The 2026 IIHF World Championship wrapped up Sunday when Finland defeated host Switzerland 1-0 in overtime for the gold medal.
While Connor Bedard didn't participate, seven other Chicago Blackhawks players were on their home countries' rosters for the tournament: Oliver Moore, Wyatt Kaiser, Sam Lafferty and Drew Commesso for the United States, Anton Frondell and Arvid Söderblom for Sweden and Teuvo Teräväinen for Finland.
It was extra hockey for all who needed it, but the time in Switzerland wasn't as successful for some of the Hawks as others. Here's how each player fared.
Oliver Moore, U.S.
USA Hockey was due for a setback after sweeping the Olympics, and Canada delivered emphatic payback with a 4-0 win in the quarterfinals. For Moore, it was a good feeling to get back on the ice after missing the last month of the Hawks season because of a lower-body injury.
The speedy center delivered three assists in eight games. Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk praised his 21-year-old teammate on his “Wingmen with Matthew and Brady Tkachuk†podcast.
“Oliver Moore is going to be a legit, 15-year stud in the NHL,†Tkachuk said. “He's so fast, (a) physical freak, smart player (that can) make some good reads.â€
Moore indeed is fast — “He can fly,†Brady Tkachuk said in agreement with his brother — but needs to combine puck-handling with his speed. Once those skills harmonize, we may see the Tkachuks' prediction become reality.
Wyatt Kaiser, U.S.
Of the seven Hawks who participated in worlds, Kaiser's tournament was the most disappointing. He took a step backward in the three games he played (a minus-7 rating) and was a healthy scratch in the other five.
Kaiser, 23, had skated for Team USA once before in the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, in which he totaled three points while playing alongside the New Jersey Devils' Luke Hughes, the Toronto Maple Leafs' Matthew Knies and Hawks teammate Landon Slaggert.
Sam Lafferty, U.S.
The 31-year-old forward spent most of his second stint with the Hawks off the ice, totaling just two points in 29 games this past season. He didn't have a point in seven world championship games, but it was his first consistent action in quite some time.
Drew Commesso, U.S.
Commesso, 23, was the third-string goaltender behind Devin Cooley and Joseph Woll. He dressed out for only two games and did not appear in the tournament.
Teuvo Teräväinen, Finland
The veteran from Helsinki can hang a gold medal next to his Olympic bronze. But in terms of confidence, he exited Switzerland prematurely with much to be desired.
In Finland's first preliminary-round game, Teräväinen dished out two assists in a 3-1 win over Germany — but he also suffered an undisclosed injury that kept him out for the remainder of the tournament.
The severity of the injury is unknown, but it has heightened significance when it comes to the Hawks. The 31-year-old's production decreased drastically last season, and getting dinged up could replace training time with recovery.
Anton Frondell, Sweden
Rather than playing a starring role, Frondell's tournament was more of a sneak peek. The 19-year-old forward played in four of eight games as Sweden's attempt to mirror its world juniors gold medal ended in the quarterfinals with a 3-1 loss to Switzerland.
After not playing in Sweden's first three games, Frondell had two assists in his first appearance versus Slovenia, convincing coach Sam Hallam to keep him in the lineup.
In his next game, however, Frondell suffered a hand injury after getting stuck in the open stall of Italy's bench. He was out for Sweden's 3-2 loss to Norway and voiced his displeasure with missing time.
“My first feeling was that I was going to faint (because) it hurt so much,†Frondell told the Sweden Herald. “But of course you get pissed off — the most fun thing is playing a match, and not being able to do that sucks.â€
He finished with one goal and two assists and skated alongside forward prospect Ivar Stenberg (four goals and four assists in eight games) — a potential preview for the Hawks if Stenberg falls to them with the No. 4 pick in the NHL draft.
Arvid Söderblom, Sweden
The 26-year-old goaltender entered the tournament looking to rebound from a rough 2025-26 season with the Hawks, in which he posted a 3.80 goals-against average and .880 save percentage. While the competition was different, the world championship was a quality showing in the net for Söderblom.
He made three starts, splitting time with Djurgårdens IF's Magnus Hellberg, and had a 2-1 record, 1.69 GAA and .891 save percentage. It was a good first step toward redemption in the 2026-27 NHL season — the last on Söderblom's contract with the Hawks.
