2016-17 record: 50-23-9 (109 points)
Lost to Nashville in Conference quarterfinals
Captain: Jonathan Toews
The Chicago Blackhawks were supposed to have another deep run in the playoffs last season, with a Conference-leading 109 points and a core that is still going strong. Nashville and its stonewall defense had other ideas, and now, the Blackhawks are a team on the verge of collapsing. Key players were traded (i.e. Artemi Panarin, Niklas Hjalmarsson), left the team through other means (Trevor van Riemsdyk) or are retired/not playing this season (Brian Campbell and Marian Hossa). The core of the team is still here, but depth will be tested in a major way, with their playoff hopes being at its most endangered since Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews' rookie years.
Up front, everything still goes through Kane and Toews, though Kane is the far better offensive option. Losing Panarin will hurt, but he could have either returning Blackhawk on one line, as Patrick Sharp is out to prove that he still has something left while Brandon Saad returns a more complete player than when he left in 2015. Richard Panik showed that he could step up in a bigger role, and it wouldn't be a major upset if Alex DeBrincat contributes right away if he ends up on a line with either Kane or Toews. The blue line is where there is more concern about depth. Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook remain, but Connor Murphy, picked up in the Hjalmarsson trade, is the next best defender on the team while Michal Kempny will be having a bigger role. If that didn't set things up well, it can only get worse if the youth (Gustav Forsling and Ville Pokka) fail to step up and/or Czech import Jan Rutta doesn't play to expectations. Goal could be an issue, too, as Corey Crawford didn't hold the fort as well last season, and now, his backups are unproven Anton Forsberg and J-F Berube. The moves aren't too helpful in fixing a dreadful penalty kill, which will now be minus both Hossa and Marcus Kruger.
Prediction: 4th in the Central Division
In the past, the Blackhawks have been written off any time trouble rears its ugly head, but each time, those reports of their demise have been greatly exaggerated. This time, they may not be so lucky, as depth will be tested, and this season will be a referendum on just how well they have developed their prospects. Buckle up, it's going to be a wild ride in Chicago.
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