Bertuzzi, Burakovsky, Teravainen — and Whatever Else Chicago Can Find

The injury list hasn't changed. Bedard, Levshunov, Ellis, and Grzelcyk are all still out as camp approaches, and at this point the question isn't whether the Blackhawks will be shorthanded to start the year — it's by how much, and for how long.

What's worth noting now is who actually has to carry this. Tyler Bertuzzi led the healthy forwards last season with 40 points, Andre Burakovsky added 29, and Teuvo Teravainen chipped in 24. That's a functional second line on a contender. On a team without its franchise center, without two of its top defensemen, and with Byram still learning a new system, it's the top of the depth chart. Kane's presence helps — a three-time Cup winner who knows this building gives the group something — but he's 37 and signed to contribute, not to carry.

The defensive picture is the part I keep coming back to. Levshunov averaged over 19 minutes a night last season and was the most reliable thing Chicago had on the back end. He's out. Ellis is out. Grzelcyk is out. Byram is here and committed, but he's inheriting a blue line that was allowing 4.2 goals a game by April. That's the foundation he's working with.

The season will eventually get to Bedard's return and whatever that looks like. Before that, there are weeks — maybe months — where this group has to hold things together on its own. Bertuzzi and company have done it before in smaller doses. Whether they can do it as the load-bearing wall is a different question.