Cap'n Clutch wrote:OK DaveTheRave. I found this old Post that I made at the start of the season. What are your thoughts? Care to expand?
Thx Cap...well, as we are seeing, the Blackhawks definitely exceeded expectations...most had them no better than 7th or 8th in the West.
It's fair to say no one saw them as 4th in the West, and in the top 5 in the Conference in GF, GA, PP and top ten in the West in PK.
Hard to say right now where Chicago will finish, as Vancouver drives for the top of the Northeast and there will still be some jockeying for the various playoff spots.
Chicago fans are not drinking Cup Kool Aid--just enjoying this new found success. It's the first playoff appearance since 2002, and the franchise has had more than a few lean years.
Similarly, the team is pretty down to earth and unassuming. The guys all stick up for each other, and refreshingly devoid of 'star mentality'...even with exceptional talents like Toews, Kane and Keith to name a few.
The players are going to give it their best shot because they are self-motivated, and they are very well coached by Joel Quenneville.
At their best, the Blackhawks are an electrifying team to watch, with great speed, strong team defense, and an excellent puck possession game. Their D has continued to get better with Keith and Seabrook emerging, Campbell now paired with Swedish phenom Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Cam Barker showing the form hoped for from a number one pick paired with the unheralded Aaron Johnson.
Adding Sami Pahlsson has enhanced their two-way capability and PK by teaming him with Dave Bolland. Patrick Sharp returning from injury gives them another weapon. Kris Versteeg is one of the league's top rookies.
Martin Havlat is a much better player now than one could have expected. Playing on a 'checking' line, Havlat can change a game, and often does.
Their 'grinders' like Ladd, Byfuglien, Brouwer, Eager, Fraser, Burish can hit, check and score.
The goaltending tandem of Khabibulin and Huet has done everything asked of them: they have the 5th best GAA in the league.
Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are maturing very quickly and are already the target of opponents' shutdown guys.
Other teams take the Hawks very seriously, and always play them hard.
No presumptions or predictions...but, if they continue to put it all together, the Blackhawks could be a surprise team in the post season as well.
Personally, I think this year's edition is one of the most exciting Hawks teams I have seen since the days of Bobby Hull/Stan Mikita. Not as bruising as the Al Secord/Dirk Graham/Roenick/Larmer/Chelios versions, but really impressive in terms of skill and teamwork. Of course, you'll have to go a long way to surpass the legends of Glenn Hall, Keith Magnuson and Tony O, among others...but that's what's great about this franchise...so many wonderful players and a special tradition.
I still remember the 75th anniversary team and the Finals against Mario and the Pens, with Eddie Belfour in net...it's been a long time...but worth the wait.
BTW I will be in Montreal to see them play Les Canadiens tomorrow night.
:D
As their classic theme goes, "Here Come The Hawks"!
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