2010-11 NHL Predictions/Previews: Chicago Blackhawks
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CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Stanley Cup odds: +600
Will 2010-11 culminate in a repeat championship for the Chicago Blackhawks? Or will the Madhouse on Madison sing the salary cap blues?
Chicago had it all last year: an amazingly deep group of forward lines, the league’s best defense corps, a great coach in Joel Quenneville and a phenomenal fan base. It’s no wonder the Hawks ended their 48-year Stanley Cup drought.
But will they be as successful this season? Because they were crammed up against the salary cap, the Blackhawks parted with some key pieces of their championship puzzle. Andrew Ladd and playoff hero Dustin Byfuglien are Atlanta Thrashers; Kris Versteeg skates on the Leafs’ top line now; Anti Niemi is the San Jose Sharks’ new starting goaltender. Does Chicago still have a strong enough core left over to contend for the Cup again?
Blackhawks fans still have plenty of reasons to be optimistic for this season, as few teams can match Chicago’s top-end talent. Jonathan Toews is perhaps the best all-around center in the game today if you factor in his scoring touch, faceoff ability, skating and leadership. Patrick Kane is an elite scorer; Marian Hossa can still fly and backs up his scoring prowess with very underrated backchecking ability. Patrick Sharp is another underappreciated guy who can excel in any role.
On the back end, Duncan Keith is the best defenseman in the world today. He can play a shutdown role but proved last year that he can be a real puck mover, too. Keith and rugged Brent Seabrook form the NHL’s top defensive tandem. Niklas Hjalmarsson is an underrated blueliner who can play in all situations and Brian Campbell is a solid if overpriced rushing defenseman.
Marty Turco has slipped in recent years but should be fine for Chicago. Nikolai Khabibulin, Cristobal Huet and Anti Niemi all posted similarly strong numbers with the team over the last few seasons.
The defense is in such good hands that the Hawks don’t need a game-stealer in goal. They only need someone competent and that’s why they let Niemi walk.
Chicago’s only problem is, predictably, depth – especially at forward. With Versteeg, Ladd, Byfuglien and John Madden gone, the Hawks suddenly have to depend on Troy Brouwer and newcomer Viktor Stalberg as top-six forwards. That isn’t a disastrous prospect – unless someone important gets hurt. If one of Chicago’s big guns goes down, its firepower could get a bit thin.
Chicago still looks like a high playoff seed in the West; I doubt the Hawks will finish any worse than fourth in the conference. But their cap woes leave them with less margin for error this season.
I expect one of the up-and-comers like Vancouver or Los Angeles to leapfrog the Hawks and take over as the West’s new top dog. A 100-point season and playoff series win or two seem likely but I don’t see Chicago repeating as champion or even reaching the final again this year.
2010 Preseason Schedule
Day Date Opponent Time MT Venue
Wed, Sept. 22 at Tampa Bay Lightning MTS Centre (Winnipeg) 7 pm
Fri, Sept. 24 at Detroit Red Wings Joe Louis Arena TBD
Sat, Sept. 25 vs. Detroit Red Wings United Center TBD
Tues, Sept. 28 at Pittsburgh Penguins Consol Energy Center 6 pm
Thurs, Sept. 30 at St. Louis Blues Scottrade Center TBD
Fri, Oct. 1 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins United Center TBD
Sun, Oct. 3 vs. St. Louis Blues United Center TBD
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