Pavelski leads Sharks’ 5-1 rout of LA Kings in season opener

Since Chicago won their third title in six seasons, one player was charged with impaired driving, another was charged with possession of a controlled substance and another returned home to Russian Federation in the wake of domestic violence charges.

And that title defense starts now. You’re probably thinking “Why are you posting about hockey?”

The place the Blackhawks found themselves in this summer was salary-cap hell. He’s also a half a step slower than his Ranger days and is admittedly in tough to make the Leafs roster. Yandle had a disastrous evening, until he stood up to Blackhawks agitator Andrew Shaw for antics at 1:19 in the third period as the desperate Blackhawks pressed. Chicago also lost Brad Richards, Antoine Vermette, and Johnny Oduya to the Stars, Red Wings, and Coyotes in free agency.

Meanwhile, defenseman Kimmo Timonen and winger Daniel Carcillo retired, though their absence won’t be noticed.

But there is an upside to all of this change. With only four players older than 30, they’re still young but have more experience this time around.

Does emotion play a role?

Of course, when your GM is Bowman, losses tend to balanced out and this offseason was no different.

Nash’s success faltered from the 83rd game on last season.

Last season: Beat Lightning in Stanley Cup Final. Unfortunately, the Rangers continued to struggle throughout the remainder of the game but were able to keep the Hawks in check until late in the third period. The other two were Craig Anderson (Park Ridge) and Bob Janecyk (Chicago). Saad didn’t see top-line minutes against top-flight defencemen. Fun Fact: Garbutt is no stranger to Chicago, as he played for the minor league Chicago Wolves during the 2010-11 season. Last season, they absorbed rumors of locker-room strife like it was another harmless check. “As a team I think we know how to handle that now”. That would certainly be said of him in tonight’s game. Oscar Lindberg would be the man to get the first goal of tonight’s contest, as he lit up the lamp behind Crawford to give the Rangers an early 1-0 advantage.

That doesn’t mean Toews, Chicago’s captain, has to like the need for patience or wants any part of it. Haste is what Toews feels.

First, the Patrick Kane controversy must be addressed. Then superstar Patrick Kane was accused of rape by a Buffalo area woman.

“They’ve been knocking on the door the past couple years, too, trying to get to winning that Stanley Cup”, said Kane, whose Blackhawks have won three Stanley Cups in the last six years while the Rangers have failed to close late in three of the last four postseasons. But until the case is either escalated or dropped, will the ongoing investigation diminish his play on the ice?

Babcock will push his team hard and make sure it is in good condition, but the talent level may not be good enough to get it into the playoffs. For now, he’ll stay with the Hawks. Oh yeah, 3-on-3 play is way more exciting than 4-on-4 play. In the West, the conference in more top-heavy with the Anaheim Ducks, Blackhawks and Nashville Predators sitting as favorites.

November 8 vs. Edmonton Oilers – This will be Chicago’s first look at Connor McDavid, who was selected first overall in June’s draft and is considered hockey’s next generational talent. A bad road trip could hurt the Blackhawks in the standings, making the first game in this trip a “must-win”. With teams now having to dress two goalkeepers, the teams will hold their pre-game skates separately.

Not a day goes by that there is isn’t a few form of internet debate among fans and non-fans about Kane’s future with the Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks also have longtime coach Joel Quenneville back for his eighth season with the team.

“Finally Hal Laycoe (GM-coach of Portland Buckaroos of the WHL) telephoned and said ‘Andy I hate to have you find it out second-hand like this, but Boston has loaned you to us for the season.'”. Expect a deep playoff run. With the Canadiens widely viewed as the superior team in Wednesday’s game, Galchenyuk is a high-floor option at a discount, especially with the generous two-point plus-minus bonus.