Today, I am going to take an in depth look at the Central division.

Detroit Red Wings

Key additions: Mike Modano, Jiri Hudler, and Ruslan Salei

Key losses: Brett Lebda and Kirk Maltby

Up front the Red Wings are a much improved group. They lost a solid player in Kirk Maltby but added two very good forwards in Mike Modano and Jiri Hudler.

With the addition of Mike Modano they added another veteran who can still play the game. In my opinion Modano still has one of the best wrist shots in the league and he can play all situations. He brings a ton of experience to a team filled with experienced players which should help.

With the addition of Jiri Hudler they add a familiar face who knows the system. Hudler is a top-six forward who has a ton of talent and could put up 65-70 points for the Red Wings this season. With the addition of Hudler they add yet another Stanley Cup ring to the team and added even more depth to a deep team.

On defense the Red Wings lost Lebda and replaced him with Salei. Lebda is the better player no doubt, but Salei is a more experience player and that is what the Red Wings are all about. It is also worth noting that like many Red Wings, Salei has played in a Stanley Cup finals.

The Red Wings kept their goaltending tandem of Howard and Osgood in tact. I personally am a huge fan of Howard and think he is a top 10 goaltender in the league already. I know he plays for a great team but he is a very talented goaltender and is out to prove that last season was not a fluke. In Osgood they have an experienced goaltender who will help Howard develop into the best goalie he can be. Overall the Red Wings have a very good situation between the pipes.

I think the Red Wings are an better team this year than they were last season and in my opinion are good enough to win the Central Division.

Expectation: 1st in the division

Chicago Blackhawks

Key additions: Viktor Stalberg, Fernando Pisani, and Marty Turco

Key losses: Kris Versteeg, Andrew Ladd, Antti Niemi, Ben Eager, Brent Sopel, John Madden, Dustin Byfuglien, Colin Fraser and Adam Burish

Up front the Blackhawks lost a ton of depth but are still a very talented group.

In Viktor Stalberg they added a very speedy winger who should thrive with some extra ice time especially on a team like the Blackhawks. Stalberg can stretch the ice and will contribute on both ends of the ice. Stalberg also brings a want to win as he hasn't won before, that should help keep the Blackhawks motivated to win again.

With the addition of Fernando Pisani they added a good depth forward who will contribute on both ends of the ice if he remains healthy. Pisani also brings a ton of experience to the Blackhawks. Pisani also is playing for a contract next season which should help him keep focused. If he doesn't stay healthy or show that he can still produce in the NHL he could find himself in Europe or without a contract.

On defense the Blackhawks retained all of their defenseman with the exception of Brent Sopel. I expect the Blackhawks to be a very strong defensive team as they kept their big guns in tact with Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Brian Campbell.

In goal the Blackhawks lost their starting goalie in Antti Niemi but added a very experienced goaltender in Marty Turco. The Blackhawks are expected to buy Huet out or send him to the minors which leaves the Blackhawks with Marty Turco and Corey Crawford as their goaltenders for the upcoming season.

If you ask me that is a very solid group as Crawford is very talented and Turco's experience should only help him grow as a player.

All in all the Blackhawks kept most of their core in tact but they are not as good as the Red Wings in my opinion. Expect the Blackhawks to put up a good battle with the Wings for top spot in the division but in the end, the Red Wings skill and experience is too much in my opinion.

Expectation: 2nd in the division

St. Louis Blues

Key additions: Vladimir Sobotka, Jaroslav Halak

Key losses: Paul Kariya, Keith Tkachuk, and Mike Weaver

Up front the Blues lost two veterans on the downside or end of their career and added a solid third line player in Sobotka.

Sobatka is a solid defensive forward who at times can put the puck in the net. Sobotka is one of those guys who just loves the game and will do anything he can to help the team. He will likely kill penalties and when hot, see some time on the powerplay.

On defense the Blues lost a solid team guy in Mike Weaver. The Blues will look to fill the roster spot with players within the system, Alex Pietrangelo looks like the most obvious pick.

In goal the Blues made a massive addition in Jaroslav Halak. Halak is a young up and coming goaltender who has untapped potential and has all the talent in the world. Halak is a very mature goaltender for his age and proved that last year in the playoffs with the Canadiens. Halak will be a huge upgrade in goal from Chris Mason (who is pretty solid). The Blues will continue to go with Ty Conklin as their backup who in my opinion is one of the best in the league.

