2010 Season Preview and Predictions: MrMiller
Like many sports fans with their favorite team, I've often said - perhaps prayed - over the years that if only the Blackhawks could win the Stanley Cup at least once in my lifetime, I could die a happy man.
My coffin may not be as sweet as the teams' championship rings, but I can truly say that I'm content with the experience of a lifetime provided to me by the 2009-2010 Chicago Blackhawks. For that, thank you! (Although should they win the Cup a few more times, that'd be fine too.)
How often this past summer did we hear about the "core" of the Chicago Blackhawks? Over and over again, it was mentioned how important it was to keep the "core" players intact. And let's face it: the "core" certainly hasn't changed.
Toews, Kane, Seabrook, Keith, Hossa, Sharp, Bolland, Hjalmarsson, and the extremely overpaid Brian Campbell are back and clearly ready to defend their title as Stanley Cup Champions. Yet I'll argue that, as with the Bulls in the '90's, a solid mix of mid-tier type guys, solid role players, and those having career type seasons were the key to last year's success.
Yet because of salary cap issues - most of those players are wearing different sweaters this season. The depth certainly depleted.
Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, Ben Eager and Brent Sopel (Atlanta), Kris Versteeg (Toronto), Colin Fraser (Edmonton), Adam Burish (Dallas), John Madden (Minnesota), and Antti Niemi (San Jose) have all gone. All in all, about half of the roster had to be replaced this summer by rookies, prospects and less experienced guys.
Although this certainly doesn't mark the end of the newly formed Blackhawk dynasty, it certainly provides a sense of concern and raises a few questions heading into the 2010 season.
Who replaces Versteeg's offensive output? Who takes over Byfuglien's role of pissing everyone off during the post season? And who'll step up and get his ass kicked on a nightly basis and fill Burish's minutes? (And yes, I know Burish missed most of the season due to injury.)
Will the team be as hungry? No doubt Captain Serious will help address that. Will Marty Turco play to his old form with a solid defense in front of him? Can the team improve on last year's middle-of-the-pack power play?
How will overall team toughness be addressed?
The Norris Division should once again prove to be the most competitive in the NHL.
I believe Detroit (sucks) will challenge the Blackhawks for the top spot in the Norris Division. In Detroit, a lot of hope rests on sophomore goalie Jimmy Howard. If he plays well, look for the Wings to push the Blackhawks. If he flops, Detroit could be in for a long season.
In the first round of the playoffs last year, the Predators were about :12 seconds away from taking control of the series and perhaps eliminating the Blackhawks. They're good and they seem to always find a way to get into the post season.
Early indications are that the Blues are poised to make a jump in the standings after last season's 4th place finish; a 90-point, 4th place finish. A few breaks here and there and St. Louis can easily make for a tight race to the top.
Like most, I don't expect Columbus to make even a ripple. It's a tough division, but even the tough ones have someone to walk over.
Here's how I see the standings shaping up...
- Chicago
- Detroit (sucks)
- St. Louis
- Nashville
- Columbus
Repeating a championship in any sport is somewhat rare and obviously very difficult. In the last 20 years, it has happened twice in the NHL (Penguins in '91 and '92; Red Wings in '97 and '98). It can happen with this Blackhawks team and once the playoffs start, it's truly anyone's Cup to win.
Unfortunately, I don't see it happening.
My crystal ball can see Vancouver finally getting over their Blackhawks' hump in the playoffs. Despite a sweep in the Western Conference Finals to the 'Hawks, I still keep thinking that eventually the Sharks will stop their annual choke. Plus, there are still some damn good teams in the East.
It's almost like betting on Tiger or the rest of the field when it comes to golf. In this case, my money is on the rest of the field.
Last year I predicted that McEgo - Blackhawks President John McDonough - would somehow find a way to fire owner Rocky Wirtz. After all, I argued, McEgo didn't hire Rocky so in the manner than he embarrassed himself when firing Denis Savard and Dale Tallon, I figured Rocky would be the next to go. Oooops.
This year, I see the following:
- After having a failed playoff beard and a just as bad playoff mullet, Patrick Kane goes the other way and shaves off all body hair before the first post season game.
- New fans will continue to flock the UC, sending Tweets throughout the game bragging about how kewl it iz 2 b at a bhawks game
- Chelsea Dagger will continue to annoy opposing players as the Blackhawks official goal song; it'll also continue to annoy the die-hard fans.
- The Blackhawks will announce a two-bathroom break maximum. Those taking more than two trips to the pisser will have to pay a $1.75 surcharge or buy a "Powder Room Plus" membership allowing unlimited trips to the stalls. After all, Rocky wants you to believe that they're losing money hand over fist.