Jonathan Toews has been terrific on the draw this season. Toews was at 60 percent heading into the Colorado game on Thursday and that included a 17-of-21 game against Phoenix on Thursday. Toews is one of the top centers in the game today and that he is good on the draw as well only helps his fantasy value in pools that use the category.

Chicago captain Jonathan Toews is excited to start the 2011-12 season. It was a different story last season as the Blackhawks were coming off their Stanley Cup win and had only a three month break. Going out in the first round in 2011 gave the Blackhawks two extra months of vacation time so Toews is excited as the Chicago season starts on Friday. "I haven't been this excited to play hockey in a long time," Toews said. Look for a better season from Toews who had 76 points and a plus-25 rating in 2010-11. He should be a third or fourth round selection in most pools.

Jonathan Toews is thrilled that his Chicago Blackhawks have acquired his younger brother David. The Blackhawks want David to develop like any other prospect and are not putting undue pressure on him because of his famous brother. "He's got a lot of talent and he's been through a few tough years with injuries, especially those important years where you develop. He's just looking for an opportunity," Jonathan said. "We worked out and skated a lot this summer, and he was pushing me as much as I was him. Who knows where he ends up, but it's nice to have him close by and talk him through some things." Expect the younger Toews to spend the season in Rockford of the AHL.

The Chicago Blackhawks have named Ted Dent the head coach of their AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman announced the move Wednesday, saying "We are proud to promote Ted to the head coaching position in Rockford, an extremely important role in our hockey operations department." Dent will replace former coach Bill Peters, who is now an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings.

Jonathan Toews thinks that, among other things, Chicago's recently signed players will add some energy and personality to Chicago's locker room. "I'll never say anything bad about our locker room last year (and) I don't want to take anything away from some of those guys, but we definitely want to add some of that charisma and personality," Toews said. "A noisy and energetic locker room is always better than one that's the opposite." Chicago inked a number of veterans to one-year contracts, including Andrew Brunette, Dan Carcillo, Jamal Mayers, and Sean O'Donnell. Chicago should be a deeper team than their 2010-11 counterpart.

Blackhawks Vice President/Assistant to the President Al MacIsaac has agreed to a contract extension that will keep him with the organization through 2013-14. MacIsaac has already spent more than a decade within the Blackhawks' organization. MacIsaac's primary job is insuring that hockey operations and the business side of the team work together. He also has a say in the teams hockey decisions, including what free agents they pursue.

Winnipeg-native Jonathan Toews is disappointed that the Chicago Blackhawks won't have a game in Winnipeg next season. "It kind of sucks," Toews said. "It does suck. Write that down." As a consolation prize, the Blackhawks will host the Winnipeg Jets on October 13th. It will be the Jets second game of the season.

GM Stan Bowman said that the Chicago Blackhawks will take the best player available and not draft for needs at the 2011 Entry Draft. This is sound thinking as the player Chicago drafts in the first round, 18th overall if they don't trade the pick, is likely three to four years away from contributing at the NHL level and who knows what the team needs will be at that time. "A team composition can change rapidly based on trades and players coming up through the ranks," Bowman said. "What may be a weakness now may be a strength a year from now. It's dangerous to draft based on what an NHL team needs at the moment. We're not focusing on any particular position."

Jonathan Toews wasn't surprised by the fact that there was rioting in Vancouver after they lost Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. "I kind of expected that," said Toews. "Those fans are crazy. When we beat them the last couple of years they were throwing stuff on the ice. They're crazy fans and obviously passionate about their team. I kind of expected a reaction one way or another." Chicago and Vancouver have faced each other in the playoffs for three consecutive years and the teams have become bitter rivals as a result. Chicago won the first two series, but Vancouver defeated Chicago in seven games this year. Toews will face off against Vancouver's Ryan Kesler yet again on Wednesday, but this time it will be in Las Vegas as both players are finalists for the Selke Trophy.

The Chicago Blackhawks will kick off their preseason schedule with a game against the Edmonton Oilers in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Chicago started off the 2010 preseason with a game in Winnipeg, making this the second straight season that they started off with a neutral site contest. Other then their game against the Oilers, Chicago will get ready for the regular season by matching themselves up against some of the NHL's elite organizations. They'll play two games against each of the Detroit Red Wings, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Washington Capitals.