Clark changes uniforms
Blackhawks coach Lorne Molleken has lots of positives going for him right now.

The team played hard for him after he took over for fired Dirk Graham. Wendel Clark, coming over from Detroit, has been added to the mix, which should give struggling Doug Gilmour and Tony Amonte a boost. And to top it off, defenseman Anders Ericksson signed before the season's start.

Having said all that, success will come only if the Hawks can score goals this season. Don't forget that this is a team that averaged less than two-and-a-half goals a game a year ago. Clark could be key on the goal-scoring end because of what he will bring to the power play.

Will they score goals?

"Absolutely," said assistant coach Denis Savard, who knows a thing or two about scoring. "We're going to allow defensemen to jump into the play and be active. Lorney (Molleken) wants to get up and go, and I'm all for it because hockey is five guys on offense and five guys on defense."

Sounds simple enough.

Not enough to catch Wings
The Red Wings have too much talent not to be the class of the Central Division, but it'll be interesting to monitor how the team handles not being considered the NHL's best team.

Steve Yzerman is signed and happy to have a secure future as a Red Wing, and Nicklas Lidstrom was the offseason's most important signing.

The guy to watch, though, is Brendan Shanahan. He's been a persistent candidate for the trade rumor mill, and an inconsistent performer on the ice. The big power forward is in a contract year and needs to overachieve -- a term not often used often in reference to Shanahan -- if the team hopes to get back to the Cup finals.

Another intriguing player to watch is Chris Chelios. Beginning a season with a team is a lot different than coming in for a playoff run. Once comfortable, he may be another difference-maker, especially on a team he doesn't have to carry on his back.

For the Blues, everything hinges on the goalie, where GM Larry Pleau struggled to find a go-to guy last season until Grant Fuhr was healthy enough to help the team. Fuhr is gone, having been traded to Calgary. He's been replaced by Roman Turek, who is long on potential and short on NHL experience.

"Hopefully, he can step up and be that No. 1 goalie," All-Star defenseman Chris Pronger told The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "That seems to be where championships are won. If you look at the teams who made it to the Final Four and the finals, it's the hot goaltender who gets them there."

Even referencing championships in St. Louis means the franchise has elevated expectations.

Predators lose some teeth
Nashville added very little to an already mediocre roster, and if Mike Dunham doesn't sign soon and then stand on his head, the Predators can look forward to very little.

With Dunham holding out, Tomas Vokoun will get a chance to start. And even if Dunham signs before the season begins, he won't be able to jump right into the lineup.

"It would probably take at least a couple of weeks," head coach Barry Trotz told The Tennessean. "(But) Mike worked hard over the summer."

All things considered, preseason optimism can even be found in Nashville.

"Goals have been tough to come by but hopefully we'll change that soon," forward Greg Johnson said. "I think we'll be fine. We have some very skilled forwards and some solid defensemen, and I think once we get our teams together and get relaxed and know each other then we'll be fine."