My prediction for the 2008-09 Blackhawks is they will win the Winter Classic with a GWG by Brian Campbell. Than a Red & Black "W" Flag will be flying on the Northside. How sweet that is going to be.
Anyways, for the whole season I see the Blackhawks making strides far beyond anything that has happened the last 10+ years. Which, is pretty obvs to any hockey fan.
Khabby will be gone by October 1st. Thank God. That is a move Billy & Pully made. Anything to do with those two knuckleheads needs to be removed. Especially a past his prime goaltender who looks more like Bo-Bo Mironov in net than the Stanley Cup Champion he was.
This is the year Kane will really be a force. He's older, wiser, and going to be heavier. Which means he's going to be able to hold on to the puck and not get pushed off of it. Johnny T may be the leader and captain for many years but its going to be Paddy Kane leading the offense. I am thinking big year.
Brian Campbell will NOT win the Nick "Norris Trophy" Lidstrom award. He will one day as a Blackhawk but that will be after the Wings captain heads back to Sweden. However, he will be a big time point getter on the power-play and bring a presence to the blue line that the Blackhawks haven't had in a very long time. He also will be a leader on this team especially this year. He is going to be one of the elder statesmen and his play will reflect that.
This years Patrick Sharp is going to be Adam Burish. NOT! Actually, I really believe its going to be a surprise. Kontiola, Versteeg, or maybe Bertram. One of these guys who played in Rockford or somebody who hasn't seen any NHL/AHL action I believe is going to have an impact in some way. Now I am not saying they are going to score 36 goals but they will have an impact.
Kyle Beach will make the team to start the season. Depends on those first 5, 6 games he plays on whether he's going to stay.
Havlat, ouch my shoulder.
My thinking with this is 5 place in the west. 2nd in the division. Maybe a first round win. The goaltending will be improved. The defense will be improved. The offense was there last season and it will be there this season.
My top 5 scorers
Name
GP
Goals
Assists
Points
Kane
82
28
73
101
Toews
74
39
44
83
Campbell
79
18
55
73
Sharp
82
35
31
66
Lang
70
22
25
47
There will be at least one player in between Sharp and Lang for team points but I just can't figure out or predict who that will be.
In my dream world. Tallon's deadline deal will be every Wisconsin Badger in the Blackhawks system traded for Jeremy Roenick in his final season in the NHL to help us with the playoff drive. Remember that 4 point game he had in the playoffs last year. This won't happen but it is a dream of mine.
