Let's make sure we got this right ... Theo Fleury tells anyone who'll listen that he wants to sign somewhere where he can maintain a low profile, somewhere where he'll be able to just go about his business and keep his ever-present demons outside the door. So he winds up in Chicago? The Windy City Chicago? That Toddlin' Town Chicago? The 'Every inch of it is Sinatra's kind of town ...' Chicago? THAT Chicago!? The post-Amonte era begins on the south side with the Hawks attempting to repeat a regular season that may be impossible to match. Guided by the iron-willed yet adaptable Brian Sutter, they overachieved to a 96-point season but faded (8-9-4-1) down the stretch and were quickly dispatched in the first round of playoffs by the Blues.

It's always difficult to overachieve a second consecutive season, once reality has intruded on the daydream.

Should he keep himself in check, Fleury will certainly provide inspiration and sass, but the Hawks remain largely small and passive at forward and there is concern that Sutter's magic message may have begun to dry up near the end of the year. He squeezed an awful lot out of an average collection of talent -- his trademark. He didn't win the Jack Adams last year, but if he can coax, cajole or berate the Hawks into the playoffs again, he should be a cinch this time around.