NHL Season 14

[Cocktooth]

Can the Hawks repeat? It's one of the toughest things to do in all of sports. With last year being a shortened season, and the Hawks having a shortened off season to recover, it's going to make it tough. This is how the Hawks shake out coming into the 2013-14 season.

Top 3- Kane, Toews, and Hossa are back. Hossa hasn't played in the pre season, and Toews took his first lines of the preseason in their 3rd game. Will these guys stay healthy is the main concern.

Goaltending- Corey Crawford is back after a 3 month bender. The Hawks pulled one out from the dog days as they bring back Nikoli hjabibulien. (SP) Crawford is coming off a season where he only lost 3 regular season games. He's shown chinks in his armor, but getting out to an early lead in the division could see him sitting a big during the middle of the season. The Hawks also signed Swedish goaltender antti Raanta who will start off in Rockford of the AHL. He looks to be the answer if there is injuries, or concerns with the back up netminder.

Role players- The guys coming back are a list of who's who among top preformers for the Hawks last year. Andrew Shaw, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, along with recently signed defensemen Nicholas Hjalmersson will factor in heavily into the Hawks game play this season. Where the defense was a worry last year, it's slowly becoming a major strength for this team.

My main concern will be how their bodies are going to hold up. Playoff hockey is brutal, and to end up playing all those extra games could hurt them in the middle of the year. The thing with this Hawks squad is they are very deep. For the first time in a few years, the Hawks have guys in Rockford that can be plugged in, and not lose much on the 3rd and 4th lines. As good as they were last year, there is a chance they could be better this year.

I'm taking the Hawks in 7 vs. the Red Wings for the cup. The Red Wings switched to the Eastern Conference, taking away the rivalry that stood for years with the Hawks.