What happened: Defenseman Bowen Byram has struggled early in his Chicago Blackhawks tenure following an offseason trade from the Buffalo Sabres. Through five games, he has recorded zero points and a minus-8 rating. The slow start comes shortly after he agreed to a lucrative long-term contract with his new team.

Why it matters: The sluggish performance places immediate scrutiny on Byram as he settles into a prominent role for Chicago. With his extension carrying a $12.5 million cap hit starting next season, the Blackhawks are heavily invested in his success on the blue line. The team needs him to replicate the production that led to 11 goals and a

What to watch: Chicago will look for Byram to adjust to his new surroundings and improve his underlying metrics as the regular season continues.