5 storylines to follow for the Chicago Blackhawks this season

The Hawks avoid finishing dead last in the division with a veteran-filled roster.

General manager Kyle Davidson wanted to raise the standards of the team this season. While this roster still has some deficiencies that is not enough to get into the playoffs, having Connor Bedard for a second season should mean the team must stop contending for the top spot in the lottery.

Enough is enough when it comes to watching the team's chances to win the No. 1 overall pick.

Young players like Bedard, Alex Vlasic, and Kurashev must start to learn to win. That is what this season should be about.

Bedard and Vlasic are solid members of the core of the next competitive Hawks team. Kurashev might be at least a supporting cast member. It is time those three start tasting some winning in the NHL, and with a veteran-laden roster, this is the year to at least get more wins to stop sitting at the bottom of the Central Division.

Also, the hope is the Blackhawks can avoid finishing dead last with an older roster. A lot of exciting prospects are in Rockford when a portion of the fan base would love to see skating tonight in Utah.

Potential core members of the Hawks' next great team such as Frank Nazar, Colton Dach, Kevin Korchinski, Ethan Del Mastro, and Landon Slaggert are being given time to develop their game in the AHL.

If the Hawks finish dead last with a veteran team, it means making exciting young players earn the NHL spot might not have been the best idea. Also, it would be fair game to finally question Hawks GM Kyle Davidson.

He wanted to raise the standards and make sure the young players were not given a spot in the NHL. If going older yields the same results as the past two seasons, then you might have to wonder if Davidson can build an NHL roster worthy of being competitive. Well, at least put together the supporting cast.