The Blues are an improved team and will battle for a playoff spot. Whether they make it or not remains to be seen but they will definitely put up a good fight.

Expectation: 3rd in the division

Nashville Predators

Key additions: Matthew Lombardi, and Sergei Kostitsyn

Key losses: Dan Hamhuis, Jason Arnott, Denis Grebeshkov and Dan Ellis

Up front the Predators added some much needed offense in Matthew Lombardi and Sergei Kostitsyn.

You can expect Lombardi to play a solid two-way game and to give a 100 percent effort every time he is on the ice. Lombardi can play on the penalty kill, the powerplay and can skate with the best of them. He is also a very solid play-maker so he should help guys like Kostitsyn, Erat and company score more goals. In my opinion Lombardi is a very underrated player and will be a huge addition to the team.

In Sergei Kostitsyn they added a streaky scorer, but with a change of scenery he could become a consistent offensive player like he has the talent to be. He will upgrade the powerplay and hopefully provide some much needed goals that the Predators need.

On defense the Predators lost two solid defenseman in Dan Hamhuis and Denis Grebeshkov; however, the Predators have a lot of depth on defense and will go with players within the system to replace them.

In goal the Predator still have Pekka Rinne but are in need of a backup goalie. If a goalie doesn't sign at a reasonable price they will just go with a goaltender in the system.

Overall I think the Predators are a solid team, I think they will be in contention for a playoff spot but will finish in the 10/11/12 range.

Expectation: 4th in the division

Columbus Blue Jackets

Key additions: Ethan Moreau

Key losses: Milan Jurcina

Up front the Blue Jackets will go with pretty much the same group as last season with the exception of Ethan Moreau.

Blue Jackets ownership wants them to make the playoffs as soon as possible. With the addition of Ethan Moreau the Blue Jackets got a solid defensive player who will bring a ton of experience to a young team. He is also a solid penalty killer.

The Blue Jackets will rely a lot on Rick Nash and young guns like Jakub Voracek and Nikita Filatov to provide the majority of the offense this season.

The Blue Jackets have kept all of their defenseman under contract with the team aside from Milan Jurcina. The Blue Jackets are still looking to add a defenseman so I can't really say much right now.

In goal the Blue Jackets will go with a tandem of Steve Mason and Mathieu Garon. In my opinion that is a great group as Steve Mason is looking to bounce back from an off season and if he does struggle Garon is more than capable of starting the majority of the games.

All in all the Blue Jackets have a pretty good team but I can't see them making the playoffs this season.

Expectation: 5th in the division

This concludes my in depth look at the Central division, enjoy.

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Read more Chicago Blackhawks news on BleacherReport.com

With all the talk about the transactions and departures that have occurred for the Blackhawks this offseason, one aspect that has been somewhat shuffled to the side is the coaching staff going into this season.

Last year, the Blackhawks had a good mix of talented coaches that brought their own different elements to make the Blackhawks the Champions.

The Stache' Returns

Obviously, it is very important this year that Coach Joel Quenneville is returning this year to try to bring another title to Chicago. He is going to have somewhat of a harder challenge this season as he is going to have to make sure the young inexperienced players come in and bring their best from day one.

Coach Quenneville is going to have to motivate the players right away, and make sure they are aware that the target is going to be on the Blackhawks back every time the puck drops. Fans in other areas are going to love to boo the team, and they are going to be the Miami Heat of the NHL. Well, maybe that’s a stretch but the coaches have to make sure the guys are ready to go every night.

The Torch Went Down To Georgia

The departure of John Torchetti was a tough pill to swallow as he was very instrumental in many in-game outcomes that were seen with his coaching philosophies. Torchetti is now the Atlanta Thrashers Associate Head Coach and was the man that helped make the Blackhawks power play become one of the best in the NHL. Yes, players put the puck in the net, but Torchetti was a coach that helped them develop.

It may not be the factor that changes the course of the Western Conference in the 2010-2011 season, but John Torchetti is a skilled coach and it would have been nice if he could have somehow been brought back.

