Associated Press

The rebuilding Blackhawks are young and fast, but there assuredly will be more growing pains this season as the team's prospects adjust to life in the NHL. Blashill takes over after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant to Jon Cooper with Tampa Bay. It's his second stint as a head coach in the NHL, but more importantly for the Blackhawks, he has a player development background. He has coached in the AHL and USHL, along with the college ranks. The growth of Chicago's young players is a priority in his first year in charge.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: The hype surrounding Connor Bedard has dissipated a bit since he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, but it sure looks as if the 20-year-old center is taking steps toward becoming one of the le

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