Burning Questions as Chicago Blackhawks 2014 Training Camp Approaches

After winning the Stanley Cup in 2013 and getting to the Western Conference Final last year, there's little doubt that the Chicago Blackhawks rank among the elite teams in the NHL.

While they have a talented roster that is loaded with superstars and one of the most accomplished head coaches in the history of the game, nothing is guaranteed for the Blackhawks. They will have to go out and earn whatever they can accomplish in 2014-15.

The Blackhawks go to training camp shortly, and there are questions that general manager Stan Bowman and head coach Joel Quenneville (706 regular-season victories, third all-time) want to see answered before the season begins in October.

Will Brad Richards Fit in as the Blackhawks' No. 2 Center?

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The Blackhawks bought some time when they signed Brad Richards as a free agent to man the No. 2 center position between Patrick Kane and Brandon Saad.

They are looking at Teuvo Teravainen as the long-term answer at that position, but he needs a year in the minor leagues with the Rockford IceHogs to fully prepare for the position. 

The Blackhawks are hoping that Richards still has enough in the tank to man the position in 2014-15, and that's why he was given a one-year contract. Based on his numbers last year with the New York Rangers, Richards is strong enough on the offensive end to provide an upgrade to that position over what they received last year.

Richards scored 20 goals and 31 assists during the regular season, but he was demoted from a key role with the team by head coach Alain Vigneault during the playoffs. One year earlier, former Rangers coach John Tortorella benched Richards during the playoffs.

Even if Richards can get the job done during the regular season, his playoff performance was found lacking by the Rangers in two consecutive years. The Blackhawks have higher standards than the Rangers, so you have to wonder if Richards will be able to maintain his position from start to finish.

Richards can start providing answers in training camp, but the Blackhawks won't have the full story until the 2014-15 season reaches its climax.

Can Bryan Bickell Become a Legitimate Power Forward?

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Bryan Bickell has been a going concern in the last two NHL postseasons, scoring 16 goals in 42 games. Based on that level of production, it's reasonable to assume that Bickell would score nearly 30 goals in an 82-game regular season.

That has not been the case. While he often plays his heart out in the postseason, Bickell doesn't play at that same level in the regular season. He scored nine goals in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, and he had just 11 goals while playing in 59 regular-season games last year.

The Blackhawks have been patient with Bickell during the last couple of years, but they may not be willing to accept Bickell's substandard regular-season performances any longer. They want to see the 6'4", 233-pound Bickell become a legitimate power forward who plays with consistency.

Bickell has to show a better effort and Quenneville told Scott Powers of ESPNChicago.com that the left wing needs to play with more physicality.

That aspect of his game needs to show up in training camp.

Can Defenseman Nick Leddy Play with More Consistency?

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This is a critical season for Nick Leddy.

He is one of the most gifted skaters within the Blackhawks organization, and that was one of the primary reasons the Minnesota Wild selected him with the 16th pick overall in the 2009 draft. The Blackhawks acquired him a year later in a trade.

Leddy, 23, has been a regular with the Blackhawks since the 2010-11 season, and he has flashed his speed and talent on a sporadic basis. Leddy scored a career-high 37 points in 2011-12, and he scored 31 points last year.

However, Leddy has not played with consistency. There have been times when he has been lax on the defensive side of the ice, and Quenneville benched him for a game in the Blackhawks Western Conference semifinal series against the Wild.

Quenneville wanted Leddy to get the message that the team needed more from him. Leddy is at the age where the team wants to see consistent results and doesn't want to settle for flashes. Leddy needs to show off that consistency in training camp and follow through during the regular season.

Can Adam Clendening Earn a Spot on the Roster?

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Adam Clendening has had two excellent years with the Rockford IceHogs. After leading the team in scoring with 56 points (12 goals and 44 assists), can Clendening prove himself worthy of a spot on the roster by winning a job in training camp?

When you look at the Blackhawks roster, the team is loaded with strong defensemen. The top pair of Duncan Keith (two-time Norris Trophy winner) and Brent Seabrook are among the best in the league, while Johnny Oduya and Niklas Hjalmarsson form an outstanding shutdown pair.

But the Blackhawks will want to give Clendening a long look in camp. He is an outstanding puck-carrier who sees the ice well and makes excellent passes. 

Big numbers at the minor league level do not guarantee success in the NHL. However, Bowman told Brad Boron of NHL.com that Clendening's progress makes him a worthy candidate and said that he is "pushing to make the NHL."

What Will Bowman Do to Get Under the Salary Cap?

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The Blackhawks have a dilemma as they prepare to open training camp.

They are more than $2 million over the league-mandated $69 million salary cap, and they have to pare $2.216 million from their payroll, courtesy of CapGeek.com, before they open the season Oct. 9 on the road against the Dallas Stars.

This is a decision that Bowman will have the final say on, since he is charged with maintaining the Chicago roster. He is sure to solicit quite a bit of input from Quenneville and his coaching staff, but Bowman will have to make the move prior to opening night.

Bowman could choose to cut players, trade them or send them to the minors. However, he may make some moves with an eye toward the future since the Blackhawks will have even more compelling salary-cap issues in upcoming seasons.

The Blackhawks are clear contenders this year, so Bowman is going to want to give Quenneville the strongest roster possible. However, he may have to lose one or two quality players to get the team below the cap.