Notre Dame to start training camp, but he apparently aggravated his back injury sometime in that first week and has been dealing with some issues again. Hossa missed a Stanley Cup finals game due a back problem and wasn't the same player in the last three games of the season. If he's affected again by it early,Denis Savard Authentic Red Jersey, it might be in the Blackhawks' best interests to sit him for an extended period to get him healthy. As of now, he said he's fine and will play in the season opener. 8. The NHL has re-aligned its conferences and is back to two divisions per conference. That means the Blackhawks are now joined in the Central Division by the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild,Brent Seabrook Red Jersey, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets. The Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets are now in the Eastern Conference. The new playoff format will include the top three teams from each division receiving spots and then two wild cards. The first two rounds will be within the division, but with the possibility of the final wild-card team having to cross over divisions to play.9. Nikolai Khabibulin is back with the Blackhawks and has looked reliable enough in the preseason. If Khabibulin's age (40) catches up to him, the Blackhawks will probably turn to Antti Raanta to be Corey Crawford's backup. Raanta, who is from Finland, is getting accustomed to the smaller North American rink in AHL Rockford to start the season. Either way, Crawford will see a bulk of the workload.10. Oddsmakers have made the Blackhawks the favorites to win the 2014 Stanley Cup. Most have them at 5-1 or 6-1. They're followed by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, Blues, Red Wings and Vancouver Canucks. The Penguins were favored by most to win the Cup last season.
CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa returned to the ice Thursday after sitting out about a week with an upper-body injury, and he could play in the season opener, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said on Thursday.Hossa has not played in any of the Blackhawks five preseason games after aggravating a previous injury last week. Quenneville said Hossa will not play in the final preseason game on Saturday. The Blackhawks season opener is on Tuesday.He skated about 40 minutes, Quenneville said after Thursdays practice at Johnnys IceHouse West. He did pretty well. Hopefully, hell join our practice [Friday,] but hell skate anyway. But he felt good; hes good. Hes not going to play Saturday, but we expect him, were hoping that hes going to be playing on Tuesday.[+] EnlargeRob Grabowski/USA TODAY SportsThe Blackhawks expect Marian Hossa will be ready to play in Tuesday's season opener.Quenneville wasnt worried about Hossa not being physically prepared for the season opener despite not playing in the preseason.He skated a lot, Quenneville said. I thought he skated well in the Notre Dame segment and back here for a few days. Hes been off for probably a week now, but I think if hes ready, hell definitely play. If not,Jeremy Roenick Red Jersey, we got time in between after [the season opener.] Were shooting for Tuesday.Hossa suffered a back injury during the Stanley Cup finals last season. He said one of the discs in his back was shooting into his nerves, and he couldn't feel his right foot. He was scratched from Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals and returned for the remainder of the series, but wasnt as effective in the final three games. He said surgery was a possibility after the season, but he ended up not needing it. Hossa said on Sept. 12 his back was feeling stronger during the teams camp at Notre Dame. He played in three days of scrimmages at Notre Dame and hasnt played in a game or scrimmage since Sept. 15.Hossa had 17 goals and 14 assists in 40 regular-season games and seven goals and nine assists in 22 playoff games last season.Hossa was unavailable to the media on Thursday.
CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Nick Leddys thought process begins with passing.Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville has been working to change it to shooting first.On Saturday, Leddy listened to Quenneville ... a