He will do a fine job working for GM Rick Dudley of the Thrashers who he has worked with before, and he will have to feel pretty comfortable coaching Atlanta with all the ex-Hawks on their team.

Come Into The Kitchen

The man that replaced John Torchetti is a man that "Coach Q" is very familiar with, Mike Kitchen. Kitchen was an assistant coach for the Panthers and does have head coaching experience with St. Louis from 2003-2006. Before that, Kitchen was an assistant to Quenneville for some very talented Blues teams, including a President’s Trophy winner in the 1999-2000 season. Kitchen should be able to pick up the slack and do a fine job in Coach Torchetti's stead.

The key for Coach Kitchen and the rest of the staff will be to find the players that are going to make up what has been lost in the offseason transactions (Ladd, Byfuglien). This should happen by the first puck drop against Colorado as Kitchen seems to be a reliable replacement.

Got The Other Mike Back

The Blackhawks also retained the services of Mike Haviland who has been a very instrumental part of the organization since 2005. He served as the head coach of the minor league teams in Norfolk and later Rockford. Unlike Torchetti the team was able to retain him this season.

GM Stan Bowman said in regards to both Mike Kitchen and Haviland, "Adding Mike Kitchen and bringing back Mike Haviland bolster what is already a tremendous coaching staff under Joel’s guidance."

Hawks Play The Waite'ing Game Again

Finally, the team was able to retain goaltending coach Stephane Waite who is the longest-tenured of any of the coaches on the staff. He is considered one of the best at what he does, and it can be proven simply by the results seen in Antti Niemi last season.

Working with Marty Turco could also prove to be very beneficial and successful for the Blackhawks. Turco is going to come into this season motivated, and the aid of Stephane Waite plus the Blackhawks' superb defense could make this a match made in Heaven.

Looks Good Going Forward

This group of coaches seems to be a solid group, so I would not expect any changes to be made in the immediate future. Obviously, if the team struggles that could in fact change. But if there is any sense of anxiety or nervousness among Blackhawks fans, the coaching situation should not be on the worry list.

Read more Chicago Blackhawks news on BleacherReport.com

As expected, regular season tickets to see the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks sold out quickly on Monday morning.

Thanks to Ticketmaster’s software and sky-high demand, most fans were frustrated by the buying experience, with many left out in the cold wondering how much they would have to spend to see a game this year.

The answer: $200.

Per seat.

At lunchtime on Monday, just three hours after tickets went on sale, the cheapest ticket with a seat attached for the Hawks home opener is $206 per seat (in the 13th row of the 300 level). Standing room only tickets are starting at $139 each for that night, when the Blackhawks will raise their first banner in the United Center before hosting the Detroit Red Wings.

Considering the number of home games (41), the cost of Blackhawks games is astronomical compared to other teams in town. When the Chicago Bears host the Green Bay Packers for a nationally-televised Monday Night game in late September, a 300-level ticket can be had for $135; the Bears only host eight regular season games per season. Multiple second-hand ticket sales agencies confirmed Monday that both Cubs and White Sox tickets are available for at or below face value for games down the stretch. Tickets for the coming season of the Chicago Bulls go on sale Oct. 1.

While scalpers are always the dirty side of sports, and long-time fans are angry about being shut out on tickets, this is simply the cost of winning. Just four seasons ago, the Blackhawks ranked 29th in the NHL in average attendance and couldn’t give tickets away. Now, with the youngest team in the league and jewelry being handed out on the West Side, Hawks tickets have become the hottest item in Chicago.

Read more Chicago Blackhawks news on BleacherReport.com

According to reports on Wednesday afternoon, the Chicago Blackhawks have added another veteran forward.

Fernando Pisani, who will turn 34 in December, reportedly signed a one-year, one-way deal with the Hawks for $500k. He played in only 40 games last year, scoring four goals and adding four assists. Pisani has dealt with colitis in the last few years, limiting his game action while a member of the Edmonton Oilers.

However, a forward that is listed at 6’1" and 205 pounds could make the competition for the third and fourth lines in September intense.

In 2005-06, Pisani’s best season, he played 80 games and scored 18 goals and 19 assists. That year, in 24 postseason games, he added 14 goals and four assists for the Oilers.

Read more Chicago Blackhawks news on BleacherReport.com