21014-15 record: 48-28-6 (102 points)
Won the Stanley Cup
Captain: Jonathan Toews
The Chicago Blackhawks have survived key players leaving for other teams due to salary cap issues and they've survived the ever-constant scrutiny of fans and analysts at the first sight of trouble. They've even survived a few weeks without Patrick Kane because of injury. Yet, here we are, the Blackhawks raising another Stanley Cup banner for the third time in six years. Predictably, the same problems that have plagued them post-championship time have reared their ugly head once again. Sure, they could survive the losses of Patrick Sharp, Brandon Saad, and Johnny Oduya. However, the cloud that hangs over Kane could be something of a distraction and is potentially something that the Blackhawks will have to deal with this season.
As for the team at hand, the Blackhawks do return a very formidable defensive unit that boasts a strong top-four group that will now feature Trevor Daley taking Oduya's place. Conn Smythe winner Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook are both great, but it was the Niklas Hjalmarsson who really stepped up when the games counted the most. Up front, even with Kane's issues, the Blackhawks still have Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa. The questions here will be whether the new additions (e.g. Artemi Panarin, Artem Anisimov) will be able to fill the void left by the departed players. Two players to watch for potential breakout years are Teuvo Teravainen and Marko Dano, as both are young and are eager to prove they belong. Goaltending is in good hands, as Corey Crawford showed his resilience in the playoffs after a disastrous beginning and has now cemented himself as a clutch performer. His backup Scott Darling was a feel-good story last year and can fill in if Crawford needs a rest.
Prediction: 2nd in the Central Division
The Blackhawks will be looking to do something that hasn't been done since 1998, and that is repeat as Stanley Cup champions. As their two previous Stanley Cup reigns have shown however, it won't be an easy task. Is this year the time they finally do it? A little luck and a lot of playoff magic would help.
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