champions Avalanche on Wednesday night in Denver. It includes 13 forwards, seven defenders, and goalkeepers Petr Mrazek and Alex Stalock.

Additionally, the Blackhawks announced that defenseman Caleb Jones (right shoulder) and forward Boris Katchouk (left ankle) will start the year on injured reserve. Forward Jalen Luypen (left shoulder), defenseman Jake McCabe (neck) and Ian Mitchell start with an injured/non-roster designation.

Some of these players will be making their first appearances on the ice for the Blackhawks, including forwards Andreas Athanasiou, Colin Blackwell, Max Domi, Buddy Robinson, defensemen Jack Johnson, Filip Roos, Jarred Tinordi, and Mrazek and Stalock.

Of course, the most prominent players in the squad are Patrick Kane and captain Jonathan Toews, who will each begin their 16th season with the team on Wednesday. Each player is entering the final year of their contract and could be traded before the deadline later this winter if a team should make the right offer.

For now, they’re still with the Blackhawks as they lead a new group into a new era of the franchise alongside defensemen Seth Jones and Connor Murphy.