5 storylines to follow for the Chicago Blackhawks this season

How will Bedard's new linemates support him?

Bedard and Philipp Kurashev formed a solid bond on the ice. The other linemate on the top line was a revolving door.

This season, head coach Luke Richardson is splitting up Kurashev and Bedard. Kurashev will center the second line with the returning Taylor Hall and the recently signed Tyler Bertuzzi.

Bedard will be skating with two other players added in the offseason, Ilya Mikheyev and Teuvo Teravainen. Teuvo skating on the top line was expected. Mikheyev's movement up to the first line was not.

He was projected to be in the bottom six, but the Hawks do need to get a player willing to go after the puck. The hope is that Mikheyev can also be a goal-creator with his 20 assists last season.

If neither proves to be suitable linemates, Hall and Bertuzzi can always be moved up. Maybe, Lukas Reichel can skate well enough to move up to the top six too.

However, can Reichel ever get on the ice?

He had a terrible preseason. He still made the opening night roster, but he will be a healthy scratch. Also, the team's one-time top prospect might also be on borrowed time.

The offensive talent has never been a problem. The issue is maintaining confidence and being able to do the little things necessary to be an effective player.

That is why he will be starting the season watching the game in the press box.

The Blackhawks veterans can potentially trade before the deadline, hopefully playing well enough to yield some assets.

The Hawks probably will not make the playoffs. This is another season where the Hawks will likely be sellers at the deadline.

The hope is Hall has a healthy and productive season and that he can be flipped before the deadline. It would be nice to get some draft picks back for Maroon, Smith, and Martinez so the path can be cleared for the team's talented prospects waiting in Rockford.