The Chicago Blackhawks begin their quest for the team’s seventh Stanley Cup on Wednesday night when they host the St. Louis Blues at the United Center in Chicago.
HAWKS
**Top six must deliver early, often for Hawks (CSNC)
**Four X-factors that could determine how Hawks fare (Sun Times)
**Mashinter, McNeill clear waivers, assigned to AHL (SCH)
**Ice Cold Podcast: Season 2, Episode 1: Preview (SCH)
**Hawks projected depth chart for 2016-17 (SCH)
CENTRAL DIVISION
**Jake Allen will start for Blues vs. Hawks (STLGT)
**Wild claim Pulkkinen from Detroit (HW)
NHL
**SB Nation’s 2016-17 NHL season preview (SBN)
**Sabres lock down Ristolainen for six years, $32.4M (DBTB)
**Kucherov re-signs with Lightning on 3-year, $4.76M (RC)
**Flames sign Versteeg to 1-year deal (M&G)
**Sabres send Alex Nylander down to AHL (PHT)
**Kings give Setoguchi another NHL shot with 1-year deal (JFTC)
**Penguins claim Condon off waivers from Montreal (PHT)
**Waiver claims: Devils get Parenteau, ‘Canes get Dahlbeck, Leafs get Griffith (PHT)
**Gerbe refuses to report to AHL; contract will be terminated (BB)
**Sharks send first-rounders Mueller, Goldobin to AHL (FTF)
**Report: Strome, Crouse, Chychrun to break camp with Coyotes (theScore)
HOCKEY WORLD
**Champions League Round of 16 set (Champions League)