Central Division 2014-15 Preview: Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks are ready to make a run at their third Stanley Cup since 2010. Here's our preview of the team and the NHL's Central Division.

Author:
Michael Blinn
Publish date:
Sep 26, 2014

For the Blackhawks, the Stanley Cup is in the details

Joel

2013-14 RECORD: 46-21-15, 107 points (third in Central; lost to Kings, 4-3, in conference final)

VITAL SIGHS: 3.18 goals per game (2nd); goals-against per game (2.58); 19.5 power play pct. (10th); 81.4 penalty kill pct. (19th); shootout record: 6-8 (17th)

NOTABLE ARRIVALS: C Brad Richards

NOTABLE DEPARTURES: LW Brandon Bollig, G Nikolai Khabibulin, D Nick Leddy

PROJECTED DEPTH CHART

Forwards
Patrick Sharp — Jonathan Toews — Marian Hossa
Brandon Saad — Brad Richards — Patrick Kane
Bryan Bickell — Andrew Shaw — Kris Versteeg
Brandon Mashinter — Marcus Kruger — Ben Smith
Peter Regin — Jeremy Morin

Defensemen
Duncan Keith — Brent Seabrook
Johnny Oduya — Niklas Hjalmarsson
Michal Rozsival — David Rundblad
Trevor van Riemsdyk

Goalies
Corey Crawford
Antti Raanta

SI.com's 2014-15 Preseason All-NHL Teams: first, second, third

Michal Handzus

• UPDATE: Blackhawks deal Leddy to Islanders

Bryan Bickell

The big power forward cashed in on his 2013 playoffs (17 points in 23 games) with a four-tear, $16 million extension, and then suffered through injuries and inconsistency last season (15 points in 59 games). He came around once again in the postseason, scoring seven goals and racking up 80 hits in 19 games. While maintaining that pace would be a stretch over a full season, a 20-goal, 40-point campaign with 200 or so hits would go a long way towards making his big contract more palatable.

PREDICTION: 108 points; first in Central