Complete Preview and Predictions for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2016-17

The Chicago Blackhawks are the most famous team in the NHL today, with three Stanley Cup victories this decade, several impact players still in their prime and a seemingly endless stream of good young players in the pipeline.

The club did not win the championship in 2015-16, losing in Round 1 in what was a bitterly disappointing finish to the year. Patrick Kane had his best season to date, Artemi Panarin was the league's best freshman and the entire team posted a strong year.

Offensively, the team has run in place from year over year, scoring 229 and 235 goals in the last two seasons. The concern in terms of goal differential came on the defensive side, where Chicago allowed 209 goals in 2015-16—20 more than in the previous season. The Blackhawks are still a quality team, but the franchise is no longer at the top of the group in goal differential—finishing No. 7 in that category last season.

Chicago general manager Stan Bowman has taken an aggressive stance to shoring up the defense, signing free agents Brian Campbell and Michal Kempny. The organization has also brought in substantial prospects via trade over the last few seasons, and some of them—including Gustav Forsling and Ville Pokka—may be in play for NHL work this season.

Here's where the Blackhawks stand as they head into what could be another championship season.

Key Roster Changes

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Key Departures

• Andrew Ladd (LW)
• Teuvo Teravainen (LW)
• Andrew Shaw (C)
• Dale Weise (RW)
• Christian Ehrhoff (D)
• Tomas Fleischmann (LW)
• Tim Jackman (RW)
• Michael Leighton (G)

Key Additions

• Brian Campbell (D)
• Michal Kempny (D)
• Jordin Tootoo (RW)

The emphasis for the Chicago Blackhawks this summer was on defense. Brian Campbell had great success with the team previously and remains an effective player, while Kempny is a promising prospect and an impressive procurement win for the organization.

Chicago has a trio of veterans it can count on—Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Niklas Hjalmarsson—and after that, it looks like the team will rework the depth chart. Campbell and Kempny will be part of it, with some impressive youngsters from the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL also contributing.

Projected 2016-17 Depth Chart

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Forwards

 

Artemi Panarin - Artem Anisimov - Patrick Kane

 

Richard Panik - Jonathan Toews - Marian Hossa

 

 Vincent Hinostroza - Marcus Kruger - Ryan Hartman

 

Andrew Desjardins - Dennis Rasmussen - Jordin Tootoo

 

Defense

 

Duncan Keith - Niklas Hjalmarsson

 

Brian Campbell - Brent Seabrook

 

Michal Kempny - Trevor van Riemsdyk

 

 

Goal

 

Corey Crawford

Scott Darling

Biggest Storylines to Watch

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Can Patrick Kane Repeat Last Season's Performance?

At the age of 27, Patrick Kane peaked in 2015-16, posting career highs in goals and points and winning the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player. The club will have a different look this season, but odds are Kane will play with Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov once again. That trio struck 96 goals in 2015-16, a tremendous total in this era.

Kane was the straw that stirred the drink a year ago, but everything broke right, and it is not certain the three men can do it again in the coming season. With so many roster changes, the top line badly needs to score at similar levels in 2016-17.

Will the New Forwards Have an Impact?

Chicago lost a tremendous amount of forward quality and depth this summer, led by Andrew Ladd, Andrew Shaw and Teuvo Teravainen. The roster contains a number of substantial prospects—notably Tyler Motte, Nick Schmaltz and Tanner Kero. History teaches us not every prospect turns out, but the team badly needs someone to step up this fall.

One area to look for this year: Chicago's choice to play left wing with Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa. A younger player would have to deliver in difficult minutes, so there could be a trade or a shuffling of the top line if the rookies struggle early in the year.

Does Chicago Have Another Impact Rookie on the Roster?

One of the things the Blackhawks have been good at in recent seasons is procuring young players via the draft and European free agency. The best example is Panarin, who won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year last season.

Among the possible contenders up front, Motte and Schmaltz might post the kind of offense that gets Calder attention, and Michal Kempny appears to be a contender for playing time on the point. Ville Pokka and Gustav Forsling are also in the mix and appear to be substantial prospects.

Best- and Worst-Case Scenarios

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Best-Case Scenario

The Chicago Blackhawks are a veteran team at the important spots in the lineup, but the cap number for Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Corey Crawford is over $44 million.

The best-case scenario for the Blackhawks is to have several of their young players step up at the NHL level this season. It could happen and would give the team badly needed depth behind the impact players who are a drag on the cap. Strong candidates include Tyler Motte, Nick Schmaltz, Michal Kempny and Gustav Forsling.

If Chicago can find reasonable production from these players in support roles, the team will have improved its overall depth and be in a stronger position a year from now. Some of the young players could also be used as trade bait near the deadline, as the team has acquired veteran players in the past to drive a long playoff run.

This team has most of its roster in order, and the addition of Brian Campbell and others should be enough to mean it contends for the Western Conference. Chicago needs the kids to come through, and the best-case scenario sees at least one defenseman and a couple of forwards shine as rookies this season.

Worst-Case Scenario

Marian Hossa is one of the best wingers of his generation but will turn 38 in January and posted a subpar season in 2015-16. His even-strength production, per Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com, ranked him No. 238 among forwards in the NHL last season.

The worst-case scenario for Chicago is built around Hossa's game eroding to the point where Jonathan Toews has no able wingers to play the tough opposition this year. Hossa's power game, two-way acumen and offensive ability have all been key elements of the Blackhawks' recent success.

There is always a danger in signing a veteran to a long-term deal, and Hossa does not reach unrestricted free-agent status until 2021. Among the major worries for general manager Stan Bowman this winter, getting Hossa back to previous levels is a big priority.

Final Prediction

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The Chicago Blackhawks' main cluster features one of the best lines in the NHL, led by the brilliant Patrick Kane. The club also boasts Jonathan Toews, one of the best two-way centers in the game, and Marian Hossa, who plays a complete style.

Defensively, the top trio of Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Niklas Hjalmarsson were suitably fortified by solid moves over the summer. Corey Crawford is a quality netminder, and Scott Darling is more than adequate in the backup role.

This is the spot in franchise-building that has become difficult in the cap era. Winning Stanley Cups means massive spikes in salaries, and retaining players becomes hard. Stan Bowman and his management crew signed Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane to long-term deals at big numbers (eight years and $84 million each) in 2014, and the delicate balance required to fit those two men into the cap is an enormous task.

The Chicago Blackhawks finished No. 3 in the Central Division a year ago, as Hossa's injury and a wobbly depth chart on defense affected the team. The improvements made during the summer on defense should help, and if the kids up front can replace Teuvo Teravainen and Andrew Shaw, things should go well in the Windy City this year.

Book the Blackhawks to win the division and push for another Stanley Cup.