Takeaways from the Blackhawks season opener

With the first game of the Chicago Blackhawks season in the books, we were able to see a glimpse of what this season could offer and it's not a whole lot. There are truly no expectations going into this season for first-year head coach Luke Richardson and the Blackhawks. Game one against the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche proved that to be true.

While the Blackhawks lost 5-2 in a one-sided game, there were some bright spots on the Blackhawks that deserve to be talked about. Jonathan Toews has had a very rough few years dealing with major organizational changes as well as his own personal health, which kept him away from the team for the entire 2020-21 season.

Last season, it took the Blackhawks captain 26 games to find the back of the net, but he cashed in at the end of the first period against Colorado. His overall play during the game was extremely encouraging for Toews, who is now in the final year of his long contract with the Blackhawks.

Another player that caught my eye was defenseman Filip Roos, who made his NHL debut. The rangy 6'4" defenseman didn't make much of an impact on the stat sheet, but he looked smooth and made some smart decisions with the puck on his stick. The way he held his own against all of the firepower on Colorado should be encouraging for Blackhawks fans moving forward.

Obviously, every game won't be against a team as good as Colorado and the Blackhawks lack in talent when compared to most teams, but this season is not about winning. This season is about seeing what pieces the Blackhawks might have for the future.