| Jeff Cargerman. 21st February, 2009 - 1:18 pm
 Being a Chicago Blackhawks fan over the past decade has been a painful experience. Ownership would not spend the money necessary to win, the front office was incompetent in the talent evaluation department, and the players and coaches were never on the same page.
All of that changed when a regime change occurred headed by Rocky Wirtz. Single handily, he changed the outlook of the Blackhawks? franchise, almost overnight. Now, the Blackhawks are challenging the Red Wings for Central Division supremacy. No longer does a Hawk fan watch a game expecting a loss. Everyone is expecting this team to win.
A winning culture is the most important facet a struggling franchise can do to right the ship. Listening to interviews from this Hawks team, one can hear a type of swagger and confidence that has been missing since the Chelios and Roenick team of the early 90?s. Unlike some players who can talk the talk, but not walk the walk, the 2008-09 Blackhawks are loaded with talented hockey players. General Manager Dale Tallon has done an impressive job of putting together a deep roster all the way from the top line to the third defensive pairing.
The biggest disappointment this season for the Blackhawks is that they are still in the Red Wings? division. The Hawks have been playing consistently outstanding hockey all season long and yet they are still 12 points behind the Wings in the Central Division. Chicago has 74 points through 56 games and are primed for home ice advantage in the 1st round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. If the Calgary Flames continue their slide into the playoffs, the Blackhawks and Red Wings are on a collision course for a 2nd round matchup, which will surely be one of the most exciting playoff series in a long time.
A lot gets talked about that the Hawks are another top Center away from Cup contention. At what point do naysayers have to admit that this Hawks team can go deep into this year?s Stanley Cup Playoffs? Chicago has shown it can win in San Jose and it can win at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. While the Western Conference is quite stacked this year, the Blackhawks have been giving all of those teams fits this year. Barring a catastrophic injury, do not expect the Hawks to make a deadline deal. In all likelihood, this is the roster that is going to fight for a Cup starting in April.
Dale Tallon has made it a point that he wants to keep this core group of players together. Players like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Duncan Keith all are going to be restricted free agents after next season. Those players are the faces of the franchise and all will be resigned to long term extensions. Players like Martin Havlat, Nikolai Khabibulin, and Kris Versteeg also have contracts ending soon as well. Tough decisions are going to have to be made when it comes to those players. It will all come down to money and how much those players will want. Tallon will not jeopardize future salary cap space to sign Kane, Toews, and Keith by signing an injury prone player like Martin Havlat to a long term deal.
After coach Denis Savard got fired in November, rumors began flying that GM Dale Tallon would be the next one out of town. Ownership has squashed those rumors numerous times and unlike the earlier ownership group, this one seems like it is going to get it right. Another decade from now, do not be surprised to be hearing of a Chicago Blackhawks dynasty. The Hawks have enough talented young players that this year will be the first of many successful seasons to come. Management will keep this core group of players together and the Hawks will sooner rather than later, capture their first Stanley Cup since 1963. |
