As camp opens, Blackhawks expert brings us up to speed
Editor's note: Along with his Western Conference predictions, Tim Sassone looks at some issues and key dates facing the Chicago Blackhawks this season:
Chasing Detroit
Coach Joel Quenneville's primary goal is to win the Central Division, which won't be easy despite the losses of Marian Hossa, Mikael Samuelsson, Jiri Hudler and Tomas Kopecky in Detroit.
The Red Wings have won eight straight division titles and still are loaded with Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Niklas Lidstrom, Johan Franzen and Dan Cleary. The Wing certainly need some kids to come through, however.
Will this be the year age catches up to Lidstrom, who is 39? And goalie Chris Osgood turns 37 in November.
The Hawks haven't won a division title since capturing the Norris Division in 1992-93.
He's No. 2
Nikolai Khabibulin is gone, but the Hawks still might have a goalie controversy. Rookies Corey Crawford and Antti Niemi come to camp dead even in their competition to be Cristobal Huet's backup.
This will be perhaps the biggest story of training camp because it is such a key roster spot to fill. The backup figures to get at least 20 starts, which equates to vital points for a team trying to win a championship.
Niemi has three games of NHL experience and Crawford seven, although he has improved in each of the four seasons spent in the American Hockey League.
With only six exhibition games (two fewer than normal), Crawford and Niemi will be on the spot to perform immediately.
In and out
It wasn't a radical off-season of change, and the Hawks believe they upgraded themselves by signing Marian Hossa, John Madden and Tomas Kopecky as free agents.
While it's disappointing Hossa won't start the season because shoulder surgery will sideline him until at least Thanksgiving, there appears to be plenty of goal scorers to fill the void until then.
Madden is one of the top checking centers in the game and will add experience and leadership to a dressing room that needed more of each.
Kopecky is a physical forward who can play center or wing, first line or fourth.
Gone are four key people from last season's team that went to the Western Conference finals in Nikolai Khabibulin, Martin Havlat, Matt Walker and Sammy Pahlsson.
Only so many jobs
Defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson and either Corey Crawford or Antti Niemi are the only rookies guaranteed jobs.
It's going to be tough for Jack Skille, Kyle Beach or Akim Aliu to crack what is a very good lineup at forward. The Hawks want Aliu to play a full season in the minors, but Skille and Beach have a chance, particularly if general manager Stan Bowman makes a trade along the way.
Veterans Troy Brouwer and Colin Fraser have no assurances they will be on the opening-day roster as well.
The Kane question
Nobody had a worse off-season than third-year winger Patrick Kane, who will be watched closely in camp to see how he responds from his arrest and subsequent legal problems.
Becoming a more mature pro on and off the ice is what the Hawks want to see from Kane, who many in the organization believe was only so-so in the playoffs.
Kane has a lot to play for in 2009-10. It's a contract year for him and the first three months could decide if he makes the U.S. Olympic team.
Kane's talent is immense (he had 25 goals and 70 points in what could be considered a down year), but the Hawks want to see a more complete package.
Big dates
Exhibition opener:
Sept. 19 vs. Washington at the United Center, 7:30 p.m.
Regular-season opener:
Oct. 2 vs. Florida in Helsinki, Finland, 11 a.m.
Western Conference predictions
1. San Jose
Sharks just can't win in playoffs
2. Calgary
Brent Sutter has the horses
3. Blackhawks
Central title only if Huet brings it
4. Detroit
Wings drop off, but not that much
5. Vancouver
Will playoff flop haunt Luongo?
6. Anaheim
They will miss Pronger's minutes
7. Columbus
Blue Jackets a team on the rise
8. Los Angeles
Young Kings a playoff surprise
9. St. Louis
Gritty Blues to fall just short
10. Nashville
Predators won't score enough
11. Edmonton
You know Khabby will get hurt
12. Dallas
Stars join ranks of the ordinary
13. Minnesota
Which Havlat is the Wild getting?
14. Colorado
Long season for rebuilding Avs
15. Phoenix
Off-ice mess a huge distraction
Stay on the ice
For more on the Blackhawks throughout training camp and the season, follow Tim Sassone's Between the Circles blog at blogs.dailyherald.com