Stanley Cups: 3

2008-'09 record: 46-24-12, 104 points (2nd in Central, 4th in West)

2008-'09 playoffs: Defeated Calgary Flames 4-2; Defeated Vancouver Canucks 4-2; Lost to Detroit Red Wings 4-1

General manager: Stan Bowman (1st NHL year, 1st team)

Coach: Joel Quenneville (483-305-77, 13th NHL year, 3rd team)

Captain: Jonathan Toews

Top returning scorer: RW Patrick Kane (25 goals, 45 assists, 70 points)

Top returning goalie: Cristobal Huet (20-15-4, 2.53, .905)

Key additions: RW Marian Hossa; RW Tomas Kopecky; C John Madden; D Richard Petiot.

Key subtractions: D Matt Walker; RW Martin Havlat; C Samuel Pahlsson; G Nikolai Khabibulin; LW Pascal Pelletier; C Tim Brent.

Top line: LW Patrick Sharp, C Jonathan Toews, RW Patrick Kane

Top defensive pairing: Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook

Goaltending: After losing his job to Khabibulin, Huet returned late in the playoffs to play strongly in the latter stages of the Western Conference finals. A consistent performer who plays with poise and smoothness between the posts. Almost unbeatable down low, but lack of size sometimes leaves him vulnerable up high. His .917 career save percentage is evidence of his solid play.

Player to watch: RW Jack Skille. Posted career highs of 20-25-45 with Rockford (AHL) in his sophomore pro campaign. Scored once in eight-game trial with big club. Has been compared to Bill Guerin, but still needs to work on upper-body strength and skating stride to be anywhere near that class of player. Will be tough for any rookie to break into Chicago lineup this season.

Icing: The Blackhawks' 46 wins were their most since winning 47 in the 1992-93 season. Kane will face enormous pressure as he tries to rebuild his image after an offseason brush with the law. Kane scored 25 goals and finished second on the team in scoring behind Havlat, who left via free agency. Team captain Toews was first with 34 goals and led the team in his first year at the helm on a surprising run to the Western Conference finals.

Outlook: Will challenge Detroit’s reign in Central and figure to make a long playoff run. But it’s now or never for the Blackhawks, who'll find it difficult to keep this young, talented squad together in a salary cap world.

Prediction: 101 points (2nd in Central, 4th seed in West)

NHL TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEWS Teams listed in predicted order of finish; x-playoff team ATLANTIC x-Penguins x-Flyers x-Devils x-Rangers Islanders Vote: Winner? CENTRAL x-Red Wings x-Blackhawks x-Blue Jackets x-Blues Predators Vote: Winner? NORTHEAST x-Bruins x-Canadiens Sabres Maple Leafs Senators Vote: Winner? NORTHWEST x-Flames x-Canucks Oilers Wild Avalanche Vote: Winner? SOUTHEAST x-Capitals x-Hurricanes Thrashers Panthers Lightning Vote: Winner? PACIFIC x-Sharks x-Ducks Stars Kings Coyotes Vote: Winner?