### Blackhawks' Allan Impresses in NHL Debut; Reichel and Athanasiou Scratched

Nolan Allan showcased a strong performance in his NHL debut with the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite a challenging moment in the second period where he lost the puck and his balance, Allan managed to hold his own throughout the game. Chicago Blackhawks' general manager, Kyle Davidson, expressed satisfaction with Allan's development earlier in the day, highlighting his composure on the ice.

"He just looks really calm out there," Davidson stated. "One of the things with Nolan is he plays a calm, solid game, and he's continued to grow that. With his game, he plays within himself. He doesn't try to do too much; he doesn't beat himself. That's a great trait for a defenseman. He's gotten the trust of the coaching staff, and that's no easy feat for a young defenseman, so he's earned a spot in the Opening Day lineup, and we'll see where it goes from there."

In terms of forwards, Lukas Reichel and Andreas Athanasiou were the healthy scratches for the season opener, as anticipated. Davidson emphasized that Reichel, in particular, won't have much room for error this season. "For Lukas, if he's in the lineup, it's his job, and he's been around long enough to know he's got to play well enough to keep that spot," Davidson explained. "If he's not in the lineup, he's got to work and get to the point where if an opportunity opens up, he's going to jump in and take advantage of it."

Reichel's position on the team appears to depend heavily on his performance during both games and practices. Davidson reinforced that it's up to Reichel to demonstrate his worth, whether on the ice or during training sessions. "He's got to show and play a certain way and practice and have the habits that, if it's in practice, he shows he deserves to be in the lineup, and if he's in the lineup, he plays a certain way that we expect that he'll hold a spot," Davidson affirmed.

Head coach Luke Richardson added insight into his plans for the forward rotation, given the depth now available to the team. "It'll be on play and health," Richardson noted. "If someone's not going to be performing well, we have a little more depth now, so we're not going to have that long of leashes with everybody. These guys got speed, good, young talent. If someone's not performing, these guys are going to get slotted in."

Davidson also provided an update on the injury status of Laurent Brossoit and Artyom Levshunov, indicating that both are expected to return within the month. "It's always been Brossoit maybe a little before Arty, and there's no information to change that," he mentioned.

In summary, the Blackhawks are focusing on solidifying their lineup with players who can consistently perform, underscoring the importance of readiness and the ability to capitalize on opportunities when they arise.