Chicago have been spending some money in the last few days locking up Crawford and Hjalmarsson to long term deals that come to 10 mill a year for them both.Hopefully the cap will be going up a lot in the next few years or the Hawks could be in trouble down the line

Pre season games started this weekend.At least this season we won't have to wait until January to see some hockey

Season starts tonight with 3 games.Hawks start against the Caps at home.

Hawks start their defence of the Stanley Cup with a 6-4 win against the Caps.

Hawks look a good for another strong tilt at the cup along with the usual suspects of Kings, Sharks & Canucks being up there again along with the Yotes, Ducks & Blues. Be interesting to see how the Av's go under Roy's leadership. Think its going to be a tight conference from top to bottom.

In the East think again the Pens will be the dominant force but not sure how the Bruins will fair after the changes they've made but still think they'll be up there along with the Wings who I think have a real strong shout (can't believe they are in the East now). Think the Caps and Rangers seasons will follow the usual paths too with the former promising much but falling short and the latter just failing again unless they can get it together. Others to contend but maybe not stay the pace will be the Habs, Leafs and Sabres.

3 games into the season and the Flyers sack their coach replacing Laviolette with Berube.

I forgot my prediction this year,i'm going for a Pittsburgh/San Jose final this year but i would love a Wings /Hawks final.

The Sharks have started very strong again but we've seen it before where they are dominent until play off time then fall apart and as ususal the Rangers are a total mess. According to reports the Flyers were going to sack Laviolette last season but because of the shortened season wanted to let him have pre season but they've now decided to cut him due to issues within sounds like a player revolt.

I really wouldn't bet against a Wing v Hawks final either.

It's now a month into the new season and the Blackhawks are doing ok so far,they don't seem to have a cup hangover that some teams have had in the past.Colorado are the big suprise with only 1 defeat in their 11 games played.

Good winter classic yesterday with over 100 thousand watching the Leafs beat the red wings.Looking forward to watching the Hawks play the Pens outdoor in march,hopefully they play better than last time they played outdoors when they lost to the Wings in 09.The Pens/Hawks game could be a stanley cup final preview as both teams are looking good in the East and West.

"We're all going to the Stanley Cup, Stanley Cup, Stanley Cup.........."

Shame the Blackhawks didn't make it......but we'll be back next year !!!