It's understandable if you're a bit underwhelmed by the way the 'Hawks have started the season. After going to the Western Conference Finals last year, most expected the 'Hawks to pick up where they left off, and continue to set the league on fire. Through the first 16 games, that hasn't exactly happened: though they're leading the Central Division, four Western Conference teams have more points, and four more teams have just as many (20).
There are reasons for this, of course. After staying remarkably healthy last season, the injury bug has bit the 'Hawks hard so far. We knew Marian Hossa would be gone until the winter, but Jonathan Toews, Dave Bolland, Adam Burish, and Ben Eager have also missed time. Some will continue to miss time.
Still, the 'Hawks are beginning to get healthy, and it showed last night in a 4-1 victory over the Kings. Jeremy Roenick, Sega Genesis, NHL '94, and "Swingers" not included.
Toews made his triumphant return last night and revitalized a lackluster powerplay that ranks in the middle of the league in efficiency. The 'Hawks scored two powerplay goals in the third period (one by Troy Brouwer, one by Toews) and quickly broke open a game that was tied after two periods.
Sure is nice to have your best players back, right?
The 'Hawks' defense was solid throughout the night, but goalie Cristobal Huet also looked good, stopping 17 of 18 shots. It's impressive to see the way Huet has rebounded after a slow start that left fans calling for his head. Of course, the jury will still be out on Huet until the playoffs, but hopefully the regular season will serve to calm some of our fears.
Something else to keep an eye on: who's going to get traded, and when is it going to happen? Since the 'Hawks' cap situation is totally messed up, they're going to have to shed some salary soon if they hope to resign Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, and Toews after this season. Could Kris Versteeg be on his way out of town? What about Patrick Sharp? It's unfortunate, but the 'Hawks are going to have to do something soon. Their future is too valuable.
Ricky O'Donnell is the editor of the Chicago sports blog Tremendous Upside Potential. Contact him at richardopodonnell@gmail.com.
Gig, what's up man? No insightful comments on our Blackhawks anymore? I'm still following and reading, I was just waiting on you first!
Ah well... Blackhawks trade scenario -- how about Bryan Campbell? If there's anyone I'm going to rant on with the Blackhawks it's Campbell. And I agree with Ricky on Huet also. The jury is out on Huet until the playoffs so we'll see. However, with Campbell, he just doesn't seem to have any chemistry with anyone in any of the lines rotation. I was expecting a lot more from Campbell. He's got a big salary that I wouldn't mind unloading. What do you think? Man, I can't wait until Hossa hits the ice soon....
Edgar, thanks for waiting for something from me on the "cold steel on ice" front, but I frankly had nothing pressing for the moment. I especially needed to go to Home Depot (our home away from home--I should pitch a tent and big screen there) to get my wife some sorely needed lighting for our walk-in closet.
Regarding Campbell, I agree wholeheartedly. Fellow d-men Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Cam Barker and Niklas Hjalmarsson have all played better since the onset of the season and Bryan Campbell makes by far more money than any of them. It really is a joke. His strength is bringing the puck up ice and he's done very little of that. I hope he gets his offensive act in gear. He certainly isn't much on the defensive end. He's more of a liability as the one most likely to cough up the puck. He's too small to be a presence in front of the net.
There's other bad news. Dave Bolland, their second line center, just had back surgery and is likely out until just before the playoffs begin. He does everything well including winning faceoffs. I don't know how long Quenneville's act of having a guy like John Madden win a faceoff and immediately coming off the ice for a winger like Versteeg will prevail.
Here's the good news:
Toews is back. Eager's back (toughness and pretty skillful as well), particularly important as Burish is done until the playoffs). Huet, after a rough start, is now doing his best goaltending act since becoming a Blackhawk. Yes, the playoffs are the most important and that will be his ultimate test, but this is a much-needed beginning. We also don't want to just sneak into the playoffs either in 6th, 7th or 8th positions anymore.
The Hawks have been decent despite being banged up and, for all intents and purposes, without Bryan Campbell the "stealer." The bright side with Bryan is that he's still better than Brent Sopel.
Marian Hossa, still their best player, will be here around Thanksgiving. That could be a feast in itself!
Bubba's Mom is soooo glad to see Toews back on the ice! Huet looks more confident and Hossa is due back by Thanksgiving. It's a loooong season, but I'm hopeful that these players will help the Hawks turn their awful power play around.
Bolland's injury is a huge loss; I hope they have enough depth to compensate for that. We'll see.
why would Versus get rid of NHL on thursdays for UFL? I mean, they practically have the same uniforms,teams,players. You see one game you've seen them all. Fold already! Until then, I really don't get to see to many games. What's it like? Are they better than last year? Should I try to swap my Bears season tickets for Hawks (no way the wife would let me have both-all that flying in)?
Gig, I got your back, buddy. I'll try to continue the Blackhawks talk here, but the telecasts (or lack thereof, actually) are killin me because I have DirecTV and the Versus channel is not available to DirecTV subscribers. Anyway, great comeback win last night against San Jose. It looks like home field ice made the biggest difference in that game. I'm really counting the days that Hossa finally makes his Blackhawks debut though. I sure hope he doesn't turn out like Bryan Campbell so far, but yeah, losing Dave Bolland was a big blow.
Yo Stuck, if you like NHL sport equally as much as football, then yeah, I would try to swap Bears tickets for the Blackhawks tix. If anything, at least the Blackhawks win their home games, but seriously, the Blackhawks are really that good now. If Hossa is the real deal and makes an immediate impact to this team, the Blackhawks will be instant title contenders, if not already.
Edgar, I know what you mean about Direct TV and Versus. Versus was to telecast a great many regular season games for the Hawks this year. Direct TV's dropping Versus forced me to cough up the $$$ for the NHL Package. I did get it at an early bird discount and $50 off because I bargained them down due to the Versus fiasco. Versus also carries the playoffs unfortunately. I'll have to do a lot of sports bar action by that time. Nevertheless, I now have full NHL access for the first time and I'm really enjoying it.