2010 Season Preview and Predictions: theFoss1957
Assessing the chances for a REPEAT Stanley Cup winner
Winning the Cup was great, and the question marks surrounding the 2010-11 campaign have more to do with what was subtracted from the team than what has been added. It would be fair to say that the Blackhawk Stanley Cup winning squad had superior DEPTH of offense, so much depth, that opponents were forced to "pick their poison" when matching up to the Blackhawk forwards. Shutting down the 'Hawks top 6 forwards did NOT guarantee success, last year, as the 'Hawks trotted out TEN forwards that scored double digit in goals.
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Of all these, only Buff and Madden were negative players (-7 and -2).
Projecting Bolland for a full season easily puts him into 30 plus points territory, so, OFFENSIVELY, the questions become: Who will have Chemistry with whom? and can 40 more goals be found in Pisani, a -16 guy from a TERRIBLE team, and 2 Rockford guys that are getting their chances.
Very little can be projected from Preseason, and Q is inclined to shuffle lines anyway. Hossa, himself, has the ability to dominate possession and chances, Sharp is as good a two-way forward in the league, and Toews and Kane continue to grow as talents. Certainly, with these players in the mix, the top two lines will be potent, and the top 4 D-men will also be in the Offensive contributors. Disappointing scoring from lines 3 and 4 will keep the 'Hawks out of President's Cup contention, but this is still an easy playoff qualifier.
Defensively, the 6 guys will be familiar...Seakeith will be the envy of NHL top pairs again, and Hammer/Campbell are a solid 2nd pair. Hendry should end up dressing regularly, and is an absolutely generic NHL Journeyman to be. This fan expects Boynton to end up paired with Hendry for 6 minutes a night plus PK time. Missing from this D, however, will be the puck eating machine. Sopel was a skating bruise, and this fan is still in awe of his fearlessness in sticking sore limbs in the way. It is unfortunate that the NHL sal-cap squeezes out solid veteran "depth" players. My prediction will be that more pucks will get through to the goalies.
The good news is that in new addition Turco will handle dump ins much better than either of the 'Hawk goalies from last year. Turco's puck handling may make up for the difference in blocked shots by denying possession to opponents in the Blackhawk zone. As a puck stopper, Turco has been tested, and even if on the backside of his career, is still a very good goalie. This team won the cup with a less accomplished goalie. The Foss is NOT predicting a repeat for 2011, the sal cap forced roster turnover will mean too many unseasoned forwards being forced into NHL minutes. Moreover, there is no roster margin for injuries. This is not to say that the Blackhawks will tumble out of the playoffs, just that they will not have the "staying power" to grind out another cup this season. The season will be a POSITIVE, however, in prepping those AHL guys on the cusp of readiness for the 2011-12 season, when, many of our best forwards will be at their physical/mental peaks.
The 2010-11 Blackhawks will be restocking depth talent in a quick-transition season, and will be poised for an extended run of dominance in the Central beginning with the 2011-12 season.
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