from Barry Rozner of the Chicago Daily-Herald,

What everyone learned from watching Pittsburgh a couple of years ago, Vegas the last two years and the Blues two months ago is that you need to roll four lines and three sets of defense if you want to play fast.

You can't play fast through three zones with half a lineup and the Hawks' bench has been too short in too many third periods the last few years.

It's something they've been trying to change since the season ended, when new coach Jeremy Colliton talked of needing more options, being willing to play a 200-foot defensive game, being more aggressive on the forecheck and having more energy throughout the lineup, not relying on 5 or 6 goals to get it done.

Sounds remarkably like hockey.

"We have to win games in different ways," Colliton said, "and if you compare the roster now to the one we ended with -- or the one we had when I first came in November -- I think we can win in different ways."

There was quite a bit of optimism this weekend at the Blackhawks Convention, with a rebuilt defense, insurance in goal, more size and a fair amount of edge and character.

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